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In this lesson:
Jesus commissions seventy disciples to heal, spread the word, and prepare the way for the approaching Messiah as He travels to Jerusalem. Study Tip: Don't forget to read the margin notes in blue and to click on the links. |
Jesus sends out His seventy disciples.
By an unknown artist |
Where was -
Sodom -
An ancient city from the Old Testament whose name has become synonymous with immorality. Located in the "vale of Siddim" on the southeast shore of the Dead Sea (Genesis 14:2-3), God destroyed Sodom with "brimstone and fire" (Genesis 19:24)
because of the immoral lifestyle of its citizens (Genesis 13:13; 19:1-29), and their disregard for the poor (Ezekiel 16:49-50). Its destruction was so complete that even today, no trace of the city can be found.
Chorazin -
A city located three miles north of Capernaum near the Sea of Galilee. Jesus performed many miracles there, yet few from Chorazin followed Him. In Matthew 11:21 and this passage, we see Jesus scold the people of Chorazin for their lack of faith. The ruins of an ancient synagogue were excavated there over a century ago.
Bethsaida -
A small town in Galilee located on the north-east shore of the Sea of Galilee six miles east of Capernaum. It was the hometown of three disciples, Peter, Philip, and Andrew (John 1:44). Jesus visited Bethsaida often and performed many miracles there (Mark 8:22-25). It was while teaching near Bethsaida that Jesus miraculously fed five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:15-21; Mark 6:35-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:5-13). Lost for almost two thousand years, archaeologists located Bethsaida's ruins in 1987.
Tyre -
A seaport city located on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea (thirty-five miles north-west of the Sea of Galilee, forty-seven miles north of Caesarea and twenty-five miles south of Sidon) populated mostly by Gentiles. Tyre dated back to the twenty-eighth century BC and was called Tyrus in the Old Testament (Ezekiel 26:2). Described as a beautiful city (Ezekiel 27:4), Tyre was well known for its cedar trees (1 Chronicles 22:4), dye works, glassware, weaving, and other manufactured goods. Isaiah 23:8 tells us that Tyre was a "crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth." Tyre supplied cedar wood, carpenters, and masons to build the Temple in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:11; 1 Kings 5:2-10; 2 Chronicles 2:3), but the city also had a reputation for wickedness. Its people turned against Israel and sold Hebrews into slavery (Joel 3:6-8). Tyre was destroyed by God in the Old Testament (Isaiah 23:1; Amos 1:9-10; Zechariah 9:3-4). But by Jesus' time, the city had been rebuilt and boasted one of the busiest harbors in the eastern Mediterranean. Ezekiel 27:3 describes Tyre as being "situate at the entry of the sea, a merchant of the people for many isles." Tyre's merchant's shipped goods throughout the Roman empire and made the city wealthy. Today, Tyre is called Sur and inhabited by just a few thousand residents. Tyre is also mentioned extensively in
Isaiah 23 and Ezekiel 26-28.
Sidon -
Sometimes called Zidon. Sidon was a seaport city (Ezekiel 27:8) located on the Mediterranean Sea twenty-five miles north of Tyre (south of modern-day Beirut, Lebanon). It stood a one day sail from Caesarea. Mentioned in Joshua 11:8 and 19:28 as a great city, Sidon was inhabited by Gentiles who had a history of oppressing Jews (Judges 10:12). In the Old Testament, Sidon was destroyed by God due to its pagan worship. But by Jesus' day Sidon had recovered and was a thriving fishing town with prosperous glass and weaving shops and was famous for its art, commerce, and cedar trees (1 Kings 5:6 and 1 Chronicles 22:4). Today, Sidon is home to about 10,000 people and boasts many ancient ruins.
