The Work of the Seventy-Two Followers
1 Later the Lord chose 72 other followers and sent them out two by two to every town and village where he was about to go. 2 He said to them:
A large crop is in the fields, but there are only a few workers. Ask the Lord in charge of the harvest to send out workers to bring it in. 3 Now go, but remember, I am sending you like lambs into a pack of wolves. 4 Don't take along a moneybag or a traveling bag or sandals. And don't waste time greeting people on the road. 5 As soon as you enter a home, say, “God bless this home with peace.” 6 If the people living there are peace-loving, your prayer for peace will bless them. But if they are not peace-loving, your prayer will return to you. 7 Stay with the same family, eating and drinking whatever they give you, because workers are worth what they earn. Don't move around from house to house.
8 If the people of a town welcome you, eat whatever they offer. 9 Heal their sick and say, “God's kingdom will soon be here!”
10 But if the people of a town refuse to welcome you, go out into the street and say, 11 “We are shaking the dust from our feet as a warning to you. And you can be sure that God's kingdom will soon be here!” 12 I tell you that on the day of judgment the people of Sodom will get off easier than the people of that town!
The Unbelieving Towns
(Matthew 11.20-24)13 You people of Chorazin are in for trouble! You people of Bethsaida are also in for trouble! If the miracles that took place in your towns had happened in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have turned to God long ago. They would have dressed in sackcloth and put ashes on their heads. 14 On the day of judgment the people of Tyre and Sidon will get off easier than you will. 15 People of Capernaum, do you think you will be honored in heaven? Well, you will go down to hell!
16 My followers, whoever listens to you is listening to me. Anyone who says “No” to you is saying “No” to me. And anyone who says “No” to me is really saying “No” to the one who sent me.
The Return of the Seventy-Two
17 When the 72 followers returned, they were excited and said, “Lord, even the demons obeyed when we spoke in your name!”
18 Jesus told them:
I saw Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19 I have given you the power to trample on snakes and scorpions and to defeat the power of your enemy Satan. Nothing can harm you. 20 But don't be happy because evil spirits obey you. Be happy that your names are written in heaven!
Jesus Thanks His Father
(Matthew 11.25-27Matthew 13.16Matthew 17)21 At that same time, Jesus felt the joy that comes from the Holy Spirit, and he said:
My Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I am grateful that you hid all this from wise and educated people and showed it to ordinary people. Yes, Father, this is what pleased you.
22 My Father has given me everything, and he is the only one who knows the Son. The only one who really knows the Father is the Son. But the Son wants to tell others about the Father, so they can know him too.
23 Jesus then turned to his disciples and said to them in private, “You are really blessed to see what you see! 24 Many prophets and kings were eager to see what you see and to hear what you hear. But I tell you they did not see or hear.”
The Good Samaritan
25 An expert in the Law of Moses stood up and asked Jesus a question to see what he would say. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to have eternal life?”
26 Jesus answered, “What is written in the Scriptures? How do you understand them?”
27 The man replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.’ They also say, ‘Love your neighbors as much as you love yourself.’ ”
28 Jesus said, “You have given the right answer. If you do this, you will have eternal life.”
29 But the man wanted to show that he knew what he was talking about. So he asked Jesus, “Who are my neighbors?”
30 Jesus replied:
As a man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, robbers attacked him and grabbed everything he had. They beat him up and ran off, leaving him half dead.
31 A priest happened to be going down the same road. But when he saw the man, he walked by on the other side. 32 Later a temple helper came to the same place. But when he saw the man who had been beaten up, he also went by on the other side.
33 A man from Samaria then came traveling along that road. When he saw the man, he felt sorry for him 34 and went over to him. He treated his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put him on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next morning he gave the innkeeper two silver coins and said, “Please take care of the man. If you spend more than this on him, I will pay you when I return.”
36 Then Jesus asked, “Which one of these three people was a real neighbor to the man who was beaten up by robbers?”
37 The expert in the Law of Moses answered, “The one who showed pity.”
Jesus said, “Go and do the same!”
Martha and Mary
38 The Lord and his disciples were traveling along and came to a village. When they got there, a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat down in front of the Lord and was listening to what he said. 40 Martha was worried about all that had to be done. Finally, she went to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn't it bother you that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to come and help me!”
41 The Lord answered, “Martha, Martha! You are worried and upset about so many things, 42 but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Septiņdesmit divu izraudzīšana sludināšanai
1 Pēc tam Kungs nozīmēja vēl citus septiņdesmit divus un sūtīja tos pa divi sev pa priekšu uz visām pilsētām un ciemiem, kur viņam bija jāiet. 2 Un viņš tiem sacīja: “Pļaujamā ir daudz, bet strādnieku maz, tādēļ lūdziet pļaujas kungu, lai viņš strādniekus sūta savā pļaujā. 3 Ejiet! Redzi, es jūs sūtu kā jērus vilku vidū. 4 Nenēsājiet līdzi nedz maku, nedz somu, nedz apavus un ceļā nevienu nesveiciniet. 5 Lai kurā namā jūs ieietu, vispirms sakiet: miers šim namam! 6 Un, ja tur būs kāds miera dēls, tad pār viņu dusēs jūsu miers; bet, ja ne, tas atgriezīsies pie jums. 7 Tajā pašā namā palieciet, ēdiet un dzeriet, kas viņiem ir, jo strādnieks ir savas algas cienīgs. Un nestaigājiet no mājas uz māju. 8 Lai kurā pilsētā jūs ieietu un jūs tur uzņem, ēdiet, ko jums liek priekšā. 9 Dziediniet tur slimos un viņiem sakiet: Dieva valstība ir tuvu jums. 10 Lai kurā pilsētā jūs ieietu un jūs tur neuzņem, izejiet tās ielās un sakiet: 11 pat jūsu pilsētas putekļus, kas pielipuši pie mūsu kājām, mēs pret jums nokratām, bet to ziniet, ka Dieva valstība ir klāt. 12 Es jums saku, ka sodomiešiem tajā dienā būs vieglāk nekā šai pilsētai.
