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The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Labourers Few

35 (A)And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 (B)When he saw the crowds, (C)he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, (D)like sheep without a shepherd. 37 (E)Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; 38 therefore (F)pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to (G)send out labourers into his harvest.”

The Twelve Apostles

10 (H)And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. (I)The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, (J)who is called Peter, and (K)Andrew his brother; (L)James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and (M)Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;[a] Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

(N)These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of (O)the Samaritans, (P)but go rather to (Q)the lost sheep of (R)the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, (S)‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ (T)Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers,[b] cast out demons. (U)You received without paying; give without pay. (V)Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, nor two tunics[c] nor sandals nor a staff, for (W)the labourer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, (X)greet it. 13 And if the house is (Y)worthy, let (Z)your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let (AA)your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, (AB)shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, (AC)it will be more bearable on the day of judgement for (AD)the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

Persecution Will Come

16 (AE)“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be (AF)wise as serpents and (AG)innocent as doves.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 10:3 Some manuscripts Lebbaeus, or Lebbaeus called Thaddaeus
  2. Matthew 10:8 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13
  3. Matthew 10:10 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin