Luke 10

1 After this, the Lord chose seventy-twon others and sent them out in pairs ahead of him into every town and place where he planned to go.

2 He said to them, "There are a great many people to harvest, but there are only a few workers. So pray to God, who owns the harvest, that he will send more workers to help gather his harvest.

3 Go now, but listen! I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.

4 Don't carry a purse, a bag, or sandals, and don't waste time talking with people on the road.

5 Before you go into a house, say, 'Peace be with this house.'

6 If peaceful people live there, your blessing of peace will stay with them, but if not, then your blessing will come back to you.

7 Stay in the peaceful house, eating and drinking what the people there give you. A worker should be given his pay. Don't move from house to house.

8 If you go into a town and the people welcome you, eat what they give you.

9 Heal the sick who live there, and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.'

10 But if you go into a town, and the people don't welcome you, then go into the streets and say,

11 'Even the dirt from your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. But remember that the kingdom of God is near.'

12 I tell you, on the Judgment Day it will be better for the people of Sodomn than for the people of that town.

13 "How terrible for you, Korazin! How terrible for you, Bethsaida! If the miracles I did in you had happened in Tyre and Sidon, those people would have changed their lives long ago. They would have worn rough cloth and put ashes on themselves to show they had changed.

14 But on the Judgment Day it will be better for Tyre and Sidon than for you.

15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No! You will be thrown down to the depths!

16 "Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever refuses to accept you refuses to accept me. And whoever refuses to accept me refuses to accept the One who sent me."

17 When the seventy-twon came back, they were very happy and said, "Lord, even the demons obeyed us when we used your name!"

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

19 Listen, I have given you power to walk on snakes and scorpions, power that is greater than the enemy has. So nothing will hurt you.

20 But you should not be happy because the spirits obey you but because your names are written in heaven."

21 Then Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the people who are wise and smart. But you have shown them to those who are like little children. Yes, Father, this is what you really wanted.

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 whom the Son chooses to tell."

23 Then Jesus turned to his followers and said privately, "You are blessed to see what you now see.

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

25 Then an expert on the law stood up to test Jesus, saying, "Teacher, what must I do to get life forever?"

26 Jesus said, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?"

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

28 Jesus said to him, "Your answer is right. Do this and you will live."

29 But the man, wanting to show the importance of his question, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

30 Jesus answered, "As a man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, some robbers attacked him. They tore off his clothes, beat him, and left him lying there, almost dead.

31 It happened that a Jewish priest was going down that road. When he saw the man, he walked by on the other side.

32 Next, a Leviten came there, and after he went over and looked at the man, he walked by on the other side of the road.

33 Then a Samaritann traveling down the road came to where the hurt man was. When he saw the man, he felt very sorry for him.

34 The Samaritan went to him, poured olive oil and winen on his wounds, and bandaged them. Then he put the hurt man on his own donkey and took him to an inn where he cared for him.

35 The next day, the Samaritan brought out two coins, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of this man. If you spend more money on him, I will pay it back to you when I come again.'"

36 Then Jesus said, "Which one of these three men do you think was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by the robbers?"

37 The expert on the law answered, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Then go and do what he did."

38 While Jesus and his followers were traveling, Jesus went into a town. A woman named Martha let Jesus stay at her house.

39 Martha had a sister named Mary, who was sitting at Jesus' feet and listening to him teach.

40 But Martha was busy with all the work to be done. She went in and said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me alone to do all the work? Tell her to help me."

41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things.

42 Only one thing is important. Mary has chosen the better thing, and it will never 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.