Luke 10

1 After this, the Lord appointed 70 other disciples to go ahead of him to every city and place that he intended to go. They were to travel in pairs.

2 He told them, "The harvest is large, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord who gives this harvest to send workers to harvest his crops.

3 Go! I'm sending you out like lambs among wolves.

4 Don't carry a wallet, a traveling bag, or sandals, and don't stop to greet anyone on the way.

5 Whenever you go into a house, greet the family right away with the words, 'May there be peace in this house.'

6 If a peaceful person lives there, your greeting will be accepted. But if that's not the case, your greeting will be rejected.

7 Stay with the family that accepts you. Eat and drink whatever they offer you. After all, the worker deserves his pay. Do not move around from one house to another.

8 Whenever you go into a city and the people welcome you, eat whatever they serve you.

9 Heal the sick that are there, and tell the people, 'The kingdom of God is near you!'

10 "But whenever you go into a city and people don't welcome you, leave. Announce in its streets,

11 'We are wiping your city's dust from our feet in protest against you! But realize that the kingdom of God is near you!'

12 I can guarantee that judgment day will be easier for Sodom than for that city.

13 "How horrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How horrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! If the miracles worked in your cities had been worked in Tyre and Sidon, they would have changed the way they thought and acted. Long ago they would have worn sackcloth and sat in ashes.

14 Judgment day will be better for Tyre and Sidon than for you.

15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to heaven? No, you will go to hell!

16 "The person who hears you hears me, and the person who rejects you rejects me. The person who rejects me rejects the one who sent me."

17 The 70 disciples came back very happy. They said, "Lord, even demons obey us when we use the power and authority of your name!"

18 Jesus said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning.

19 I have given you the authority to trample snakes and scorpions and to destroy the enemy's power. Nothing will hurt you.

20 However, don't be happy that evil spirits obey you. Be happy that your names are written in heaven."

21 In that hour the Holy Spirit filled Jesus with joy. Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from wise and intelligent people and revealing them to little children. Yes, Father, this is what pleased you.

22 "My Father has turned everything over to me. Only the Father knows who the Son is. And no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son is willing to reveal him."

23 He turned to his disciples in private and said to them, "How blessed you are to see what you've seen.

24 I can guarantee that many prophets and kings wanted to see and hear what you've seen and heard, but they didn't."

25 Then an expert in Moses' Teachings stood up to test Jesus. He asked, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

26 Jesus answered him, "What is written in Moses' Teachings? What do you read there?"

27 He 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.'"

28 Jesus told him, "You're right! Do this, and life will be yours."

29 But the man wanted to justify his question. So he asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?"

30 Jesus replied, "A man went from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way robbers stripped him, beat him, and left him for dead.

31 "By chance, a priest was traveling along that road. When he saw the man, he went around him and continued on his way.

32 Then a Levite came to that place. When he saw the man, he, too, went around him and continued on his way.

33 "But a Samaritan, as he was traveling along, came across the man. When the Samaritan saw him, he felt sorry for the man,

34 went to him, and cleaned and bandaged his wounds. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 The next day the Samaritan took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. He told the innkeeper, 'Take care of him. If you spend more than that, I'll pay you on my return trip.'

36 "Of these three men, who do you think was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by robbers?"

37 The expert said, "The one who was kind enough to help him." Jesus told him, "Go and imitate his example!"

38 As they were traveling along, Jesus went into a village. A woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.

39 She had a sister named Mary. Mary sat at the Lord's feet and listened to him talk.

40 But Martha was upset about all the work she had to do. So she asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work all by myself? Tell her to help me."

41 The Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha! You worry and fuss about a lot of things.

42 There's only one thing you need. Mary has made the right choice, and that one thing 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.