Luke 10 (KJV)

Luke 10:1–16

Jesus sends out the seventy

After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

Jesus appoints seventy others and sends them in pairs ahead of him to every town he plans to visit. They are to travel light, accept hospitality, heal the sick and announce that God's kingdom has come near; towns that reject them face a judgment worse than Sodom's. He pronounces woes on Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum for not repenting.

What does this mean?

"Peace be to this house" was a normal greeting that also carried a blessing; a "son of peace" is someone open to it. "Hell" (KJV) in verse 15 translates Hades, the realm of the dead. "Sackcloth and ashes" were signs of mourning and repentance.

Historical context

Manuscripts differ between seventy and seventy-two. Both numbers may echo the list of the world's nations in Genesis 10 (seventy in the Hebrew, seventy-two in the ancient Greek translation) or the seventy elders who helped Moses (Numbers 11:16–25). Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum were towns near the north shore of the Sea of Galilee; Tyre and Sidon were Gentile cities; Sodom's destruction is told in Genesis 19.

Why does it matter?

Only Luke records this second, larger mission, which many interpreters see as anticipating the mission to all nations in Acts. The harvest is an image of God's final gathering of his people.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Luke 10:17–24

The seventy return with joy

And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

The seventy return delighted that even demons submitted to them in Jesus' name. Jesus says he saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven and gives them authority over the enemy, but tells them to rejoice rather that their names are written in heaven. Rejoicing in the Spirit, he thanks the Father for revealing these things to little children rather than the wise, and tells the disciples they are blessed to see what prophets and kings longed to see.

What does this mean?

Serpents and scorpions stand for hostile and evil powers (compare Psalm 91:13). "Babes" (KJV) or "little children" means the unlearned and lowly. Names "written in heaven" draws on the image of a heavenly register of God's people (Daniel 12:1).

Historical context

Interpreters differ on whether Satan's fall describes a vision, the defeat of evil powers through the disciples' mission, or a fall at the beginning of time.

Why does it matter?

Jesus' words about the Father and the Son knowing each other (10:22) are among the strongest statements in the first three Gospels of his unique relationship with God, close to the language of John's Gospel. Matthew has a parallel saying (Matthew 11:25–27).

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Luke 10:25–37

The parable of the good Samaritan

And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

An expert in the Law asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, and himself sums up the Law as loving God and loving one's neighbour. Wanting to justify himself, he asks who his neighbour is. Jesus tells of a man beaten by robbers on the road to Jericho, passed by a priest and a Levite, and rescued at great cost by a Samaritan, then asks which of them acted as a neighbour.

What does this mean?

The two commandments come from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. A "Levite" was a member of the tribe of Levi who assisted the priests in the temple. Two "pence" (KJV) were two denarii, about two days' wages.

Historical context

The road from Jerusalem down to Jericho drops about 1,000 metres through roughly 27 km of desert and was notorious for robbers. Samaritans and Jews had been hostile for centuries; a Jewish ruler destroyed the Samaritan temple on Mount Gerizim in the late second century BCE. Interpreters debate whether the priest and Levite feared impurity from a corpse; the parable gives no reason.

Why does it matter?

Jesus turns the question around: not "who qualifies as my neighbour?" but "who acted as one?" The hero belongs to the despised group. The parable is found only in Luke.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Luke 10:38–42

Martha and Mary

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

A woman named Martha welcomes Jesus into her home. Her sister Mary sits at his feet listening to his teaching, while Martha is distracted by all the work of serving. When Martha asks Jesus to tell Mary to help her, he replies that Martha is anxious about many things, but only one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen the good portion.

What does this mean?

"Cumbered about much serving" (KJV) means overwhelmed by preparing and serving the meal. "That good part" means the good portion, as of a meal.

Historical context

Sitting at a teacher's feet was the posture of a disciple (compare Acts 22:3, where Paul was taught "at the feet of" Gamaliel). Many scholars note that a woman taking this role would have been unusual. John's Gospel also knows sisters named Martha and Mary, and places them in Bethany near Jerusalem (John 11:1).

Why does it matter?

Coming straight after a parable about doing, this scene stresses listening, and interpreters often read the two together. Manuscripts differ slightly in Jesus' reply, some reading "few things are needed, or only one."

Editorial notes, not scripture.