In this chapter, Jesus sends out seventy of his followers to spread his message, leading to one of the most famous parables in history - the Good Samaritan.
The Reading: Luke 10
World English Bible1 Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place, where he was about to come.
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2 Then he said to them, “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest.
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3 Go your ways. Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.
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4 Carry no purse, nor wallet, nor sandals. Greet no one on the way.
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5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’
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6 If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.
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7 Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don’t go from house to house.
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8 Into whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat the things that are set before you.
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9 Heal the sick who are therein, and tell them, ‘God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’
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10 But into whatever city you enter, and they don’t receive you, go out into its streets and say,
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11 ‘Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’
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12 I tell you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.
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13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
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14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you.
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15 You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades.
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16 Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
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17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”
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18 He said to them, “I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven.
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19 Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you.
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20 Nevertheless, don’t rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
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21 In that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.”
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22 Turning to the disciples, he said, “All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is, except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son, and he to whomever the Son desires to reveal him.”
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23 Turning to the disciples, he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see,
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24 for I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them.”
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25 Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
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26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?”
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27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”
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28 He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.”
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29 But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”
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30 Jesus answered, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
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31 By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
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32 In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side.
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33 But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion,
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34 came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
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35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him, ‘Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.’
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36 Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?”
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37 He said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
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38 As they went on their way, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
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39 She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
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40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him, and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me.”
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41 Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,
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42 but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
What This Chapter Is Really Saying
The Sending of the Seventy
After some intense ministry, Jesus appoints seventy disciples and sends them out in pairs to share the Good News. He tells them that while the harvest of souls is plentiful, there aren't enough laborers to gather them. Their mission comes with a warning: they will be like lambs among wolves, meaning they'll face challenges ahead. Jesus advises them to travel light, not to greet anyone on the road, and to bring peace to the homes they visit.
The Good News and Rejection
This is serious business! They are to heal the sick and proclaim that God's Kingdom is near. If a town rejects them, they can shake the dust off their feet, signaling a break from that place. Jesus warns that some cities, like Chorazin and Bethsaida, are in for a harsher judgment because they did not repent despite witnessing his miracles.
The Return of the Seventy
When the seventy return, they're buzzing with excitement, claiming that even demons submitted to them in Jesus' name. Jesus affirms their joy but reminds them that their true celebration should come from knowing their names are written in heaven. He praises the humility of those who understand these truths, contrasting them with the wise and learned who miss the point.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
A lawyer tries to test Jesus, asking how to inherit eternal life. Jesus turns the question back to him, and the lawyer summarizes the commandments: love God and love your neighbor. But wanting to justify himself, he asks, "Who is my neighbor?" This leads to the parable of the Good Samaritan - a story about compassion. When a man is attacked by robbers, both a priest and a Levite pass by without helping, but a Samaritan stops, bandages the man's wounds, and ensures he receives care.
Choosing What Matters
The chapter closes with Jesus visiting the home of Martha and Mary. While Martha is busy preparing, Mary sits at Jesus' feet, soaking in his teachings. When Martha complains, Jesus gently reminds her that Mary has chosen the better part by prioritizing his words over worry. This highlights the importance of listening and learning over mere busyness.
Why It Matters
The Call to Serve
Luke 10 teaches us that sharing love and kindness is critical. Jesus sends his followers out with a mission to heal and bring peace. It reminds us that we are all called to be active participants in spreading compassion - whether through our words or actions.
Who Is My Neighbor?
The Good Samaritan story challenges us to redefine who we consider our neighbors. It's not just about proximity but attitude. The Samaritan helped someone from a rival group, demonstrating that love knows no boundaries. In our daily lives, we can look for opportunities to help those in need, regardless of their background.
Prioritizing Relationships
Martha and Mary's encounter teaches us to prioritize our relationship with Jesus and the lessons he has for us. In a world filled with distractions, it's vital to carve out time for reflection and learning. When you're looking for a supportive community that emphasizes service and learning, you can find a church near you.
Together, we can embody the spirit of the Good Samaritan in our own communities, reaching out to those who need it most.
Coming Up Next: Luke 11
In the next part of our journey through Luke, we'll see Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray and sharing profound insights about the nature of prayer itself. You won't want to miss it!