SCRIPTURE
Matthew 9: 35-10:8
9:35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
10:1
Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean
spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. 2 These
are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his
brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and
Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and
Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Go nowhere
among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the
lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim the good news, 'The
kingdom of heaven has come near.' 8 Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the
lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. 9
Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or
two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. 11 Whatever
town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until
you leave. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 If the house is worthy, let
your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust
from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be
more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than
for that town. 16 "See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of
wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of them, for
they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; 18 and you
will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them
and the Gentiles. 19 When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to
speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at
that time; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father
speaking through you. 21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his
child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22 and
you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end
will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for
truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before
the Son of Man comes.