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The Commissioning of the Twelve. (A)Jesus sent out these twelve[a] after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. (B)Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’(C) [b]Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. (D)Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; 10 (E)no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. 11 (F)Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. 12 As you enter a house, wish it peace. 13 If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you.[c] 14 [d](G)Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words—go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. 15 Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.(H)

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Footnotes

  1. 10:5–6 Like Jesus (Mt 15:24), the Twelve are sent only to Israel. This saying may reflect an original Jewish Christian refusal of the mission to the Gentiles, but for Matthew it expresses rather the limitation that Jesus himself observed during his ministry.
  2. 10:8–11 The Twelve have received their own call and mission through God’s gift, and the benefits they confer are likewise to be given freely. They are not to take with them money, provisions, or unnecessary clothing; their lodging and food will be provided by those who receive them.
  3. 10:13 The greeting of peace is conceived of not merely as a salutation but as an effective word. If it finds no worthy recipient, it will return to the speaker.
  4. 10:14 Shake the dust from your feet: this gesture indicates a complete disassociation from such unbelievers.