Luke 10:1-24
Key Verse: 10:9
“Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’”
In today’s passage Jesus sends out seventy-two other disciples to the harvest fields as his workers. Their mission was to proclaim the kingdom of God. We can divide today’s passage into four major parts. Verses1-12 are a missionary charge and 13-15 are a prophetic woe of warning and 16-20 are the messengers’ report and 21-24 are Jesus’ thanksgiving and blessing. Let’s learn Jesus’ heart desire to send out his workers into the harvest field. May God bless us to become effective harvest workers in our mission fields and proclaim the message of the kingdom of God to many students and invite them to our summer Bible conference.
PART I THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR YOU (1-16)
Look at verse 1. “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.” The words “after this” refer to the events in the previous passage. Jesus sent out the Twelve for their field work training. In Luke 9:57-62, Jesus taught us the cost of following him. Jesus challenged three would-be disciples to expect a poor life as his disciple, to give first priority to proclaiming of the kingdom of God, and to solve emotional attachment to past life. Jesus had made a firm decision of faith to obey the will of God and go to Jerusalem to die on the cross for the sin of the world. His death was approaching and time was running out to harvest more souls. He needed more workers. Jesus appointed seventy-two others and sent them out two by two to cover different areas for his coming. Jesus’ ministry was expanding from the nation of Israel to the other territories. Jesus expands the ministry beyond the Twelve. This means that Jesus’ ministry is not confined to the Twelve. Jesus called seventy-two disciples like us. Luke emphasizes that Jesus sent them “two by two.” This was God’s wisdom. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 say, “Two are better than one...If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” It is easy for us to work individualistically. But two by two is Jesus’ way. Two persons can form a spiritual vessel, with which they can withstand the power of Satan. When two people pray together in Jesus’ name, they can experience Jesus’ presence and help.
Look at verse 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.’” Jesus viewed the whole world as his harvest field. As a farmer, when Jesus looked at the harvest field, the harvest was plentiful. It was the harvest season. The winter season was coming soon. All his harvests will be ruined if he did not harvest now. But the harvest workers were few. Many souls will perish without hearing his message of the kingdom of God. His emotions were high and so he sent seventy-two harvesters with a sense of urgency and sorrow. When I was a farm boy, I remember that all my family members worked hard to harvest rice crops until late evening before the frost would ruin the crops. There were no spectators and everyone worked hard. We were happy when we brought all crops to our house safely. To Jesus, the harvest was plentiful. This suggests that although rejection will follow, there still would be much more positive response. When Jesus saw the change of one Samaritan woman in John 4:35, he said, “Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest! I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” Harvesting crops requires four month waiting period. But now is a harvesting time for the souls. Open your eyes and many students are waiting for you to harvest them. Phillip was moved by Jesus’ call for the harvest workers and went to China to obey Jesus’ call. M. Elijah heard Jesus’ urgent prayer request to call harvest workers and went out campus everyday to harvest UMCP students. The key word in this verse is “ask.” We will have 5:30 AM prayer meeting from next week. Let’s ask, “O, Lord of harvest, send out workers into College Park harvest field.” Let’s ask, “O, Lord of harvest, send out workers into George Mason harvest field.” While others are harvesting and fishing, no one should be a spectator in the side line but everyone works hard to harvest before it is too late. Romans 10:15b says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Your feet are beautiful when you go out to harvest souls. Truly, there are many souls to harvest in this troubled world. But the main problem is that there are few to help reap the harvest. It means that the workers are few. UBF focuses on raising up reliable disciples as the harvest workers. We must pray that the Lord may send out workers to make America a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Our main prayer topic is that the Lord may send out 100,000 missionaries to 243 nations including China and North Korea by year 2041.
Look at verse 3. “Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” After prayer, Jesus sent out seventy-two disciples into the harvest field. Jesus commanded them with an exclamation mark, “Go!” Do not think should I go or not? Do not pray for someone else to go. Jesus said, “Go!” It is important to respond Jesus’ command. M. Abe Lee and Sarah Lee and Phillip Brown responded Jesus call to go. How did Jesus feel when he sent them out? He said, “I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” Lambs are vulnerable among wolves. Their mission does involve risk. They will be as vulnerable as lambs before wolves. Though Jesus sends them out to dangerous territory, but they are not alone. Jesus said in verse 19b, “Nothing will harm you.” What an assurance we have from our good shepherd, Jesus. This is why, though the risk is great, survival is possible. Jesus will be with us to the end of age when we obey his command.
