Sheep Among Wolves

Gospel of Matthew 10

Calling his twelve disciples to him, Jesus gave them authority over foul spirits, so that they could drive them out, as well as the power of curing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: First Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebediah, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax–collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the zealot, and Judas Iscariot—the apostle who betrayed him.

5 These twelve Jesus sent out as his messengers, after giving them these instructions: “Do not go to the Gentiles, nor enter any Samaritan town, 6 But make your way rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 And on your way proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Cure the sick, raise the dead, make the lepers clean, drive out devils. You have received free of cost, give free of cost. 9 Do not provide yourselves with gold, or silver, or pence in your purses; 10 Not even with a bag for the journey, or a change of clothes, or sandals, or even a staff; for workers are worth their food.”

11 “Whatever town or village you visit, find out who is worthy in that place, and remain there till you leave. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 Then, if the house is worthy, let your blessing rest upon it, but, if it is unworthy, let your blessing return upon yourselves. 14 If no one welcomes you, or listens to what you say, as you leave that house or that town, shake off its dust from your feet. 15 I tell you, the doom of the land of Sodom and Gomorrah will be more bearable in the day of judgment than the doom of that town.”

16 “Remember, I am sending you out as my messengers like sheep among wolves. So be as wise as serpents, and as blameless as doves. 17 Be on your guard against your fellow men, for they will betray you to courts of law, and scourge you in their synagogues; 18 And you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, that you may witness for me before them and the nations.”

19 “Whenever they betray you, do not be anxious as to how you shall speak or what you shall say, for what you shall say will be given you at the moment; 20 For it will not be you who speak, but the spirit of your Father that speaks within you. 21 Brother and sister will betray each other to death, and the father his child; and children will turn against their parents, and cause them to be put to death; 22 And you will be hated by everyone on account of my name. Yet the one that endures to the end shall be saved.”

 Discover the Meaning of the Lord’s Prayer

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The Wisdom of Solomon

Gospel of Matthew 12

About the same time, Jesus walked through the corn–fields one Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and began to pick some ears of wheat and eat them. 2 But, when the Pharisees saw this, they said: “Look! your disciples are doing what it is not allowable to do on a Sabbath!” 3 “Have not you read,” replied Jesus, “what David did, when he and his companions were hungry. 4 How he went into the house of God, and how they ate the consecrated bread, though it was not allowable for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests? 5 And have not you read in the law that, on the Sabbath, the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are not guilty?

6 Here, however, I tell you, there is something greater than the temple! 7 And had you learned the meaning of the words: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned those who are not guilty. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

9 Passing on, Jesus went into their synagogue, 10 And there he saw a man with a withered hand. Some people asked Jesus whether it was allowable to work a cure on the Sabbath, so that they might have a charge to bring against him. 11 But Jesus said to them: “Which of you, if he had only one sheep, and that sheep fell into a pit on the Sabbath, would not lay hold of it and pull it out? 12 And how much more precious are we than a sheep! Therefore it is allowable to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man. “Stretch out your hand.” The man stretched it out; and it had become as good as the other.

14 On coming out, the Pharisees plotted against Jesus, to put him to death. 15 Jesus, however, became aware of it, and went away from that place. A number of people followed him, and he cured them all; 16 But he warned them not to make him known, 17 In fulfillment of these words of the prophet Isaiah: 18 “Behold! the servant of my choice, my Beloved, in whom my heart delights! I will breathe my spirit upon him, And he shall announce a time of judgment to the Gentiles. 19 He shall not contend, nor cry aloud, neither shall anyone hear his voice in the streets; 20 A bruised reed he will not break, And a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he has brought the judgment to a victory, 21 And on his name shall the Gentiles rest their hopes.”

22 Then some people brought to Jesus a possessed man, who was blind and dumb; and he cured him, so that the man who had been dumb could both talk and see. 23 At this all the people were astounded. “Is it possible that this is the Son of David?” they exclaimed. 24 But the Pharisees heard of it and said: “He drives out demons only by the help of Beelzebub the prince of the devils.”

25 Jesus, however, was aware of what was passing in their minds, and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself becomes a desolation, and any town or household divided against itself will not last. 26 So, if Satan drives Satan out, he must be divided against himself; and how, then, can his kingdom last? 27 And, if it is by Beelzebub’s help that I drive out devils, by whose help is it that your own sons drive them out? Therefore they shall themselves be your judges.”

Interpreting the Lord’s Prayer

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