The Mission of the Seventy

101 And after these things, the Lord did appoint also other seventy, and sent them by twos before his face, to every city and place whither he himself was about to come, 2 then said he unto them, 'The harvest indeed 'is' abundant, but the workmen few; beseech ye then the Lord of the harvest, that He may put forth workmen to His harvest. 3 'Go away; lo, I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves; 4 carry no bag, no scrip, nor sandals; and salute no one on the way; 5 and into whatever house ye do enter, first say, Peace to this house; 6 and if indeed there may be there the son of peace, rest on it shall your peace; and if not so, upon you it shall turn back. 7 'And in that house remain, eating and drinking the things they have, for worthy 'is' the workman of his hire; go not from house to house, 8 and into whatever city ye enter, and they may receive you, eat the things set before you, 9 and heal the ailing in it, and say to them, The reign of God hath come nigh to you. 10 'And into whatever city ye do enter, and they may not receive you, having gone forth to its broad places, say, 11 And the dust that hath cleaved to us, from your city, we do wipe off against you, but this know ye, that the reign of God hath come nigh to you; 12 and I say to you, that for Sodom in that day it shall be more tolerable than for that city.

Woes to Unrepentant Cities

13 'Wo to thee, Chorazin; wo to thee, Bethsaida; for if in Tyre and Sidon had been done the mighty works that were done in you, long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes, they had reformed; 14 but for Tyre and Sidon it shall be more tolerable in the judgment than for you. 15 'And thou, Capernaum, which unto the heaven wast exalted, unto hades thou shalt be brought down. 16 'He who is hearing you, doth hear me; and he who is putting you away, doth put me away; and he who is putting me away, doth put away Him who sent me.'

The Return of the Seventy

17 And the seventy turned back with joy, saying, 'Sir, and the demons are being subjected to us in thy name;' 18 and he said to them, 'I was beholding the Adversary, as lightning from the heaven having fallen; 19 lo, I give to you the authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and on all the power of the enemy, and nothing by any means shall hurt you; 20 but, in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subjected to you, but rejoice rather that your names were written in the heavens.'

Jesus Rejoices

21 In that hour was Jesus glad in the Spirit, and said, 'I do confess to thee, Father, Lord of the heaven and of the earth, that Thou didst hide these things from wise men and understanding, and didst reveal them to babes; yes, Father, because so it became good pleasure before Thee. 22 'All things were delivered up to me by my Father, and no one doth know who the Son is, except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son, and he to whom the Son may wish to reveal 'Him'.' 23 And having turned unto the disciples, he said, by themselves, 'Happy the eyes that are perceiving what ye perceive; 24 for I say to you, that many prophets and kings did wish to see what ye perceive, and did not see, and to hear what ye hear, and did not hear.'

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.