Luke10
New King James Version
1After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.
2Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
3Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.
4Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.
5But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’
6And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you.
7And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.
8Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.
9And heal the sick there, 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‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’
12But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.
13“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done 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 at the judgment than for you.
15And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades.
16He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”
17Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
18And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
19Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
21In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
22All things have been delivered 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 the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”
23Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see;
24for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.”
25And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
26He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”
27So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
28And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”
29But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.
33But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.
34So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’
36So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
37And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
38Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.
39And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.
40But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
41And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
42But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will 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