Jesus Sends Out His Disciples
February 19, 2022
Commentary
From this passage we see that we are ambassadors sent to represent Christ in this world. It is important to note that God did not promise to duplicate in our age the special ministry and power He gave His apostles and to the Seventy (Matt 9:1). Our Lord’s commission to us emphasizes proclaiming the message (Matt. 28:19-20; Lk. 24:46-49).
The Seventy were sent two by two for a limited time to represent the Lord to the people of Israel and sent before Him to prepare for His coming (v. 1). There were few workers to help reap a great harvest and the work was dangerous, but as long as they relied on the Lord they would win the battle (v. 2). They trusted God to provide homes and food from their Jewish brethren as they were not to be loaded down with things (vv. 3-4). They were to proclaim the message of God’s love (vv. 5-16).Jesus gave two rules for the disciples to follow as they traveled. They were to accept hospitality without being picky and they were to heal the sick (vv. 8-9.
It is true that there are multitudes, not only in the United States but in all the regions beyond, who need Christ and who are waiting for the messengers of the Lord to go to them with the Good News of the gospel.
Application
The fields are ripe for God’s harvest. I am to pray for laborers, give to those who are laborers, and go to those who need to hear (v. 2). Am I doing all that I can to get the message out to this needy world? (Mk. 16:15).
Luke 10:1– 16 (NET)
1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him two by two into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs surrounded by wolves. 4 Do not carry a money bag, a traveler’s bag, or sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whenever you enter a house, first say, ‘May peace be on this house!’ 6 And if a peace-loving person is there, your peace will remain on him, but if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in that same house, eating and drinking what they give you, for the worker deserves his pay. Do not move around from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and the people welcome you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in that town and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come upon you!’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and the people do not welcome you, go 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: The kingdom of God has come.’ 12 I tell you, 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 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 Sidon in the judgment than for you! 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be thrown down to Hades!
16 “The one who listens to you listens to me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”