Read the Bible

Jesus Sends Out the Day Workers

¹ Then Jesus found seventy other day workers willing to ride for him and sent them out in pairs to prepare all the places he would go. ² He told them, "There's plenty of strays to be gathered, but there ain't many cowboys. Pray to the Lord of the roundup for cowboys to come help. ³ Go now and ride, but understand, I am sending y'all out like sheep among the wolves. ⁴ Don't take a money pouch, no saddlebags, no extra boots, and don't talk to anyone on the road. ⁵ When you get to a house, first say, 'May peace fill this place.' ⁶ If someone who wants that too lives there, then it will happen. If not, then your gift will be returned, and peace will leave with you. ⁷ Stay there until you finish your job. Let them take care of you because the worker deserves his wages. Don't be moving around to other houses. ⁸ If you head into a town, and they welcome you, then eat the vittles they provide. ⁹ Heal all the people who are sick and tell them, 'God's outfit is close!'

¹⁰ "But if someone doesn't want you in their town, then walk right out in the street and say, ¹¹ 'We are shaking your dust off our boots because y'all didn't welcome us. Your fate is in your hands now. God's outfit is right outside the gates.' ¹² I'm telling y'all that even Sodom will be better off when Judgment Day arrives than these towns that do not welcome you.

¹³ "You're gonna regret your choices, you cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida. If I'd done the miracles I did for you in Tyre or Sidon, they would have changed their sorry ways and already be saddled up and riding for God's outfit. They would be wearing burlap, and ashes would cover their heads in remorse for their wicked ways. ¹⁴ I'm being honest! Tyre and Sidon, cities that ain't even in Israel, will be better off than some of our own. ¹⁵ And don't think I didn't notice you Capernaum. Will you get buckles in heaven? Nope! Most will end up in the trash fire."

¹⁶ Then Jesus said to his crew of seventy cowboys, "If they listen to you, then they will listen to me. If they shun you, then they will shun me, too. And if they shun me, then they shun the Boss who sent me to save everyone."

¹⁷ When the seventy day workers got back, they were all happy and said, "Boss, even the demons did what we said in your name."

¹⁸ "Yep," Jesus said. "I watched when Satan fell from heaven. It was like a lightning bolt from the sky! ¹⁹ But listen close, I have given you authority over all the powers of darkness. You can even trample over snakes and scorpions without injury. ²⁰ But don't pat yourselves on the back because of these things, be happy that you are in God's tally book."

Jesus Offers up Thanks

²¹ At that moment, the Holy Spirit filled Jesus with joy, and he prayed, "Boss, you're Lord over heaven and this big ball of dirt and water. Thank you for hiding the truth from those who think they are smart and showing it to those who have a childlike faith in you. I know this was your plan, Dad, and I know you like it."

²² Then Jesus turned his attention back to everyone and said, "My Dad has given me everything. No one knows him but me and those cowboys who I choose to reveal him to."

²³ Later on when they were all alone, he told his twelve cowboys, "If only others were as blessed as y'all to see the things that you've seen. ²⁴ Even the old-time prophets and kings wished they could have seen just a smidge of what y'all have laid eyes on. They dreamed of hearing the things that y'alls ears have heard."

The Good Deed of the Half-Breed

²⁵ One day, a religious expert tried to test Jesus with this question, "Boss, what'll I have to do to live forever?"

²⁶ Jesus replied, "What does the code of Moses say? What's your take on it?"

²⁷ They guy answered, "Love the Boss with all your heart, strength, mind, and soul. And also take care of your neighbor better than you take care of yourself."

²⁸ Jesus said, "Well done! There, you have your answer."

²⁹ But that fellow was up to no good and asked, "But who is my neighbor?"

³⁰ Jesus sat down and began a story, "A Jewish fellow was riding down the trail from Jerusalem to Jericho and was bushwhacked by outlaws. They stripped all his clothes, beat him nearly to death, and left him for the buzzards beside the trail.

³¹ "Then a Jewish preacher rode by and saw the plight of the man and instead of helping him, he just side passed his pony to the other side of the trail and rode on. ³² Then a church worker rode by and stopped and looked, but kept right on riding.

³³ "Then one of those despised half-breed Jews saw the man and felt sorry for him. ³⁴ The Samaritan covered him and did what he could for his wounds. He then lifted the guy onto his horse and took him to a hotel. The Samaritan stayed in the room with him and cared for him. ³⁵ The next day, he went downstairs and handed the hotel manager two silver coins and said, 'Take care of the fellow in my room. If his tab runs over, I'll come back and pay it.'

³⁶ "Now which of the three people who rode by the fellow was the neighbor?" Jesus asked sternly.

³⁷ The guy replied, "The one who took care of him."

Jesus said, "You do the same."

The Difference in Mary and Martha

³⁸ Jesus and his twelve cowboys rode along and finally stopped in a village. A lady named Martha invited him to her house. ³⁹ She had a sister named Mary who sat at the feet of Jesus and drank in every word as he talked.

⁴⁰ But Martha worked herself into a tizzy and went and asked Jesus, "Do you even care that I'm bustin' my butt for y'all and Mary is just sitting there? Tell her to get up and help."

⁴¹ But Jesus said, "Whoa, Martha! Quit worrying and fussin'. ⁴² Mary is the one who is making the better choice right now, and I'm sure not going to take that away from her."