In verses 4-12, Jesus gave his disciples several spiritual principles as his field workers. The disciples could have a fruitful harvest when they followed these instructions carefully. Look at verse 4. “Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.” Jesus gives travel instructions. Given the danger and urgency, the disciples are to travel light and press on to their goal. Some people have a habit of packing everything including their old socks. Those who travel heavy worry about their bags all the time and cannot focus on their mission. That’s reason why travel means trouble. Airlines began to limit number of bags to carry. Someone may say, “I don’t take a purse or bag but I take credit cards. Is it ok?” Maybe we need that plastic card for our mission trip. If we do so, we depend on money more and depend on God less. But simply speaking, this means to depend on God and not to be distracted. But when Jesus sends us, we must just go, depending on God alone.
Look at verses 5-6. “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you.” The disciples were to impart the peace that Jesus gives. The peace offered is so real that it can rest on the house or return to the one who offers blessing. It is important to respond to the disciples’ offer of peace with reception and hospitality. Look at verse 7. “Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.” Gospel workers must not move around to find better sheep or a better environment. They are to stay in one house and accept what is provided for them. They must establish one house church in each town. All town people know where they have to go for their 1 to 1 Bible study. If they move around, nobody knows where to go. Apostle Paul stayed at Lydia’s house at Philippi which became the foundation of the Philippi church later. Another reason they do not need to move around is that the worker deserves his wages. The spiritual benefit the worker brings with the peace of God is worthy of support. I Corinthian 9:14 says, “In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” But in this case, the wage is the hospitality of food and shelter given to the disciples. The gist of this verse is that gospel workers must rely on God for their provision.
Look at verse 9. “Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’” Given the power to heal, the disciples are to heal those who receive them, as a tangible example of God’s blessing coming on those who respond. Jesus came to heal our sickness. Jesus healed Sarah Y. Brown’s back problem and she became a newly-wed. God used many doctor missionaries to heal the sick and then they preached the kingdom of God. God is using M. Luke L. and Samuel Y. in Uganda as medical missionaries. Doctors are good for missionary work. Disciples heal and declare the kingdom’s nearness. Here the kingdom means the king’s rule. A kingdom has a king. In the kingdom of God, Jesus is our king. If Jesus is our king, we serve and obey him. Ancient kings had complete rule over their subjects. So also, the kingdom of God is near us when we let him rule over our lives. For example, in 10:17-18 Satan is seen falling from heaven as a result of disciples’ healing ministry. God’s rule inaugurated and Satan’s rule began to fall. Jesus came into this world to liberate all men from the rule of Satan, the prince of darkness. God’s rule began with Jesus’ ministry and nothing can stop the kingdom from coming. Jesus said in Mark 1:15, “The time has come,’ the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!’” Whoever repents and believes Jesus can have the kingdom of God in their hearts. The king is here, and images of his power are present. It is time to respond and enter in. Are you ready to receive the king and his rule in your life, in your family, and in your future? Some people think the kingdom of God is only for old people who are ready to leave this world. But Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is near you.” The kingdom of God is everyone, young and old. The kingdom of God is not far away out in the galaxy but it is near us when we accept Jesus’ rule in our heart.
The kingdom of God gives us true joy and peace and the love of God while on earth. But that’s not all. The kingdom of God is our eternal home. It gives us a clear destination and direction of life. It gives us a living hope in this perishing world. The Mid-Atlantic summer conference theme is “The God of hope.” Joshua Sprenkle from Shippensburg will deliver a morning devotion message based on Luke 23:38-43 with the title “Today you will be with me in paradise.” In this passage the other criminal repented of his terrible sins at the time of crucifixion and accepted Jesus. He said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (23:42) Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” This criminal robbed banks and lived in the darkness of sin with rebellion and disobedience. He was a hopeless man. But the kingdom of God was near him when he accepted Jesus. Jesus gave him the paradise by his amazing grace. Dr. Billy Graham said, “Man cannot live without hope.” But hope in this world does not last because it is rooted in things that perish. The things of the world cannot give us living hope. Only the kingdom of God gives us a living hope. 1 Peter 1:3,4 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you.” When we accept Jesus in our hearts, we have the promise of heaven as our everlasting inheritance. That’s reason why Jesus instructed his disciples to proclaim the message of the kingdom of God. Proclaiming the kingdom of God should be our number one priority in our mission life. We have such urgency to proclaim the message of the kingdom of God so that one more sinner may be saved into the eternal kingdom of God.
Look at verses 10-12. “But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.” What happens when rejection occurs? In verses 9:51-56, James and John wanted to call fire down from heaven and destroy the Samaritan town. They should not react emotionally. What should they do? They are to denounce rejection by shaking the dust from their feet and declaring their response to people. They are also to declare the kingdom’s nearness. The point is that the people are culpable for their rejection and thus judgment comes against them. What should we do when students reject our invitation on campus? Should we declare God’s judgment on them or call fire upon them? M. Aquila said, “Do not judge them and be gracious because we have to fish them again. Who knows? Maybe next time they may accept our invitation.” From verse 12 Jesus began to give warnings to those who reject the kingdom of God. We think God’s judgment towards Sodom was terrible. But Sodom would be better than that town which rejected the kingdom of God.
