Read Luke 10:1–24
Questions from the Scripture text: Whom does Jesus appoint in Luke 10:1? In what groups are they sent? Before Whom/what? To which places? What does He say about the harvest (Luke 10:2)? About the laborers? To Whom did He say to pray? That He would do what? Who is doing this very thing in Luke 10:3? What does He call those whom He is sending? What does He call those among whom He sends them? What are they not to carry (Luke 10:4)? Whom are they to greet? What are they to enter (Luke 10:5)? What’s the first thing they are to do there? What either will or won’t happen at that point (Luke 10:6)? Where else should they stay in that town (Luke 10:7)? What should they do with the good things they’re given? Why? In which cities are they to operate this way (Luke 10:8)? What are they to do in/from that house (Luke 10:9), and what are they to say in connection with that healing? What might a city not do (Luke 10:10)? What are they to do/say about the dust of their feet (Luke 10:11)? What are they to say in connection with that judgment (verse 11b, cf. Luke 10:9b)? What does Jesus say about such cities in connection with Sodom (Luke 10:12)? Who have it worse than Tyre and Sidon (Luke 10:13-14)? Why (verse 13)? What is the current condition of Capernaum (Luke 10:15)? What will happen to them? Who are hearing Jesus? (Luke 10:16)? Who are rejecting Jesus? Who are rejecting the Father? Who return in Luke 10:17? With what affection? What do they announce? What does Jesus say that He had seen (Luke 10:18)? What authority does Jesus say that He gives them in Luke 10:19? But what are they not to rejoice in (Luke 10:20)? What are they to rejoice in instead? In what/Whom does Jesus rejoice (Luke 10:21)? Whom does He thank? For not doing what? And for doing what? Who decided to do it this way? What has been given to Christ by Whom in Luke 10:22? Who alone truly knows Who the Son is? Who alone truly knows Who the Father is? But then Who else? To whom does Jesus speak in Luke 10:23? Whose eyes does He tell them are blessed? Who has desired to see and hear what they see and hear (Luke 10:24)?
The Lord Jesus here sends seventy nameless persons out with a commission with similar authority to what He had given the twelve in chapter 9. Thus, He makes even more emphasis that service to Him in His power is not reserved for just a few. No, not only are we all to pray for the Lord’s ministry to be carried out with power (Luke 10:2), but we should not be surprised when He powerfully uses nameless ones such as we are. Nor should we be surprised if we are devoured in His service (Luke 10:3). He has taught us to expect these things in Scripture and given us many examples like this one.
There are two main ideas in their sending out and coming back, which two are related: there is nothing worse than to slight and reject the gospel of Jesus Christ, and there is nothing better than to receive and respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
There is nothing worse than to reject the gospel of Jesus Christ. Sodom, Tyre, and Sidon are synonymous not only with greed, but with the worst immoralities. But the passage drives home that cities like Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum have received something superlative (“mighty works” done in them, and “exalted to heaven,” Luke 10:13, Luke 10:15).
Of those to whom much is given, much is required. And, it is going to be worse for the “decent” people of these Israelite towns on Galilee than even for Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom! Why? Because they are about to hear not just Christ, but His servants. And, they are eventually going to reject the message of His servants, which Jesus will judge as rejecting Him (cf. Luke 10:16). Believers sit under those whom Christ has sent with His message. When that message is faithfully preached, let them have great care regarding what they do with it. For, there is nothing worse than to reject the message of Jesus Christ.
And there is nothing better than to receive and respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ. How joyous the seventy were in Luke 10:17! Every Christian, in whatever calling the Lord has given us, is susceptible to being puffed up when the Lord gives us little successes. But this is not the first and great thing to rejoice over. Rather, we are to “rejoice because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). Indeed, there were prophets who worked great miracles and kings who accomplished great kingdom victories (Luke 10:24a), but these seventy nameless ones got the blessing of seeing and hearing what all those others longed for.
Let us be rejoicing so much over belonging to Christ and seeing His gospel continue to go forth in the world that we are not so susceptible to being overly impressed with whatever successes the Lord personally gives us in our callings, but rather thankful.
What opportunities do you have to respond to the Word? In what manner have you been doing so?
Suggested songs: ARP119W “Lord, Let My Cry before You Come” or TPH172 “Speak, O Lord”
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