1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest. 3 Go! Look, I am sending you as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry no money pouch, no bag, and no sandals, and greet no one along the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; otherwise it will return to you. 7 Stay in that same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move from house to house. 8 Whatever town you enter where people welcome you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has drawn near to you.’ 10 But whatever town you enter where people do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that has clung to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has drawn near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom on that day than for that town.

13 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done among you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 Yet it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades.

16 Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name!” 18 He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Look, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will harm you. 20 Yet do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you. Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

21 At that very hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and discerning and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” 22 “All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

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

25 An expert in the law stood up to test him and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.”

29 But wanting to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 By chance a priest was going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite came to the place, saw him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan who was traveling came upon him, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and cared for him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. Whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I return.’ 36 Which of these three do you think became a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go, and do the same.”

38 As they continued on their way, Jesus entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to his word. 40 But Martha was distracted by the many tasks of serving. She came up and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me.” 41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, 42 but few things are needed, or just one. For Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken from her.”