Luke 10
The 70; Humility; The Good Samaritan, Mary and Martha vs.38.
Text
Comments
The missionary work of the twelve recorded in mt0936-1101 was similar to that of the seventy.

Peace to your house v5
.1 ¶ After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, 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 his harvest.
.3  Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
 4  Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
  1 - Other seventy That is, seventy others beyond the twelve. The number is interesting. Moses appointed seventy nu1115 in addition to the twelve heads of tribes.
  1 - Two and two An important plan. They can support each other. One can pray silently while the other opens the Scriptures. More than two would be intimidating. Compare mr0607, ac1302, ac1527, ac1714, ac1922, lu0718.
  1 - Whither [where] he himself would come This program was well planned. Jesus knew where he would go probably having given specific instructions to each pair. They were apparently instructed to be back on a certain date for reporting which would be part of their educational program.
  2 - Harvest ... Labourers are few Few today are willing to leave their comfort area to reach out and witness to those in darkness. Would Jesus have trained 700 if they had been willing? We don't know.
  3 - Go your ways Where did they go? We have some clues. The twelve had been told not to go to Samaria or to the Gentiles mt1005. Now, before Christ's ministry ended, it was time for Samaria and Perea.
  3 - Lambs The charge to the twelve in mt1016 says "as sheep."
  3 - Wolves If we go at God's command, we need not fear the wolves knowing we are in His hands for safety or for scorn or sacrifice.
  4 - Scrip A leather sack used as "luggage."
  4 - Salute no man by the way Although the cultural friendship formalities were good, time was limited and they would salute the people they were sent to minister to v5. Compare Abraham's hospitality ge1802.

 5  And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
 6  And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
.7  And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
 8  And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:
.9  And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
  6 - Son of peace Their visit would depend on the hospitality of the head of the household.
  7 - Not from house to house The same basic plan as given to the twelve. See on mt1011.
  7 - Labourer While not grasping for money, we should expect to help support those who labor as pastors and others who bring the light of eternal salvation which is of unmeasured value.
  8 - Such things as are set This seems to permit what God had forbidden le1104. Avoiding unclean animals, however, would not have been a problem because they were to go only to homes of Jews and Samaritans who would not have served such things.
  9 - Heal the sick Only the one who has life in himself jn0526 can bring renewed health. Our "healing" is through prayer to the Master Physician jn1516. See on ja0514.
  9 - Kingdom of God The objective they and we have for a world dying in sin. See, mt0417, mt0503, lu0419. Consider the message of the baptist mt0302 and of Jesus mr0115. It was also preached by the twelve.
 10  But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,
 11  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.
.12  But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.
 13  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 repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
 14  But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.
 15  And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.
 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths." (NIV)
.16  He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
Often passages linked to include more than one verse.
  11 - Dust Not shaken off for spite or revenge. See on mt1014.
  12 - More tolerable Just think of the implication. Rejecting light is serious.
  13 - Chorazin ... Bethsaida The statement is also seen in mt1121. Luke may have copied it here to amplify the seriousness expressed in the preceding sentence. For the location of these towns, see the top of the Galilee area map. Chorazin is at one point of what is now called an evangelical triangle and is about 2½ miles north of the Sea of Galilee. The other two cities are Bethsaida and Capernaum. 
  15 - Exalted to heaven The NIV, as at the left, and other translations are apparently closer to the original. The accusation of eating with publicans and sinners mt0911 may have come from this attitude. We apparently do not know all of the background. Satan had these ideas is1413.
  15 - Hell Greek hades or "the grave."
  16 - Heareth ... despiseth See mt1040.
Capernaum A chief city of Galilee in the time of Christ, not mentioned before the captivity in Babylon.  It lay on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, about five miles from the Jordan and on the frequented route from Damascus to the Mediterranean.  This seems to have been the residence of Christ, during the three years of his ministry, more than any other place.  The brothers Andrew and Peter dwelt there; Christ often taught in the synagogue, and wrought mighty works there.  Mt 17:23; Mr 1:21-35; Joh 6:17,59; and it is called "his own city," Mt 4:12-16; 9:1; Mr 2:1.  Its inhabitants were thus "exalted unto heaven;" but their unbelief and impenitence cast them down to destruction, Mt 11:20-24.  The very name and site of Capernaum have been lost.  Dr. Robinson, however, finds them at Khan Minyeh, on the northern border of the fine plain of Gennesareth, where ruins of some extent still remain, and a copious fountain not far from the sea. (ATS Dict.). This dictionary is old. Now we know much more and have no doubt about the information we have about this city.
 17 ¶ And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
.18  And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
.19  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
.20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
  17 - Returned Compare mr0630.
  17 - Devils are subject They were right to be happy about this amazing power through Christ but it should not have been their greatest joy v20.
  18 - Satan fall An interesting response. The disciples were rejoicing about the wrong thing. They were basing their confidence in feelings while they had something infinitely more important to rejoice for, v17. See re1204.
  19 - Give you power In order to defeat the enemy who wanted to destroy souls.
  20 - Names written in heaven We see that God keeps a record. Matthew recorded many of Jesus' parables explaining the kingdom of heaven mt1331, mt1344, mt2501, lu1706. Why would names written be more important?
.21  In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
.22  All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
 23  And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:
 24  For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
   21 - Hidden from the "wise" Because the Holy Spirit does not reveal truth to those who think they know and feel superior — a lesson for all who seek education and courage for those who have had little or no schooling.
.25 ¶ And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
.26  He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
 27  And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
 28  And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
-
28  And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
.29  But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
 30  And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
.31  And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
 32  And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.


  28 - Answered right Jesus usually turned the deceptive questions of the Jewish leaders back on those who asked. This man was honest. We may assume that he had been sent to ask the question.
  29 - Who is my neighbour? The answer implied in the story is "all who need our love and help." Compare le2535.
  31 - Passed by He and the Levite should have known pr2411.
33  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
 34  And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
 35  And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
.36  Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
 37  And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
.38 ¶ Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
.39  And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
 40  But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
 41  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
 42  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
  Martha ... Mary A passage to contemplate. Compare jn1120.
Previous Next Luke home Contact Commentary home