Luke 10

The Seventy Sent Out

1 Now after this ¹the Lord appointed seventy ²others, and sent them ³in pairs ahead * of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come.

2 And He was saying to them, "⁴The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

3 "Go; ⁵behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.

4 "⁶Carry no money belt, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way.

5 "Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house.'

6 "If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.

7 "Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for ⁷the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house.

8 "Whatever city you enter and they receive you, ⁸eat what is set before you;

9 and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, '⁹The kingdom of God has come near to you.'

10 "But whatever * city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say,

11 '¹⁰Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that ¹¹the kingdom of God has come near.'

12 "I say to you, ¹²it will be more tolerable in that day for ¹³Sodom than for that city.

13 "¹⁴Woe to you, ¹⁵Chorazin! Woe to you, ¹⁶Bethsaida! For if the miracles had been performed in ¹⁷Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in ¹⁸sackcloth and ashes.

14 "But it will be more tolerable for ¹⁹Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you.

15 "And you, ²⁰Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be brought down to Hades!

16 "²¹The one who listens to you listens to Me, and ²²the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me."

The Happy Results

17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even ²³the demons are subject to us in Your name."

18 And He said to them, "I was watching ²⁴Satan fall from heaven like lightning.

19 "Behold, I have given you authority to ²⁵tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.

20 "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that ²⁶your names are recorded in heaven."

21 ²⁷At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, "I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.

22 "²⁸All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and ²⁹no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."

23 ³⁰Turning to the disciples, He said privately *, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see,

24 for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them."

25 ³¹And a ³²lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

26 And He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?"

27 And he answered, "³³YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."

28 And He said to him, "You have answered correctly; ³⁴DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE."

29 But wishing ³⁵to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

The Good Samaritan

30 Jesus replied and said, "A man was ³⁶going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat * him, and went away leaving him half dead.

31 "And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 "Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

33 "But a ³⁷Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion,

34 and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

35 "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, when I return I will repay you.'

36 "Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?"

37 And he said, "The one who showed mercy toward him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do the same."

Martha and Mary

38 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named ³⁸Martha welcomed Him into her home.

39 She had a sister called ³⁹Mary, who was ⁴⁰seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word.

40 But ⁴¹Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me."

41 But the Lord answered and said to her, "⁴²Martha, Martha, you are ⁴³worried and bothered about so many things;

42 ⁴⁴but only one thing is necessary, for ⁴⁵Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

Luke 10 Commentary

Chapter 10

Seventy disciples sent forth. (1-16) The blessedness of Christ's disciples. (17-24) The good Samaritan. (25-37) Jesus at the house of Martha and Mary. (38-42)

Verses 1-16 Christ sent the seventy disciples, two and two, that they might strengthen and encourage one another. The ministry of the gospel calls men to receive Christ as a Prince and a Saviour; and he will surely come in the power of his Spirit to all places whither he sends his faithful servants. But the doom of those who receive the grace of God in vain, will be very fearful Those who despise the faithful ministers of Christ, who think meanly of them, and look scornfully upon them, will be reckoned as despisers of God and Christ.

Verses 17-24 All our victories over Satan, are obtained by power derived from Jesus Christ, and he must have all the praise. But let us beware of spiritual pride, which has been the destruction of many. Our Lord rejoiced at the prospect of the salvation of many souls. It was fit that particular notice should be taken of that hour of joy; there were few such, for He was a man of sorrows: in that hour in which he saw Satan fall, and heard of the good success of his ministers, in that hour he rejoiced. He has ever resisted the proud, and given grace to the humble. The more simply dependent we are on the teaching, help, and blessing of the Son of God, the more we shall know both of the Father and of the Son; the more blessed we shall be in seeing the glory, and hearing the words of the Divine Saviour; and the more useful we shall be made in promoting his cause.

Verses 25-37 If we speak of eternal life, and the way to it, in a careless manner, we take the name of God in vain. No one will ever love God and his neighbour with any measure of pure, spiritual love, who is not made a partaker of converting grace. But the proud heart of man strives hard against these convictions. Christ gave an instance of a poor Jew in distress, relieved by a good Samaritan. This poor man fell among thieves, who left him about to die of his wounds. He was slighted by those who should have been his friends, and was cared for by a stranger, a Samaritan, of the nation which the Jews most despised and detested, and would have no dealings with. It is lamentable to observe how selfishness governs all ranks; how many excuses men will make to avoid trouble or expense in relieving others. But the true Christian has the law of love written in his heart. The Spirit of Christ dwells in him; Christ's image is renewed in his soul. The parable is a beautiful explanation of the law of loving our neighbour as ourselves, without regard to nation, party, or any other distinction. It also sets forth the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward sinful, miserable men. We were like this poor, distressed traveller. Satan, our enemy, has robbed us, and wounded us: such is the mischief sin has done us. The blessed Jesus had compassion on us. The believer considers that Jesus loved him, and gave his life for him, when an enemy and a rebel; and having shown him mercy, he bids him go and do likewise. It is the duty of us all , in our places, and according to our ability, to succour, help, and relieve all that are in distress and necessity.

