Luke 10

1 After this the Lord chose another seventy-two men and sent them out two by two, to go ahead of him to every town and place where he himself was about to go.

2 He said to them, "There is a large harvest, but few workers to gather it in. Pray to the owner of the harvest that he will send out workers to gather in his harvest. ¹

3 Go! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. ²

4 Don't take a purse or a beggar's bag or shoes; don't stop to greet anyone on the road.

5 Whenever you go into a house, first say, "Peace be with this house.'

6 If someone who is peace-loving lives there, let your greeting of peace remain on that person; if not, take back your greeting of peace.

7 Stay in that same house, eating and drinking whatever they offer you, for workers should be given their pay. Don't move around from one house to another. ³

8 Whenever you go into a town and are made welcome, eat what is set before you,

9 heal the sick in that town, and say to the people there, "The Kingdom of God has come near you.'

10 But whenever you go into a town and are not welcomed, go out in the streets and say, ⁴

11 "Even the dust from your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. But remember that the Kingdom of God has come near you!' ⁵

12 I assure you that on the Judgment Day God will show more mercy to Sodom than to that town! ⁶

13 "How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible for you too, Bethsaida! If the miracles which were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have long ago sat down, put on sackcloth, and sprinkled ashes on themselves, to show that they had turned from their sins! ⁷

14 God will show more mercy on the Judgment Day to Tyre and Sidon than to you.

15 And as for you, Capernaum! Did you want to lift yourself up to heaven? You will be thrown down to hell!" ⁸

16 Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." ⁹

17 The seventy-two men came back in great joy. "Lord," they said, "even the demons obeyed us when we gave them a command in your name!"

18 Jesus answered them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

19 Listen! I have given you authority, so that you can walk on snakes and scorpions and overcome all the power of the Enemy, and nothing will hurt you. ¹⁰

20 But don't be glad because the evil spirits obey you; rather be glad because your names are written in heaven."

21 At that time Jesus was filled with joy by the Holy Spirit and said, "Father, Lord of heaven and earth! I thank you because you have shown to the unlearned what you have hidden from the wise and learned. Yes, Father, this was how you were pleased to have it happen.

22 "My Father has given me all things. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." ¹¹

23 Then Jesus turned to the disciples and said to them privately, "How fortunate you are to see the things you see!

24 I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see, but they could not, and to hear what you hear, but they did not."

25 A teacher of the Law came up and tried to trap Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to receive eternal life?" ¹²

26 Jesus answered him, "What do the Scriptures say? How do you interpret them?"

27 The man answered, " "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind'; and "Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' " ¹³

28 "You are right," Jesus replied; "do this and you will live." ¹⁴

29 But the teacher of the Law wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?"

30 Jesus answered, "There was once a man who was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when robbers attacked him, stripped him, and beat him up, leaving him half dead.

31 It so happened that a priest was going down that road; but when he saw the man, he walked on by on the other side.

32 In the same way a Levite also came there, went over and looked at the man, and then walked on by on the other side.

33 But a Samaritan who was traveling that way came upon the man, and when he saw him, his heart was filled with pity. ¹⁵

34 He went over to him, poured oil and wine on his wounds and bandaged them; then he put the man on his own animal and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.

35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. "Take care of him,' he told the innkeeper, "and when I come back this way, I will pay you whatever else you spend on him.' "

36 And Jesus concluded, "In your opinion, which one of these three acted like a neighbor toward the man attacked by the robbers?"

37 The teacher of the Law answered, "The one who was kind to him." Jesus replied, "You go, then, and do the same."

38 As Jesus and his disciples went on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha welcomed him in her home. ¹⁶

39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat down at the feet of the Lord and listened to his teaching.

40 Martha was upset over all the work she had to do, so she came and said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to come and help me!"

41 The Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha! You are worried and troubled over so many things,

42 but just one is needed. Mary has chosen the right thing, and it will 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. 10.2Matthew 9.37, 38.
• 2. 10.3Matthew 10.16.
• 3. 10.71 Corinthians 9.14;1 Timothy 5.18.
• 4. 10.10, 11Acts 13.51.
• 5. 10.4-11Matthew 10.7-14;Mark 6.8-11;Luke 9.3-5.
• 6. 10.12 aGenesis 19.24-28;Matthew 11.24; bMatthew 10.15.
• 7. 10.13Isaiah 23.1-18;Ezekiel 26.1--28.26;Joel 3.4-8;Amos 1.9, 10;Zechariah 9.2-4.
• 8. 10.15Isaiah 14.13-15.
• 9. 10.16Matthew 10.40;Mark 9.37;Luke 9.48;John 13.20.
• 10. 10.19Psalms 91.13.
• 11. 10.22 aJohn 3.35;bJohn 10.15.
• 12. 10.25-28Matthew 22.35-40;Mark 12.28-34.
• 13. 10.27 aDeuteronomy 6.5; bLeviticus 19.18.
• 14. 10.28Leviticus 18.5.
• 15. 10.33, 342 Chronicles 28.15.
• 16. 10.38, 39John 11.1.

Footnotes

• [a]. seventy-two; [some manuscripts have] seventy.
• [b]. seventy-two; [some manuscripts have] seventy [(see verse 1).]
• [c]. by the Holy Spirit; [some manuscripts have] by the Spirit; [others have] in his spirit.