Prepping The Twelve
He then called his twelve disciples together and gave them power: over impure spirits so as to exorcise them, to heal every disease and every sickness, and to preach the kingdom of God. These are the names of the twelve disciples: Simon, who is called Peter, Andrew his brother, James and John the sons of Zebedee, Philip, bar-Thomomaeus, Thomas, Mathew the tax collector, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon the Kananaian, and Judas the Iscariot – the one who also will betray him. (Matthew 10:1-4, Luke 9:1-5, Mark 6:7-11)
These twelve Jesus sent forth, giving them orders: “Do not go on the road of the gentiles, and do not enter into a city of the Samaritans; go rather to the lost sheep of the household of Israel. And make a proclamation as you go along, saying that the Kingdom of the heavens has drawn near. Heal the ailing, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, exorcise demons. You have received a free gift; give a free gift.” (Matthew 10:5-8)
Jesus continued, “Do not provide yourself with gold or silver or brass in your girdles, nor with a leather pouch for the road, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff. For the laborer earns his provisions. And whenever city or village you enter into, carefully ascertain who within it is a worthy man and stay with him until you should depart. On entering the household, moreover, give it your blessing; and if indeed the household should be worthy, may your ‘Peace’ come upon it; but if it should be unworthy, may your ‘Peace’ revert back to you.” (Matthew 10:9-13, Mark 7:8-10, Luke 9:3-4)
Continuing, Jesus said: “Whoever should not welcome you, or should not listen to your words, on departing outside that household or that city, shake the dust off your feet. Amen, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that city. See: I send you forth as sheep into the midst of wolves; so be as wise as serpents and as guileless as doves. (Matthew 10:14-16, Mark 6:11, Luke 9:5)
Continuing Instructions
Jesus continued, “And be aware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and they will flog you in their synagogues; and you will also be led before the leaders and even kings for my sake, as a witness to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, don’t worry over how or what you might say, for whatever you will say will be given to you in that hour; for you are not the ones speaking, but rather the Spirit of your Father is speaking in you. And brother will deliver up brother to death, and father this child, and children will rise up against parents and put them to death. And you will be hated by all on account of my name; but whosoever endures to the end, that one will be saved.” (Matthew 10:17-23)
Jesus continued, “When they persecute you in one city, flee to another; for, amen, I tell you, you will most certainly not have finished with the cities of Israel before the Son of Man arrives. Remember, a disciple is not above his teacher, nor A slave above his Lord. It suffices that the disciple become as his teacher and the slave as his Lord. If they have called the master of the household Beelzebub, how much more so those who belong to his household. Therefore, do not fear them, for there is nothing that has been veiled that will not be unveiled and nothing hidden that will not be made known. What I say to you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.” (Matthew 10:24-27)
Continuing, Jesus said: “And do not fear those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul, but rather fear the one who can destroy both the soul and the body in the Vale of Hinnom. Are not two sparrows sold for the smallest penance? Not one of them will fall to earth abandoned by your father, but even the hairs on your head have all been numbered. So do not be afraid. You are of greater worth than a great many sparrows. Therefore, everyone who acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge before my father who is in the heavens. Whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my father who is in the heavens.” (Matthew 10:28-33)
Jesus continued, “Do not suppose that I have come to impose peace upon the earth. I came to impose not peace but a sword, for I came to divide a man against his father and a daughter against her mother and a bride against her mother-in-law and a man’s enemies, the members of his household. [Micah 7:6] Whoever cherishes father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever cherishes son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:34-38)
Jesus continued, “Whoever gains his soul will squander it, and whoever squanders his soul for my sake will gain it. Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me forth. Whoever welcomes a prophet because he is called a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a just man because he is called just will receive a just man’s reward. Whoever gives one of these humble ones a cup of cold water solely because he is called a disciple, amen, I tell you, he will most certainly not lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:39-42)
And it happened that when Jesus finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went from there to teach and to make proclamations of the gospel in their cities that the people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them everywhere. (Matthew 11:1, Mark 6:12-13, Luke 9:6)
