Bible Commentaries
Luke 10

Verse 1

1 The words other seventy are arranged as "seventy others" in the Greek text, and means seventy besides the twelve apostles. This was a special mission and intended as a hasty work of immediately preparing the people for the reception of Jesus. His work was nearing its close and he wished to accomplish as much as possible in the time. To help towards that end these disciples were sent ahead of him. He sent them in pairs, which had many advantages in that each could encourage the other.

Verse 2

2 There were so many people who needed help that neither Jesus or any other man could be bodily present with all of them. That is what he meant by saying the harvest is plentious but the laborers are few, and prayed that they might increase.

Verse 3

3 A lamb among wolves would be in great danger. But by great care he might not attract needless attention to himself and so would escape harm.

Verse 4

4 A scrip was a provision bag used as a lunch basket, and a purse was a money bag. Note they were not to carry these, which is also said about shoes. It means not to take any "spares" as will be explained at verse 7. Salute no man might seem unfriendly. Thayer explains the word for salute as follows: "As a salutation was made not merely by a slight gesture and a few words, but generally by embracing and kissing, a journey was retarded by saluting frequently."

Verse 5

5 Their call at a house was to begin by offering their peace to it.

Verse 6

6 Son (of peace) is from HUION which Thayer defines, "One who is worthy of a thing." The Lord was with these disciples in spirit, and if the people in a house were not worthy of the favors that were offered them, the Lord would see that none would come to them and the wishes of the disciples would return to them.

Verse 7

:7 The work of the disciples in spreading the news of the kingdom entitled them to their living. That explains the instructions In verse 4 about not taking along their own provisions. Go not from house to house. They were to make only one call in each city because of the shortness of time. (See Mat 10:11; Mat 10:23.)

Verse 8

8 Eat such .things us are set before you. This is similar to Paul's instructions in 1Co 10:27. Conscientious Jews were often afraid to eat of things unknown to them because of the restrictions of the law of Moses. Jesus did not overlook the law, yet he was about to give a new one to the world, and certain parts of the old one were to be discontinued.

Verse 9

9 The disciples were to preach the news of the approaching kingdom of God. By healing the sick they would prove they were true prophets.

Verse 10

0 A city that would not give the disciples a welcome was to be considered unworthy. The disciples were to get out of the house and into the street.

Verse 11

1 Shaking off the dust was an ancient custom and was used to indicate disapproval of a place. Notwithstanding. Even though they rejected the teaching of the disciples, that would not stop the program of the Lord, for the kingdom of God was going to come into their midst in due time.

Verse 12

2 In that day is indefinite as to date, but the same subject is handled in other passages in which the day of judgment is specified. (See Mat 10:15; Mat 11:22; Mat 11:24; Mar 6:11.) It should be noted that the tolerance is to be shown on that day, not afterward.

Verse 13

3 This is the same as Mat 11:21.

Verse 14

4 At the judgment is explained at verse 12.

Verse 15

5 Exalted to heaven is a figure of speech, based on the fact that Jesus was an inhabitant of Caper-naum by choice (Mat 4:13), and hence it had the advantage of his presence. See the comments on Mat 11:23 for the meaning of hell.

Verse 16

6 Jesus ordained the apostles and the seventy and hence whatever attitude was shown to them was equivalent to showing it to Jesus. On the same principle, that attitude also pertains to God since he sent Jesus into the world. To despise Jesus and God means to disrespect them or belittle their authority.

Verse 17

7 The disciples looked upon their work of controlling the devils as an exploit of which to boast. It was much like the spirit of the Corinthians which they exhibited over the possession of spiritual gifts.

Verse 18

8 I beheld Satan as lightning fall from, heaven. Moffatt renders this, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning." John refers to this event in Rev 12:9. The thought is that Jesus would have more to boast of than the disciples, since he saw the chief of devils fall from heaven. But he was not making any such use of it as a personal advantage. 8

Verse 19

9 Jesus had given his disciples the ability to perform these miracles so they could prove they were not a group of false teachers.

