Luke 10

1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy-two others as well, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every town and place where he himself was about to come. [a] 2 And he was saying to them, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few; so beg the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest. [b] 3 Go. Look, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Do not carry a purse, or a bag, or sandals; and greet no one along the road.

5 “And into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will come back to you. 7 And stay in that same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not move from house to house. 8 And into whatever town you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you, 9 and heal the sick in it, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

10 “But into whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust from your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. But know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you that it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the acts of power that happened in you had happened in Tyre and Sidon, they would have had a change of mind long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum — will you be lifted up as far as heaven? You will be brought down as far as Hades. [c] 16 The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me; and the one who rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

17 And the seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name.” 18 And he said to them, “I was watching Satan fall like lightning out of heaven. 19 Look, I have given you the authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will harm you at all. 20 But do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; rejoice instead that your names have been written in the heavens.”

21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give thanks to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you hid these things from the wise and the understanding and revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, because this is what was pleasing before you. [d] 22 All things were handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, nor who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

23 And turning to the disciples privately he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see and did not see it, and to hear what you hear and did not hear it.”

25 And look, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit everlasting life?” 26 And he said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered and said, “You are to love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with your whole strength, and with your whole mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” [e] 28 And he said to him, “You answered rightly; do this and you will live.”

29 But he, wanting to set himself right, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” [f] 30 Jesus took it up and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and laid blows on him and went away, leaving him half dead. † 31 And by coincidence a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite too, coming to the place and seeing him, passed by on the other side.

33 “But a Samaritan on a journey came upon him, and when he saw him he was moved with compassion, 34 and he came to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he put him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And on the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will pay you back when I come back.’ [g] † 36 Which of these three seems to you to have become a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” † 37 And he said, “The one who dealt in mercy with him.” And Jesus said to him, “Go, and you do likewise.” [h]

38 Now as they were traveling on, he entered a certain village; and a woman named Martha welcomed him. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat down at Jesus’ feet and was listening to his word. 40 But Martha was pulled away by all the serving; and she came up and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her, then, to take hold of it with me.” [i] 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but few things are needed, or one; for Mary chose the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” [j]