LECTION 18 - The Sendeth Forth Of The Two and Seventy
The Sendeth Forth Of The Two and Seventy
1. AFTER these things the Lord appointed two and seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place (of the tribes) whither he (himself) would come.
2. Therefore said he unto them,
The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few, pray ye therefore the Lord (of the harvest) that he would send forth labourers into the harvest.
3. Go your ways, behold I send you forth [as] lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes, and salute no man by the way.
4. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the spirit (of peace) be there your peace shall rest upon it, if not it shall turn to you again.
5. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you without taking of life. And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The Kingdom (of God) is come nigh unto you.
6. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give without shedding (of blood) for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
7. But into whatsoever city ye enter and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same and say, Even the very dust of your city (which cleaveth on us) we do wipe off against you, notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the Kingdom (of God) is come nigh unto you.
8. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon (which have been done in you) they had a great while ago changed, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for them in the judgement than for you.
9. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven shalt be thrust down to hades. They that hear you, hear also me; and they that despise you, despise also me; and they that despise me, despise Him that sent me. But let all be persuaded in their own minds.
10. AND again Iesus said unto them:
Be merciful, so shall ye obtain mercy. Forgive others, so shall ye be forgiven. With what measure ye mete, with the same shall it be meted unto you again.
11. As ye do unto others, so shall it be done you. As ye give, so shall it be given unto you. As ye judge others, so shall ye be judged. As ye serve others, so. shall ye be served.
12. For God is just, and rewardeth every one according to their works. That which they sow they shall also reap.
LECTION 18. 1 -This number (seventy-two), symbolizring amongst the Jews the Nations of the Earth, and late-denoting the Diaconate of the Church Universal (in priestly orders), was afterwards selected by the Christian Church as the complete number of its cardinals, as it had been before the number of members of the Jewish Sanhedrim.