Verse 20

0 This power was not intended for their personal distinction over which to rejoice. What counted the most was a spiritual favor, that of having their names written in heaven. (See Heb 12:23; Rev 21:27.)

Verse 21

1 See the comments on Mat 11:25 for the present verse.

Verse 22

2 The complete mutual knowledge of the Father and Son of each other was not shared by the world. But such information as would be deemed necessary for others was to be revealed by the Son in his own manner.

Verse 23

3 The disciples were enjoying some bits of information that had not been granted to preceding generations, and for this Jesus called them blessed or happy.

Verse 24

4 It was not the time for those ancient prophets and kings to receive that information, although they had a desire for it. (See Ephe-sians 3:9-11; 1Pe 1:10-12.)

Verse 25

5 A lawyer was a man informed in the law of Moses and who taught it to the people. The question he asked was a proper one as far as its form was concerned. But the inspired writer tells us the man's motive was wrong, that he wished to tempt Jesus.

Verse 26

6 How readest thou? This was a direct allusion to the profession of the lawyer. That being his business he should have known what he was expected to do to be saved if he had been reading the law carefully, hence the question Jesus asked him.

Verse 27

7 The lawyer correctly cited the requirements of the law.

Verse 28

8 Thou shalt live is equivalent to inheriting eternal life, the thing the lawyer inquired for. Under whatever dispensation people lived, if they did the things required by its law they were promised salvation.

Verse 29

9 The young man of Mat 19:20 affirmed he had kept all the commandments from his youth. The lawyer did not make that claim which he evidently could not do truly. To justify means to show one's self to be righteous. The lawyer thought he would clear himself of coming short of his duty by the use of a quibble over the interpretation of terms, so he asked who is my neighbor?

Verse 30

0 This entire story is told in answer to the lawyer's question, but there are some bits of information incidental to the main subject that will make it worth while to consider. The misfortune of this traveler co8uld happen to any man, so that part of the story is not unusual.

Verse 31

2 All priests were Le-vites, but not all Levites were priests (Exo 29:9; Exo 40:12-16; Num 4:1-4), which is the reason for using the terms priest and Levite separately. But they were both Jews and considered themselves as being followers of the law which this inquirer also professed to follow.

Verse 33

4 The Samaritans were a mixture of Jew and Gentile blood, the origin of which is recorded in 2Ki 17:24-33. The Jews had no dealings with them (Joh 4:9), and thought that very little good ever came from them. That is what makes this part of the story significant; for the Samaritan was the one who showed a neighborly feeling toward the injured man.

Verse 35

5 The assistance given by the Samaritan did not consist in words of sympathy only, but he assumed the full expense of the case.

Verse 36

7 Which . . . was neighbor? Jesus switches the direction of the subject from the neighbor to be loved to the one acting the part of a neighbor. Upon the lawyer's answering the question of Jesus correctly, he was told to go and do likewise. It all sums up the matter by answering the lawyer's question stated in verse 29 by showing that whoever needs our help is our neighbor.

Verse 38

8 This certain village was Bethany, the town of Lazarus and his sisters (Joh 11:1). Martha seems to have been head of the house as to domestic affairs.

Verse 39

9 The teaching of Jesus absorbed the attention of Mary.

Verse 40

0 The original for cumbered is defined by Thayer as "distracted." Martha was so interested in the entertainment of her guest that she let it crowd out her attention to spiritual things. Frequently today professed Christians will actually plan to be absent from the assembly of the saints in order to prepare a meal for expected guests. Such women are in the same class as Martha and deserve the same rebuke as she.

Verse 41

2 Jesus does not teach that it is wrong to perform the duties of the home, but he does frown upon one's allowing them to overwhelm him with undue care. Needful is from a strong word meaning very necessary. The food that sustains the body will cease to exist at the same time that the fleshly body is destroyed (1Co 6:12-13), but the spiritual nourishment will not be taken away.