Luke10
New American Standard
1Now after this the Lord appointed seventy-two others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come.
2And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
3Go; behold, I am sending you out like lambs in the midst of wolves.
4Carry no money belt, no bag, no sandals, and greet no one along the way.
5And whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’
6And if a man of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him; but if not, it will return to you.
7Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they provide; for the laborer is deserving of his wages. Do not move from house to house.
8Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is served to you;
9and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
10But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say,
11‘Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’
12I say to you, it will be more tolerable on that day for Sodom than for that city.
13“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that occurred in you had occurred in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
14But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you.
15And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? 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.”
17Now the seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!”
18And He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning.
19Behold, I have given you authority to walk on snakes and scorpions, and authority over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.
20Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”
21At that very time He rejoiced greatly 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 infants. Yes, Father, for doing so was well pleasing in Your sight.
22All 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 determines to reveal Him.”
23Turning to the disciples, He said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see the things you see;
24for I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see the things that you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things that you hear, and did not hear them.”
25And behold, a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
26And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?”
27And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”
28And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”
29But wanting to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he encountered robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead.
31And by coincidence a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
33But a Samaritan who was on a journey came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion,
34and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
35On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return, I will repay you.’
36Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?”
37And he said, “The one who showed compassion to him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”
38Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.
39And she had a sister called Mary, who was also seated at the Lord’s feet, and was listening to His word.
40But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do the serving by myself? Then tell her to help me.”
41But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things;
42but only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Luke 10.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: 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).
vv1-16
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.
vv17-24
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.
vv25-37
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.
Key Words
ταῦτα (taûta): these things
κύριος (kýrios): supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title)
ἀναδείκνυμι (anadeíknymi): to exhibit, i.e. (by implication) to indicate, appoint
ἕτερος (héteros): (an-, the) other or different
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἀποστέλλω (apostéllō): set apart, i.e. (by implication) to send out (properly, on a mission) literally or figuratively
αὐτός (autós): the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
δύο (dýo): "two"
ἀνά (aná): properly, up; but (by extension) used (distributively) severally, or (locally) at (etc.)
εἰς (eis): to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
Cross References
Luke 10Direct verbal parallel warning Chorazin and Bethsaida about the judgment on Tyre and Sidon.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Direct parallel of Jesus' praise to the Father hiding things from the wise and revealing them to babes.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Quoted directly by the lawyer regarding the commandment to love God with all one's heart.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Jesus quotes the promise of the law: 'this do, and thou shalt live' from Leviticus.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Allusion to the seventy elders chosen to assist Moses, matching Christ's appointment of seventy.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Direct parallel warning that the harvest is great and the laborers are few.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Direct parallel to Jesus' sending out His disciples as lambs/sheep in the midst of wolves.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Verbal parallel: he who hears and receives the sent disciples hears and receives Christ.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Messianic promise of treading upon the lion and adder (serpents and scorpions).
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the concept of names written in heaven's book of life.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Echos the language of prideful exaltation to heaven and being thrust down to hell.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels Jesus' vision of Satan falling like lightning from heaven.
Supported by JFB
Verbal parallel on the blessing of the disciples seeing and hearing what kings and prophets desired.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Thematic imagery of sitting down at the feet of the Lord to receive His words.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Identifies the role and testing nature of the 'lawyers' in Luke's Gospel.
Supported by Matthew Poole