Jēzus norāj Galilejas pilsētas
(Mt 11:20–24)13 Vai! tev, Horazīna! Vai! tev, Bētsaīda! Ja Tīrā un Sidonā tādi brīnumi būtu notikuši kā pie jums, tie sen jau, maisus apvilkuši un pelnos sēdot, būtu no grēkiem atgriezušies. 14 Tiešām Tīrai un Sidonai tiesas priekšā būs vieglāk nekā jums. 15 Un tu, Kapernauma, – vai tiksi paaugstināta līdz debesīm? Nē, līdz ellei tev būs jānokāpj. 16 Kas jūs klausa, tas klausa mani, un, kas jūs atraida, tas atraida mani; bet, kas mani atraida, tas atraida to, kas mani sūtījis.”
Septiņdesmit divu mācekļu atgriešanās
17 Un tie septiņdesmit divi atgriezās un stāstīja ar lielu prieku: “Kungs, tavā vārdā pat dēmoni mums pakļaujas!” 18 Viņš tiem sacīja: “Es redzēju sātanu kā zibeni no debesīm krītam! 19 Redzi, es jums esmu devis varu staigāt pāri čūskām un skorpioniem, un katram naidīgam spēkam – un jums nekas nekaitēs. 20 Tomēr nepriecājieties par to, ka gari jums pakļaujas, bet priecājieties par to, ka jūsu vārdi ir ierakstīti debesīs.”
Jēzus prieks
(Mt 11:25–27Mt 13:16–17)21 Tajā pašā brīdī Jēzus gavilēja Svētajā Garā: “Es tevi slavēju, Tēvs, debess un zemes Kungs, ka tu šīs lietas esi apslēpis gudrajiem un saprātīgajiem un atklājis tās bērniņiem! Jā, Tēvs, šādi ir izpaudusies tava labvēlība! 22 Mans Tēvs visu man ir devis, un neviens nezina, kas Dēls ir, kā vienīgi Tēvs un, kas Tēvs ir, kā vienīgi Dēls un kam Dēls vēlēsies to atklāt.” 23 Un, vērsies pie mācekļiem, viņš sacīja: “Laimīgas tās acis, kas redz, ko jūs redzat. 24 Es jums saku: daudzi pravieši un ķēniņi ir vēlējušies redzēt, ko jūs redzat, bet tie neredzēja, tie ilgojās dzirdēt, ko jūs dzirdat, bet tie nedzirdēja.”
Žēlsirdīgais samarietis
25 Un, redzi, kāds likuma zinātājs piecēlās un sāka viņu pārbaudīt, sacīdams: “Skolotāj, kas man jādara, lai iemantotu mūžīgo dzīvību?” 26 Viņš tam sacīja: “Kā ir bauslībā rakstīts? Kā tu tur lasi?” 27 Tas atbildēja: “Mīli Kungu, savu Dievu, no visas savas sirds un no visas savas dvēseles, un ar visu savu spēku, un ar visu savu prātu un savu tuvāko kā sevi pašu .” 28 Viņš tam sacīja: “Tu pareizi esi atbildējis. Dari to un tu dzīvosi.” 29 Bet viņš, gribēdams attaisnoties, Jēzum jautāja: “Un kurš ir mans tuvākais?” 30 Jēzus atbildēja, stāstīdams: “Kāds vīrs bija ceļā no Jeruzālemes uz Jēriku, un viņš krita laupītāju rokās. Tie, viņu aplaupījuši un sasituši, atstāja pusmirušu guļam un aizgāja. 31 Gadījās, kāds priesteris gāja pa to pašu ceļu un viņu ieraudzīja, bet pagāja garām. 32 Tāpat arī kāds levīts, tajā vietā atnācis, viņu ieraudzīja, bet pagāja garām. 33 Bet kāds samarietis, savu ceļu iedams, nonāca pie viņa, un, viņu redzot, sirds tam iežēlojās. 34 Pienācis klāt, viņš pārsēja viņa brūces, uzliedams eļļu un vīnu; un, uzcēlis viņu uz savu lopu, aizveda to uz viesnīcu un aprūpēja. 35 Otrā rītā, izvilcis divus denārijus, viņš iedeva tos viesnīcniekam un sacīja: aprūpē viņu, un, ja tu vairāk iztērēsi, atnācis es tev atdošu. 36 Kurš no šiem trim tev šķiet tuvākais bijis tam, kas krita laupītāju rokās?” 37 Viņš sacīja: “Tas, kas parādīja viņam žēlsirdību.” Un Jēzus viņam sacīja: “Ej un dari arī tāpat!”
Jēzus pie Martas un Marijas
38 Tālāk iedami, viņi iegāja kādā ciemā. Kāda sieviete, vārdā Marta, uzņēma viņu savā namā. 39 Viņai bija māsa, vārdā Marija. Tā apsēdās pie Kunga kājām un klausījās viņa vārdos. 40 Bet Marta, nopūlējusies, daudz kalpodama, nostājās viņa priekšā un sacīja: “Kungs, vai tev nerūp, ka mana māsa ir pametusi mani vienu, lai es kalpotu? Saki taču viņai, lai viņa man palīdz!” 41 Kungs viņai atbildēja: “Marta, Marta, tu par daudz ko esi norūpējusies un satraukusies, 42 bet ir tikai viena lieta nepieciešama. Marija sev izvēlējusies labāko daļu, tā viņai netiks atņemta.”
