Knowing The Word in Luke 10:1-12

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two

10:1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that 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.

Comments

Luke alone tells the story of the sending of this large group, which is not to be confused with Jesus sending the Twelve in chapter 9. This is part of a larger strategic missionary movement. The paired men were advance teams who scouted out the places Jesus intended to visit on his way to Jerusalem. There was much work to do in a short amount of time, and Jesus wants more help for the harvest of souls. Jesus bid the seventy-two to pray that even more people will join in for the spreading of the gospel message. The simile used of lambs among wolves pointed both to the danger and helplessness the seventy-two would face.

These men would have to rely upon God and therefore travel lightly. The prohibition against sandals was likely not to carry a second pair. The prohibition of greeting others on the road was not Jesus encouraging impoliteness but urgency. “Don’t tarry or get distracted,” he was saying. Greetings in that day were much more complicated than a simple “hello.”

The disciples would not have to bless someone who did not want to receive a blessing. They could move on. They were to accept hospitality for free and not move about. Each new place of lodging would require the customary entertaining into the late hours. They needed to work hard and get good sleep for the next day. While they deserved what they were given, urgency called them to keep things simple.

Because some will be in Gentile territory, Jesus tells them to relax the food laws by eating what was set before them. This was the first indication that the food laws would be abolished. The food laws set the Jews apart from Gentiles, but in the New Covenant, all are brought together in Christ, who brings all sorts of people into the kingdom of God. “The kingdom of God has come near to you” means “today is your opportunity to believe.”

The dusting off of one’s sandals symbolically communicated that those who reject them have placed themselves outside the people of God. They have not simply rejected two itinerates but the very kingdom of God. As Sodom rejected the messengers of God and suffered the consequences, these villages have rejected even more.

Application

Jesus’ missionary strategy works for us today as well. First, we are never to go it alone. Second, we are to keep things simple, not spending much money but focusing on people hearing the message of Jesus. Third, understanding that a rejection of the message is not to be taken personally. God is being rejected, not us. And fourth, there is an urgency for evangelism. Do you have an urgency for sharing the message of Jesus? Why or why not?

Prayer

Lord, use me today for your purposes and give me an opportunity to share the good news about you with someone who knows you not.