Look at verses 13-15. Jesus declares woes on the unrepentant cities. Korazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum were the cities in which Jesus spent most of his time during his Galilean ministry. These cities are compared unfavorably with two unrighteous OT cities, Tyre and Sidon. These two cities would have repented and worn sackcloth and ashes if they heard Jesus’ message. But the people there did not repent their sins. Now Jesus grieves for them. Without repentance and faith in Jesus, no one can enter the kingdom of God. Instead, they would be put into eternal punishment. Look at verse 15. “And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.” Capernaum was the headquarter of Jesus’ Galilean ministry. They saw most of Jesus’ miracles and were privileged to have Jesus among them. Why did they expect the skies but get the depths? They were habitual and took God’s word for granted. They did not repent of their sins due to their spiritual pride. Their fate is no better than Korazin and Bethsaida. Many Americans think that they will go to the heaven when they die. But they may go to hell instead if they do not repent of their sins and believe in Jesus. We are privileged to hear Jesus’ message each Sunday. We should not abuse God’s loving grace and should not become complacent and lazy but repent our sins daily and proclaim the kingdom of God. When we come to church and go without repentance, we may become worse. Look at verse 16. Finally Jesus said, “He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” The disciples represent Jesus and their authority reflects God’s authority. If someone rejects you, they are not rejecting you but Jesus. In the end they reject God. Do not take people’s rejection personally because they rejected Jesus in the same way. These days people reject Christians simply because they follow Jesus. Gospel workers must simply deliver the message, “The kingdom of God is near.”
PART II REJOICE THAT YOUR NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN (17-24).
Look at verse 17. “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.’” The report of the seventy-two took long time. Each one gave Jesus the mission report. One disciple came forward and said, “Jesus, I drove out drug-demon from a teenager.” “Anther said, “Jesus, I drove out web-surfing demon from a young man.” Still another said, “Jesus, I drove out hatred demon from a girl.” They were excited and rejoiced waving their hands to the skies. Their excitement was focused on their authority over the demons. People like authority. The seventy-two disciples experienced the great power of Jesus. When they rebuked evil spirits in the name of Jesus, the demons ran away. The disciples became a source of blessing for others and true servants of Jesus. Jesus was also happy. Jesus enjoyed the spiritual victory over Satan that had been promised by God from the beginning (18,19). Though the seventy-two had been like lambs among wolves, they had absolute protection and everlasting victory in Jesus’ name.
Look at verse 20. “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” In doing God’s work there are ups and downs. Sometimes we can see demons flee away and have joyful victory. But sometimes the work of God does not seem to make much progress. We seem to struggle eternally just to raise up one disciple. If our joy depends on our success in doing God’s work, we will go up and down like the weather. This emphasis on power is not the one Jesus wants the disciples to have. What did Jesus teach them about real joy? He wants his disciples to focus on their gracious and secure standing before God. There is a joy greater than their authority over demons. What is it? Their names are written in heaven. Jesus teaches us to find the source of joy in our relationship with him, not in the success of the ministry. Jesus gives us the grace of forgiveness of sins and writes our names in the book of life in heaven. Jesus saves us by his grace, not because what we are but because who we are. We can always rejoice that our names are written in heaven. “Tommy, rejoice. Your name is written in haven. Omy, rejoice. Your name is written in heaven. Sammy, rejoice. Your name is written in heaven.”
Look at verse 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 was your good pleasure.’” Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit. Jesus was facing the imminent event of his betrayal, suffering and crucifixion. But Jesus had great joy in his heart through the Holy Spirit. Jesus praised God for working mightily in his disciples. Jesus is grateful to the Father for the disciples’ salvation. Jesus was happy with the way of God’s working. God has not chosen the wise and understanding to receive his benefits, but babies. They were not well educated or great in the world. But when they obeyed Jesus by faith, they could experience the power of God. (I Cor. 1:26-31)
Look at verse 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.” More than anything else, Jesus enjoyed his personal relationship with his Father God. He was glad that the Father entrusted his whole plan for world salvation to Jesus. Jesus was glad that the Father understood him and he understood the Father. This was Jesus’ power source that enabled him to go to Jerusalem.
Look at verses 23-24. “Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 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.’” Jesus gave final blessing on the disciples. They were more blessed than many prophets and kings. Jesus wanted them to see themselves in view of God’s history and realize how blessed they were. Jesus wants his disciples to learn how to rejoice in God and be really happy.
In this passage we learned Jesus’ compassionate shepherd’s heart for all people. Jesus sent out seventy-two other disciples to proclaim the kingdom of God. Then Satan’s kingdom was totally defeated and the kingdom of God expanded. Jesus and his disciples were overjoyed. Let’s pray that we may proclaim the message of Jesus faithfully, “The kingdom of God is near.” Let’s read the key verse 9.