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.”

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To continue reading Chapter 10 of the Gospel of Matthew, please click on page 2 below.

The Coming One

Gospel of Matthew 11

After Jesus had finished giving directions to his twelve disciples, he left that place in order to teach and preach in their towns. 2 Now John had heard in prison what the Christ was doing, and he sent a message by his disciples, 3 And asked: “Are you ‘The Coming One,’ or are we to look for someone else?” 4 The answer of Jesus to the question was: “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind recover their sight, and the lame walk; the lepers are made clean and the deaf hear; the dead, too, are raised to life, and the gospel is told to the poor. 6 And blessed is the one who finds no hindrance in me.”

7 While these men were going back, Jesus began to say to the crowds with reference to John: 8 “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed waving in the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man richly dressed? Why, those who wear rich things are to be found in the courts of kings! 9 What, then, did you go for? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet.”

10 “This is the man of whom scripture says: ‘Behold, I am myself sending my messenger before thy face, And he shall prepare thy way before thee.’11 I tell you, no one born of a woman has yet appeared who is greater than John the Baptist; and yet the lowliest in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the time of John the Baptist to this very hour, the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For the teaching of all the prophets and of the law continued until the time of John; 14 And, if you are ready to accept it, John is himself the Elijah who was destined to come. 15 Let those who have ears hear.

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The Meaning of The Lord’s Prayer

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16 But to what shall I compare the present generation? It is like little children sitting in the market–places and calling out to their playmates: 17 ‘We have played the flute for you, but you have not danced; We have wailed, but you have not mourned.’18 For, when John came, neither eating nor drinking, men said ‘He has a devil in him’; 19 And now that the Son of Man has come, eating and drinking, they are saying: ‘Here is a glutton and a wino, a friend of tax–gatherers and sinners!’ And yet wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”

20 Then Jesus began to reproach the towns in which most of his miracles had been done, because they had not repented: 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For, if the miracles which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 Yet, I tell you, the doom of Tyre and Sidon will be more bearable in the day of judgment than yours.”

23 “And you, Capernaum! Will you ‘exalt yourself to heaven’? ‘You shall go down to the place of death.’ For, if the miracles which have been done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have been standing to this day. 24 Yet, I tell you, the doom of Sodom will be more bearable in the day of judgment than yours.”

25 At that same time Jesus uttered the words: “I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that, though thou has hidden these things from the wise and learned, thou has revealed them unto babes. 26 Yes, Father, I thank thee that this has seemed good to thee. 27 Everything has been committed to me by my Father; nor does anyone fully know the Son, except the Father, nor fully know the Father, except the Son, and those to whom the Son may choose to reveal him.

28 Come to me, all you who toil and are burdened, and I will give you rest! 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am gentle and lowly at heart, and ‘you shall find rest for your souls’; 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

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To read Chapter 12 of the Gospel of Matthew, please go to: The Wisdom of Solomon

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