The Mission of the Seventy

101 Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others , and sent them in pairs ahead e of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come . 2 And He was saying to them, " The harvest is plentiful , but the laborers are few ; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest . 3 "Go ; behold , I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves . 4 " Carry no money belt , no bag , no shoes ; and greet no one on the way . 5 "Whatever house you enter , first say , 'Peace be to this house .' 6 "If a man of peace is there , your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 "Stay in that house , eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages . Do not keep moving from house to house . 8 "Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you; 9 and heal those in it who are sick , and say to them, ' The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10 "But whatever e city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say , 11 ' Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this , that the kingdom of God has come near .' 12 "I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city .

Woes to Unrepentant Cities

13 " Woe to you, Chorazin ! Woe to you, Bethsaida ! For if the miracles had been performed in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago , sitting in sackcloth and ashes . 14 "But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you. 15 "And you, Capernaum , will not be exalted to heaven , will you? You will be brought down to Hades ! 16 " The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me."

The Return of the Seventy

17 The seventy returned with joy , saying , "Lord , even the demons are subject to us in Your name ." 18 And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning . 19 "Behold , I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions , and over all the power of the enemy , and nothing will injure you. 20 "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this , that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven ."

Jesus Rejoices

21 At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit , and said , "I praise You, O Father , Lord of heaven and earth , that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants . Yes , Father , for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight . 22 " All things have been handed over to Me by My Father , and no one knows who the Son is except the Father , and who the Father is except the Son , and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him." 23 Turning to the disciples , He said privately e , "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see , 24 for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see , and did not see them, and to hear the things which you 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.