Luke 10WEB
Books
All books

Luke10

World English Bible · Public Domain

1Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place where he was about to come.

2Then he said to them, “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest.

3Go your ways. Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.

4Carry no purse, nor wallet, nor sandals. Greet no one on the way.

5Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’

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

7Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don’t go from house to house.

8Into whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat the things that are set before you.

9Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’

10But into whatever city you enter and they don’t receive you, go out into its streets and say,

11‘Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’

12I tell you, 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 had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, 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.

15You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades.

16Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

17The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”

18He said to them, “I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven.

19Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you.

20Nevertheless, don’t rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

21In that same hour, Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.”

22Turning to the disciples, he said, “All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is, except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son, and he to whomever the Son desires to reveal him.”

23Turning to the disciples, he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see,

24for I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them.”

25Behold, 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? How do you read it?”

27He answered, “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.”

28He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.”

29But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”

30Jesus answered, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

33But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion,

34came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. 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 host, and said to him, ‘Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.’

36Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?”

37He said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

38As they went on their way, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

39She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard his word.

40But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him, and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me.”

41Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,

42but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Luke 10.

Full AI study →

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.

Cross References

Luke 10
v13Matthew 11:20-22thematic

Direct verbal parallel warning Chorazin and Bethsaida about the judgment on Tyre and Sidon.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v21Matthew 11:25-27thematic

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

v27Deuteronomy 6:5quotation

Quoted directly by the lawyer regarding the commandment to love God with all one's heart.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v28Leviticus 18:5quotation

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

v2Matthew 9:37-38thematic

Direct parallel warning that the harvest is great and the laborers are few.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v3Matthew 10:16thematic

Direct parallel to Jesus' sending out His disciples as lambs/sheep in the midst of wolves.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v16Matthew 10:40thematic

Verbal parallel: he who hears and receives the sent disciples hears and receives Christ.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v19Psalms 91:13allusion

Messianic promise of treading upon the lion and adder (serpents and scorpions).

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB

v20Exodus 32:32thematic

Parallels the concept of names written in heaven's book of life.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v15Isaiah 14:13-15allusion

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

v23Matthew 13:16-17thematic

Verbal parallel on the blessing of the disciples seeing and hearing what kings and prophets desired.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v39Deuteronomy 33:3thematic

Thematic imagery of sitting down at the feet of the Lord to receive His words.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v25Luke 11:45-46thematic

Identifies the role and testing nature of the 'lawyers' in Luke's Gospel.

Supported by Matthew Poole