The Mission of the Seventy

101 Now after these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place where he himself was about to come. 2 And he said to them, The harvest indeed [is] great, but the workmen few; supplicate therefore the Lord of the harvest that he may send out workmen into his harvest. 3 Go: behold I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry neither purse nor scrip nor sandals, and salute no one on the way. 5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace to this house. 6 And if a son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it; but if not it shall turn to you again. 7 And in the same house abide, eating and drinking such things as they have; for the workman is worthy of his hire. Remove not from house to house. 8 And into whatsoever city ye may enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you, 9 and heal the sick in it, and say to them, The kingdom of God is come nigh to you. 10 But into whatsoever city ye may have entered and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 Even the dust of your city, which cleaves to us on the feet, do we shake off against you; but know this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh. 12 I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for Sodom in that day than for that city.

Woes to Unrepentant Cities

13 Woe to thee, Chorazin! woe to thee, Bethsaida! for if the works of power which have taken place in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they had long ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you. 15 And thou, Capernaum, who hast been raised up to heaven, shalt be brought down even to hades. 16 He that hears you hears me; and he that rejects you rejects me; and he that rejects me rejects him that sent me.

The Return of the Seventy

17 And the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us through thy name. 18 And he said to them, I beheld Satan as lightning falling out of heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the power of treading upon serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall in anywise injure you. 20 Yet in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subjected to you, but rejoice that your names are written in the heavens.

Jesus Rejoices

21 In the same hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit and said, I praise thee, Father, Lord of the heaven and of the earth, that thou hast hid these things from wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to babes: yea, Father, for thus has it been well-pleasing in thy sight. 22 All things have been delivered to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is but the Father, and who the Father is but the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son is pleased to reveal [him]. 23 And having turned to the disciples privately he said, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see. 24 For I say to you that many prophets and kings have desired to see the things which ye behold, and did not see [them]; and to hear the things which ye hear, and did not hear [them].

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 10:1-24

Commentary on Luke 10:1-16

(Read Luke 10:1-16)

Christ sent the seventy disciples, two and two, that they might strengthen and encourage one another. The ministry of the gospel calls men to receive Christ as a Prince and a Saviour; and he will surely come in the power of his Spirit to all places whither he sends his faithful servants. But the doom of those who receive the grace of God in vain, will be very fearful Those who despise the faithful ministers of Christ, who think meanly of them, and look scornfully upon them, will be reckoned as despisers of God and Christ.

Commentary on Luke 10:17-24

(Read Luke 10:17-24)

All our victories over Satan, are obtained by power derived from Jesus Christ, and he must have all the praise. But let us beware of spiritual pride, which has been the destruction of many. Our Lord rejoiced at the prospect of the salvation of many souls. It was fit that particular notice should be taken of that hour of joy; there were few such, for He was a man of sorrows: in that hour in which he saw Satan fall, and heard of the good success of his ministers, in that hour he rejoiced. He has ever resisted the proud, and given grace to the humble. The more simply dependent we are on the teaching, help, and blessing of the Son of God, the more we shall know both of the Father and of the Son; the more blessed we shall be in seeing the glory, and hearing the words of the Divine Saviour; and the more useful we shall be made in promoting his cause.