Chapter 10

1After this, the Lord appointed another seventy-two followers. He sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he was planning to visit.

2He told them, “The harvest is large, but there are few workers. So ask the owner of the harvest to send workers out into his fields.

3“Go now. I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

4“Do not carry a moneybag, a travel bag, or sandals. Do not stop to exchange greetings with anyone along the road.

5“Whenever you enter a house, first say, ‘May there be peace in this home.’

6“If someone there welcomes peace, your peace will rest on that person. If not, your peace will return to you.

7“Stay in that same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, because workers deserve their pay. Do not move from one house to another.

8“Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat whatever they serve you.

9“Heal the sick people there and tell them, ‘God’s rule has come near to you.’

10“But whenever you enter a town and its people do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say,

11“‘Even the dust from your city that clings to our feet, we wipe off in front of you. Still, understand this: God’s rule has come near.’

12“I tell you, when God judges, the people of Sodom will be treated more leniently than that town.

13“How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible for you, Bethsaida! If the miracles done among you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, their people would have changed their ways long ago. They would have sat in rough mourning clothes and ashes to show their sorrow.

14“But when God judges, Tyre and Sidon will be treated more leniently than you.

15“And you, Capernaum—will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to the realm of the dead.

16Jesus continued, “Anyone who listens to you listens to me, and anyone who rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

17The seventy-two returned full of joy and said, “Master, even the demons obey us when we act under your authority!”

18Jesus told them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning.

19“I have given you authority to walk over snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the enemy’s power. Nothing will harm you.

20“But do not celebrate merely because the spirits obey you. Celebrate because your names have been recorded in heaven.”

21At that moment, Jesus was filled with joy through the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You hid these things from those considered wise and intelligent, but revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, this is what you were pleased to do.

22“My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

23Then Jesus turned to his disciples and privately told them, “How fortunate you are to see what you see!

24“I tell you, many prophets—people who spoke for God—and many kings wanted to see what you see, but they did not see it. They wanted to hear what you hear, but they did not hear it.”

25Then an expert in the law of Moses stood up to test Jesus. He asked, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit life that never ends?”

26Jesus replied, “What is written in the law? How do you understand it?”

27The expert answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind. Also, love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

28Jesus told him, “You have answered correctly. Keep doing this, and you will live.”

29But the expert wanted to show that he was in the right, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30Jesus replied, “A man was traveling down from Jerusalem to Jericho when robbers attacked him. They stripped off his clothes, beat him, and left him lying there half dead.

31“It happened that a Jewish priest was traveling down that road. When he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.

32“In the same way, a Levite, a worker connected with the temple, came to that place. He saw the man and also passed by on the other side.

33“But a Samaritan traveling along the road came upon him. When he saw the wounded man, he was moved with compassion.

34“He went to him, poured oil and wine on his wounds, and bandaged them. Then he placed the man on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and cared for him.

35“The next day, the Samaritan took out two denarii—about two days’ wages—and gave them to the innkeeper. He said, ‘Take care of him. If you spend anything more, I will repay you when I return.’

36Jesus asked, “Which of these three do you think became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?”

37The expert answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”

38As Jesus and his followers continued traveling, he entered a village. A woman named Martha welcomed him.

39Martha had a sister named Mary, who sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to his teaching.

40But Martha was distracted by all the work of serving her guests. She came to Jesus and said, “Master, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Tell her to help me!”

41The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things,

42“but only a few things are needed—or just one. Mary has chosen the good part, and it will not be taken away from her.”