Luke 10

The Seventy-Two Appointed and Sent Out

1 And after these [things], the Lord also appointed seventy-two others and sent them out two by two before {him} into every town and place where he was about to go.

2 And he said to them, "The harvest [is] plentiful, but the workers [are] few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest that he send out workers into his harvest.

3 Go! Behold, I am sending you out like lambs in the midst of wolves!

4 Do not carry a money bag or a traveler's bag or sandals, and greet no one along the road.

5 And into whatever house you enter, first say, "Peace [be] to this household!"

6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him. But if not, it will return to you.

7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking {whatever they provide}, for the worker [is] worthy of his pay. Do not move from house to house.

8 And into whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat {whatever is} set before you,

9 and heal the sick in it, and say to them, "The kingdom of God has come near to you."

10 But into whatever town you enter and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets [and] say,

11 "Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you! Nevertheless know this: that the kingdom of God has come near!"

12 I tell you that it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town!

13 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes!

14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and for Sidon in the judgment than for you!

15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No! You will be brought down to Hades!

16 The one who listens to you listens to me, and the one who rejects you rejects me. But the one who rejects me rejects the one who sent me."

17 And the seventy-two returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!"

18 So he said to them, "I saw Satan falling like lightning from heaven.

19 Behold, I have given you the authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will ever harm you.

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

Jesus Rejoices and Prays

21 At [that] same time he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these [things] from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to young children. Yes, Father, for this was pleasing before you.

22 All [things] have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father and who the Father is except the Son, and [anyone] to whom the Son wants to reveal [him]."

23 And turning to the disciples, he said privately, "Blessed [are] the eyes that see [the things] which you see!

24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired 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]."

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 And behold, a certain legal expert stood up to test him, saying, "Teacher, what must I do so that I will inherit eternal life?"

26 And he said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read [it]?"

27 And he answered [and] said, "You shall love the Lord your God from 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. Do this and you will live."

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

30 And Jesus replied [and] said, "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who both stripped him and beat [him]. [After] inflicting blows on [him], they went away, leaving [him] half dead.

31 Now by coincidence a certain priest was going down on that road, and [when he] saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.

32 And in the same way also a Levite, [when he] came down to the place and saw [him], passed by on the opposite side.

33 But a certain Samaritan who was traveling came up to him and, [when he] saw [him], had compassion.

34 And he came up [and] bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine, and he put him on his own animal [and] brought him to an inn and took care of him.

35 And on the next day, he took out two denarii [and] gave [them] to the innkeeper, and said, "Take care of him, and whatever you spend in addition, I will repay to you when I return.

36 Which of these three do you suppose became a neighbor of the man who fell among the robbers?"

37 So he said, "The one who showed mercy to him." And Jesus said to him, "You go and do likewise."

Martha and Mary

38 Now as they traveled along, he entered into a certain village. And a certain woman {named} Martha welcomed him.

39 And {she had} a sister named Mary, who also sat at the feet of Jesus [and] was listening to his teaching.

40 But Martha was distracted with much preparation, so she approached [and] said, "Lord, is it not a concern to you that my sister has left me alone to make preparations? Then tell her that she should help me!"

41 But the Lord answered [and] said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many [things]!

42 But few [things] are necessary, or [only] one [thing], for Mary has chosen the better part, which 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Some manuscripts omit "also"
• [b]. Literally "his presence"
• [c]. Literally "the things from them"
• [d]. Literally "the things"
• [e]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("go out") has been translated as a finite verb
• [f]. Or "has come"
• [g]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [h]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [i]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [j]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [k]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("answered") has been translated as a finite verb
• [l]. A quotation from Deut 6:5
• [m]. A quotation from Lev 19:18
• [n]. Some manuscripts omit "and"
• [o]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("replied") has been translated as a finite verb
• [p]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [q]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("inflicting blows on") which is understood as temporal
• [r]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [s]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [t]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("saw") which is understood as temporal
• [u]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("came") which is understood as temporal
• [v]. Some manuscripts have "who happened by the place, when he came up to him"
• [w]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [x]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("saw") which is understood as temporal
• [y]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [z]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("came up") has been translated as a finite verb
• [aa]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("put") has been translated as a finite verb
• [ab]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("took out") has been translated as a finite verb
• [ac]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [ad]. Some manuscripts have "he took out [and] gave two denarii"
• [ae]. Literally "by name"
• [af]. Most manuscripts add some form of the location such as "into her house" but there is considerable variation in the exact wording, so the shorter reading is preferred
• [ag]. Literally "this was"
• [ah]. Some manuscripts have "of the Lord"
• [ai]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("sat") has been translated as a finite verb
• [aj]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("approached") has been translated as a finite verb
• [ak]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("answered") has been translated as a finite verb
• [al]. Some manuscripts have "But one thing is necessary"