Verses 38-42 A good sermon is not the worse for being preached in a house; and the visits of our friends should be so managed, as to make them turn to the good of their souls. Sitting at Christ's feet, signifies readiness to receive his word, and submission to the guidance of it. Martha was providing for the entertainment of Christ, and those that came with him. Here were respect to our Lord Jesus and right care of her household affairs. But there was something to be blamed. She was for much serving; plenty, variety, and exactness. Worldly business is a snare to us, when it hinders us from serving God, and getting good to our souls. What needless time is wasted, and expense often laid out, even in entertaining professors of the gospel! Though Martha was on this occasion faulty, yet she was a true believer, and in her general conduct did not neglect the one thing needful. The favour of God is needful to our happiness; the salvation of Christ is needful to our safety. Where this is attended to, all other things will be rightly pursued. Christ declared, Mary hath chosen the good part. For one thing is needful, this one thing that she has done, to give up herself to the guidance of Christ. The things of this life will be taken away from us, at the furthest, when we shall be taken away from them; but nothing shall separate from the love of Christ, and a part in that love. Men and devils cannot take it away from us, and God and Christ will not. Let us mind the one thing needful more diligently.

Cross References

• 1. Luke 7:13
• 2. Luke 9:1f, 52
• 3. Mark 6:7
• 4. Matthew 9:37, 38; John 4:35
• 5. Matthew 10:16
• 6. Matthew 10:9-14; Mark 6:8-11; Luke 9:3-5; Luke 10:4-12
• 7. Matthew 10:10; 1 Corinthians 9:14; 1 Timothy 5:18
• 8. 1 Corinthians 10:27
• 9. Matthew 3:2; Matthew 10:7; Luke 10:11
• 10. Matthew 10:14; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5; Acts 13:51
• 11. Matthew 3:2; Matthew 10:7; Luke 10:9
• 12. Genesis 19:24-28; Matthew 10:15; Matthew 11:24
• 13. Matthew 10:15
• 14. Luke 10:13-15: {Matthew 11:21-23}
• 15. Isaiah 23:1-18; Ezek 26:1-28:26; Joel 3:4-8; Matthew 11:21
• 16. Isaiah 23:1-18; Ezek 26:1-28:26; Joel 3:4-8; Matthew 11:21
• 17. Isaiah 23:1-18; Ezek 26:1-28:26; Joel 3:4-8; Matthew 11:21
• 18. Revelation 11:3
• 19. Matthew 11:21
• 20. Isaiah 14:13-15; Matthew 4:13; Matthew 11:23
• 21. Matthew 10:40; Mark 9:37; Luke 9:48; John 13:20; Galatians 4:14
• 22. John 12:48; 1 Thessalonians 4:8
• 23. Mark 16:17
• 24. Matthew 4:10
• 25. Psalms 91:13; Mark 16:18
• 26. Exodus 32:32; Psalms 69:28; Isaiah 4:3; Ezekiel 13:9; Daniel 12:1; Philippians 4:3; Hebrews 12:23; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8; Revelation 20:12, 15; Revelation 21:27
• 27. Luke 10:21, 22: {Matthew 11:25-27}
• 28. John 3:35
• 29. John 10:15
• 30. Luke 10:23, 24: {Matthew 13:16, 17}
• 31. Luke 10:25-28: {Matthew 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-31;} Matthew 19:16-19
• 32. Matthew 22:35
• 33. Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18
• 34. Leviticus 18:5; Ezekiel 20:11; Matthew 19:17
• 35. Luke 16:15
• 36. Luke 18:31; Luke 19:28
• 37. Matthew 10:5; Luke 9:52
• 38. Luke 10:40; John 11:1, 5, 19ff, 30, 39; John 12:2
• 39. Luke 10:42; John 11:1f, 19f, 28, 31f, 45; John 12:3
• 40. Luke 8:35; Acts 22:3
• 41. Luke 10:38, 41; John 11:1, 5, 19ff, 30, 39; John 12:2
• 42. Luke 10:38, 40; John 11:1, 5, 19ff, 30, 39; John 12:2
• 43. Matthew 6:25
• 44. Psalms 27:4; John 6:27
• 45. Luke 10:39; John 11:1f, 19f, 28, 31f, 45; John 12:3

Footnotes

• [a]. Some mss read "seventy-two"
• [b]. Or "knapsack" or "beggar's bag"
• [c]. Lit "son of peace;" i.e. a person inclined toward peace
• [d]. Lit "the house itself"
• [e]. Lit "the things from them"
• [f]. Lit "know"
• [g]. Or "works of power"
• [h]. I.e. symbols of mourning
• [i]. Some mss read "seventy-two"
• [j]. Lit "hour"
• [k]. Or "acknowledge to You"
• [l]. I.e. an expert in the Mosaic Law
• [m]. Lit "How do you read?"
• [n]. Lit "laid blows upon"
• [o]. The denarius was equivalent to a day's wages
• [p]. Or "likewise"
• [q]. Lit "much service"