1After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others, and sent them out two by two ahead of Him into every town and place, where He Himself was about to go to.
2Then He told them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; pray, therefore, to the Lord of the harvest, that He would send out laborers into His harvest.
3Go! I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.
4Take no purse, bag, or shoes; and greet no one along the road.
5And to whatever house you enter, first say, “May the peace of God be on this house”.
6And if someone that promotes peace is there, your peace shall rest upon them; and if not, it shall return to you.
7And stay in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they offer; for the laborer is worthy of his hire (wages). Do not go from house to house.
8And in whatever town you enter, if they welcome you, eat whatever is set before you;
9Heal the sick that are there, and tell them, “The kingdom of God is near to you”.
10But any city you enter, where they do not receive (welcome) you, go out into the streets of that town and say,
11“Even the very dust of your town, which clings on us, we do wipe off as a warning to you; but be sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come near to you”.
12But I say to you, that it shall be more tolerable on that day for Sodom, than for that town.
13Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which have been done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have long ago repented, and sat in sackcloth and ashes.
14But it shall be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.
15And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you shall be thrust down to hades.
16He that listens to you listens to Me; and he that rejects you rejects Me; and he that rejects Me rejects Him that sent Me.”
17And the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us through Your name”.
18And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
19I have given to you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and have all power over the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20However, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven”.
21In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit, and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and have revealed them to babes (little children); yes, Father; for it pleased You to do it this way”.
22All things are delivered to Me by My Father; and no man knows who the Son is, except the Father; and who the Father is, except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”
23And He turned to His disciples, and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see;
24For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see the things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear the things which you hear, and have not heard them.”
25And one day, a certain law expert stood up to test Him, asking, “Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26He replied to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?”
27And he, answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself”.
28And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you shall live”.
29But he desired to justify himself, and said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30And Jesus, answered: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothes, wounded him, and left him half dead.
31And a priest happened to come down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32And likewise a Levite, when came to that place, paused, looked at him, and he, too, passed by on the other side.
33But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion (pity) on him,
34And went to him, bound up his wounds, poured in oil and wine, set him on his donkey, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35And on the next day, as he left, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, “Take care of him; and whatever you spend above this, when I return, I will repay you”.
36Which, now, of these three, do you think was neighbor to him that fell among thieves?”
37And he said, “The one that showed mercy to him.” Then said Jesus to him, “Yes. Now go, and do likewise.”
38Now as Jesus and His disciples went on their way, then entered a village; where a certain woman, named Martha, welcomed Him into her house.
39And she had a sister, named Mary, who sat at Jesus’ feet, listening to His every word.
40But Martha was much occupied with serving, and she came to Him, and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to come and help me.”
41And Jesus replied to her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and concerned about many things.
42But only one thing is essential; and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her”. Easy Reader Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2023 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |
    |