by Faith Central & Steve Welsh
Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick.
He said to them, ‘Take nothing for the journey,
neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,
and let no one take a second tunic. …'”
“… He said to them in reply, ‘My mother and My brothers
are those who hear the Word of God and act on it.'”
“‘… A man had two sons.
He came to the first and said,
“Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.”
He said in reply, “I will not,”
but afterwards changed his mind and went.
… Which of the two did his father’s will?’
… Jesus said to them, ‘Amen, I say to you,
tax collectors and prostitutes
are entering the kingdom of God before you.
When John came to you in the way of righteousness,
you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and prostitutes did.
Yet even when you saw that,
you did not later change your minds and believe him.'”
“‘No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel
or sets it under a bed;
rather, he places it on a lampstand
so that those who enter may see the light. …'”
“‘The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner
who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.
… ‘… What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?
Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?’
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.'”
“‘… The seed is the Word of God.
Those on the path are the ones who have heard,
but the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts
that they may not believe and be saved.
Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear,
receive the Word with joy, but they have no root;
they believe only for a time and fall away in time of temptation.
As for the seed that fell among thorns,
they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along,
they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life,
and they fail to produce mature fruit.
But as for the seed that fell on rich soil,
they are the ones who, when they have heard the Word,
embrace it with a generous and good heart,
and bear fruit through perseverance.”
“Jesus journeyed …
Preaching and Proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
Accompanying Him were the Twelve
and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities,
Mary, called Magdalene …
Joanna …
Susanna, and many others
who provided for them out of their resources.”
As Jesus passed by,
he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’
And he got up and followed Him.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners came
and sat with Jesus and His Disciples.
… [Jesus] said,
‘Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice. …'”
“… John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine,
and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said,
‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’
But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
“…a man who had died was being carried out,
the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.
… [Jesus] stepped forward and touched the coffin;
at this the bearers halted,
and He said, ‘Young man, I tell you, arise!’
The dead man sat up and began to speak,
and Jesus gave him to his mother. …”