Luke 10:1-20
Summary for Luke 10:1-20: 10:1-20 a The Lord now chose seventy-two: The mission of the Twelve (9:1-6 b) represented Jesus’ ministry to Israel; this mission represented his outreach to the Gentiles. The number 72 represents the nations of the world. Genesis 10 c lists 70 nations in the Hebrew text, but the Septuagint—the Greek Old Testament—lists 72. Luke, who used the Septuagint, probably wrote 72, and then a later scribe “corrected” the text to agree with the Hebrew. The point is that the Good News is for both Jews and Gentiles.10:2 d The harvest refers to people who need to hear the Good News and be gathered to God’s presence (cp. Isa 27:12 e). There was urgency to the task, just as crops have to be brought in at the exact time when they are ripe. More workers were needed.
10:3 f lambs among wolves: Jesus’ followers are not to dominate others, but to sacrifice themselves for the benefit of others. This makes them vulnerable (see Jer 5:6 g; Ezek 22:27 h; Hab 1:8 i; Zeph 3:3 j), but the Good Shepherd (Ps 23:1 k) protects them from the wolves.
10:4 l Don’t take any money with you: Cp. 9:3 m. Jesus’ disciples were to depend on God and on the help of those whom they served.
• don’t stop to greet anyone on the road: This did not mean being antisocial, but staying focused on the task Jesus had given them.
10:5 n God’s peace means spiritual blessings and wholeness, the shalom of God (see study note on 8:48).
10:7 o Don’t move around from home to home: See study note on 9:4.
• because those who work deserve their pay: Those who minister for Jesus should receive compensation from those they serve (see also 1 Cor 9:14 p; 1 Tim 5:18 q).
10:9 r The same mission was given to the Twelve (see 9:1 s).
• Heal the sick: Healing was a sign of salvation (Isa 29:18-19 t; 35:5 u); it was physical evidence that the Kingdom of God was present (see study note on Luke 7:22).
10:11 v See study note on 9:5.
10:12 w God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness (Gen 18:16–19:29 x).
10:13 y Korazin and Bethsaida, two of the towns in which Jesus ministered, were located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.
• Tyre and Sidon were Gentile cities in Phoenicia, on the Mediterranean coast north of Galilee. The prophets had pronounced messages of judgment against their wickedness (Isa 23 z; Ezek 28 aa).
10:15 ab Capernaum was Jesus’ base of operations during his Galilean ministry; this town saw many of his miracles (see 4:31-41 ac).
• to the place of the dead: Though Capernaum was blessed by the Messiah’s presence, it would be judged for its pride and rejection of Jesus.
10:18 ad I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! See Rev 12:7-12 ae.
10:19 af Snakes and scorpions were symbols of danger and evil (see Num 21:6-9 ag; Deut 8:15 ah; 1 Kgs 12:14 ai; Isa 11:8 aj; Ezek 2:6 ak). Satan is the ancient serpent who tempted Eve (Gen 3:15 al; Rom 16:20 am; Rev 12:9 an; 20:2 ao), and demonic forces are described as scorpions (Rev 9:3-4 ap).
• Nothing will injure you: This didn’t mean that Jesus’ followers should take dangerous chances. The point is that God protects his servants (e.g., Acts 28:3-6 aq).
10:20 ar Disciples should not rejoice in their spiritual power, but in the greatness of God who freely gives them salvation.
• your names are registered in heaven: For the record of salvation in heaven’s books, see Exod 32:32-33 as; Ps 69:28 at; Isa 4:3 au; Dan 12:1 av; Mal 3:16-17 aw; Phil 4:3 ax; Heb 12:23 ay; Rev 3:5 az; 13:8 ba; 17:8 bb; 20:12 bc, 15 bd; 21:27 be.
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