seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Luke 10:1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.
5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ 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 that were performed in you had been performed 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 at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.[b]
16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
22 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
23 Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[c]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d]”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Footnotes:
a. Luke 10:1 Some manuscripts seventy; also in verse 17
b. Luke 10:15 That is, the realm of the dead
c. Luke 10:27 Deut. 6:5
d. Luke 10:27 Lev. 19:18
e. Luke 10:35 A denarius was the usual daily wage of a day laborer (see Matt. 20:2).
f. Luke 10:42 Some manuscripts but only one thing is needed
This is from enduringword.com.
Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house”: The customs of that time meant that they would likely stay in the home of hospitable people (inns, if available, were often houses of prostitution and unsuitable for godly messengers). They were instructed to bring a blessing of peace to each house, if the home would receive it.
If a son of peace is there: “In the Jewish style, a man who has any good or bad quality is called the son of it…Son of peace in the text not only means a peaceable, quiet man, but one also of good report for his uprightness and benevolence. It would have been a dishonour to this mission, had the missionaries taken up their lodgings with those who had not a good report among them who were without.” (Clarke)
And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give: They were to trust that God would provide for them through the generosity of others, and they were to thankfully receive what was offered to them – without begging from house to house.
For the laborer is worthy of his wages: Jesus told His disciples to not regard the support given to them as charity, but as proper payment for their work on behalf of God’s kingdom.
Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you: Jesus warned them to rejoice in what God had done for them (because your names are written in heaven), more than in what they had done for God (that the spirits are subject to you).
It wasn’t wrong for them to rejoice in the success of their service; but they must have a greater joy in a greater miracle – the promise of their own salvation. “He did not mean in the present instance to censure their joy in their success, but only to make it subordinate to another rejoicing, and to prevent its growing to excess.” (Spurgeon)
Some people get emotionally intoxicated after successful service or the display of spiritual power. After God uses them in some way, they are arrogantly impressed with all they did for God. God wants us to always see that what He did for us always is far greater than what we could ever do for Him. It’s good for us to be moderate in the joy we have over our talents, our gifts, and our success.
Your names are written in heaven: “That you are enrolled burgesses of the new Jerusalem. Paul by his privilege of being a Roman escaped whipping; we by this escape damnation.” (Trapp)
All God’s people share in this joy. By earth’s estimation some service is more successful than others, but this joy unites all believers.
That You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes: Jesus rejoiced that unlikely people were taught of God and used by Him. The babes were the seventy; simple believers who received real wisdom from the revelation of God.
· He had to send the simple, because the wise of this world would never go out as lambs among wolves.
· He had to send the simple, because they would not change the message.
· He had to send the simple, because He wanted to reach the simple.
· He had to send the simple, because they would do the work in His name.
· He had to send the simple, because they would rejoice over the work.
· He had to send the simple, because they would give the praise to Jesus.
What shall I do to inherit eternal life? The Biblical understanding of eternal life doesn’t necessarily refer to duration of life, because every person is immortal, either in heaven or hell. It doesn’t refer to a life that begins only when we die. Eternal life is a particular quality of life; a life that comes from God, and a life we can have right now.
A certain Samaritan: Generally speaking, Jews and Samaritans despised each other both racially and religiously. The culture gave the Samaritan plenty of reasons to hate this Jewish man and pass him by.
Some rabbis taught that a Jew was forbidden to help a Gentile woman who was in distress giving birth; because if they succeeded, all they did was to help one more Gentile come into the world. They often thought that Samaritans were worse than other Gentiles were.
Martha was distracted with much serving: Martha did nothing wrong in working hard for Jesus – that was good. Her problem was that she became distracted with much serving. She was distracted from Jesus.
Sometimes when I finish reading the chapter and commentaries.... I say "What do I write, Lord?" I look at the big picture... the whole story...not just 72 being sent.... but 72 coming back successful in their mission. The average joe.... not the Apostles but the average joe.... went out successfully. Those big headed Pharisees couldn't have spread the Word as quickly as these newbies. Jesus is happy for a change. I've heard the Samaritan story, and taught it in Sunday School.... and I never liked it. It has always made me uncomfortable. The news is on this morning.... in the background.... people are rioting because of the color of their skin. Just like today.... tribal differences back in the days of Jesus were based on place of birth or hue of skin or financial prowess. The "good people" like preachers and priests were only piling on rules and regulations designed to keep good people in place while keeping those "bad people" at arms length. Things haven't changed a lot.... IMHO... and that's why I never have liked the story. I guess it's too true.
And then there is that worker bee named Martha. Hubby and I have watched the "Hand Maids Tale". In that TV series... a "Martha" was the one that did the laundry, cooked the meals, did the dishes, cleaned the house, did the shopping.... you know... the perfect housewife.... the "Martha". That character must have been named after Martha, Mary's sister, in this chapter of Luke. She was a good woman.... with a long "to do" list. Her sister was just hanging out, smiling with the guests, and there was so much to get done.... they were hosting this shindig.... there was a lot to do.... and Jesus [who by the way knew how long He could survive without food or water in this human body] told Martha to take a load off and sit with Him.
Sometimes it's a good idea to take stock and figure out what is really important. I've been on self quarantine since the first week of March. I am diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer which is definitely a problem. My immune system is getting stronger... but it's not ready for a battle with a virus. On top of that I had a detached retina and the doctor put gel in my eye.... the gel has to be removed..... but it's considered elective surgery. So I have to decide.... what's more important.... being able to see clearly [now it looks like everything is covered by wax paper].... or staying safe from a virus that want to take out old women with iffy immune systems.
Sometimes it's just a good idea to sit down and absorb...... choose what is important.....
