After 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. Then 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. (Luke 10:1-2)
Previously Jesus had sent the twelve disciples out in pairs, to the cities of Isreal; And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him [and began to send them out two by two*], He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. (Matthew 10:1, 5-10; Mark 6:7-9*; Luke 9:1-3; see THE GOSPEL: Laborers for the Harvest) And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them. (Mark 6:13) Now He's sending out seventy others in pairs to cities throughout the region, and He's giving them the same authority and power, to do everything HE Himself was able to do and that He empowered the twelve disciples to do.
Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. And 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. Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ‘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.’ But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city. (Luke 10:1-12)
Previously Jesus had sent the twelve disciples out in pairs, to the cities of Isreal; And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him [and began to send them out two by two*], He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. (Matthew 10:1, 5-10; Mark 6:7-9*; Luke 9:1-3; see THE GOSPEL: Laborers for the Harvest) And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them. (Mark 6:13) Now He's sending out seventy others in pairs to cities throughout the region, and He's giving them the same authority and power, to do everything HE Himself was able to do and that He empowered the twelve disciples to do.
Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. And 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. Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ‘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.’ But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city. (Luke 10:1-12)
Christ Jesus warned these seventy disciples about certain things that may happen to them, and we need to be aware that the same things may happen to us also:
- lambs among wolves: ...the devil, ... He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. (John 8:44) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (I Peter 5:8) Jesus warns us who the wolf is, and God tells us exactly how to deal with him; Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
- carry nothing: “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ... For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:31-34) We don't have to worry when we know we are obeying God's Word and submitting to His Will for our lives; And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
- greet no one along the road: Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. (Ephesians 5:6-7) Many times we know God is leading us in a specific direction, but instead of following His instructions, we talk to others, and before we realize it we start doubting or questioning what we should do. Then many times we end up not doing what God is leading us to do. A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, (Proverbs 1:5)
- laborer is worthy of his wages: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.(II Thessalonians 3:10) We are never to get so high-minded or feel that we should be taken care of by others. We are to have the same mind and attitude as Jesus, For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,... (Mark 10:45)
- do not go from house to house: One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. (Romans 14:5-6, 13) We should always be gracious and not judgemental of others. All of us are at different levels of faith. Our goal should always be to lead people to Christ and not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
- wipe off dust: For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; (I Peter 2:20-21, 23) People may not want to hear the Word of God, but we can't take it personally. They are not rejecting us but rejecting God, and God judges righteously; it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city [and those people].
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, 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. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:17-20) We are never to get caught-up in what God does through us, but rather we are to rejoice that God chose to use us, to spread the message that the kingdom of God has come near. And when this life is over, we'll rejoice even more when we hear Him say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ (Matthew 25:20)
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