After these things the Lord appointed also others, seventy-two, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to come; and He said to them: 'He who hears you hears Me; and he who despises you despises Me; and he who despises Me despises Him who sent Me.' And the seventy-two returned with joy, saying: 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Thy name.' And He said to them: 'I saw Satan falling like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. But yet rejoice not in this, that the spirits are subject to you;
'but rejoice rather that your names are written in heaven.' In that same hour He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said: 'I confess to Thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to little ones. Yea, Father, for so it has seemed good before Thee. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son but the Father, neither does anyone know the Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son shall be pleased to reveal Him.' And turning to His disciples He said: 'Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. Take up My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, because I am meek and humble of heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.
'For My yoke is sweet, and My burden light. If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters, and moreover his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And he who does not carry his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and reckon the costs that are necessary, whether he has enough to finish it; lest, after he has laid the foundation and has not been able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying: This man began to build, and was not able to complete?
'Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Otherwise, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy and asks for terms of peace. So therefore everyone of you who does not renounce all that he possesses cannot be My disciple.'