Capernaum -
Capernaum was a large city on the north-west shore of the Sea of Galilee and the hometown of several disciples. Located on the main highway from Damascus to Acco and Tyre, Capernaum was a bustling center of commerce. It also had a thriving fishing industry. A customs station (Matthew 9:9; 17:24; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27) and a large contingent of Roman soldiers were stationed there, and the city became known for its moral excesses. The disciple Peter owned a house in Capernaum, and Jesus made it His center of operations while in Galilee (as prophesized in Isaiah 9:1-2 and discussed in Matthew 4:13-16). Because its citizens witnessed many divine miracles (Matthew 8:14-16; Mark 1:30-34; Luke 4:38-41) yet still rejected Christ, Jesus denounced the city in Matthew 11:23 and in this passage. Its ancient remains have been excavated near the town of Tell Hum. Among the ruins
are the remains of a synagogue unearthed in 1905 by a German archeology team that could be the one built by the Roman centurion who sought a miracle from Jesus (Matthew 8:5-8; Luke 7:1-10).
Sodom -
An ancient city from the Old Testament whose name has become synonymous with immorality. Located in the "vale of Siddim" on the southeast shore of the Dead Sea (Genesis 14:2-3), God destroyed Sodom with "brimstone and fire" (Genesis 19:24)
because of the immoral lifestyle of its citizens (Genesis 13:13; 19:1-29), and their disregard for the poor (Ezekiel 16:49-50). Its destruction was so complete that even today, no trace of the city can be found.
Chorazin -
A city located three miles north of Capernaum near the Sea of Galilee. Jesus performed many miracles there, yet few from Chorazin followed Him. In Matthew 11:21 and this passage, we see Jesus scold the people of Chorazin for their lack of faith. The ruins of an ancient synagogue were excavated there over a century ago.
Bethsaida -
A small town in Galilee located on the north-east shore of the Sea of Galilee six miles east of Capernaum. It was the hometown of three disciples, Peter, Philip, and Andrew (John 1:44). Jesus visited Bethsaida often and performed many miracles there (Mark 8:22-25). It was while teaching near Bethsaida that Jesus miraculously fed five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:15-21; Mark 6:35-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:5-13). Lost for almost two thousand years, archaeologists located Bethsaida's ruins in 1987.
Tyre -
A seaport city located on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea (thirty-five miles north-west of the Sea of Galilee, forty-seven miles north of Caesarea and twenty-five miles south of Sidon) populated mostly by Gentiles. Tyre dated back to the twenty-eighth century BC and was called Tyrus in the Old Testament (Ezekiel 26:2). Described as a beautiful city (Ezekiel 27:4), Tyre was well known for its cedar trees (1 Chronicles 22:4), dye works, glassware, weaving, and other manufactured goods. Isaiah 23:8 tells us that Tyre was a "crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth." Tyre supplied cedar wood, carpenters, and masons to build the Temple in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:11; 1 Kings 5:2-10; 2 Chronicles 2:3), but the city also had a reputation for wickedness. Its people turned against Israel and sold Hebrews into slavery (Joel 3:6-8). Tyre was destroyed by God in the Old Testament (Isaiah 23:1; Amos 1:9-10; Zechariah 9:3-4). But by Jesus' time, the city had been rebuilt and boasted one of the busiest harbors in the eastern Mediterranean. Ezekiel 27:3 describes Tyre as being "situate at the entry of the sea, a merchant of the people for many isles." Tyre's merchant's shipped goods throughout the Roman empire and made the city wealthy. Today, Tyre is called Sur and inhabited by just a few thousand residents. Tyre is also mentioned extensively in
Isaiah 23 and Ezekiel 26-28.
Sidon -
Sometimes called Zidon. Sidon was a seaport city (Ezekiel 27:8) located on the Mediterranean Sea twenty-five miles north of Tyre (south of modern-day Beirut, Lebanon). It stood a one day sail from Caesarea. Mentioned in Joshua 11:8 and 19:28 as a great city, Sidon was inhabited by Gentiles who had a history of oppressing Jews (Judges 10:12). In the Old Testament, Sidon was destroyed by God due to its pagan worship. But by Jesus' day Sidon had recovered and was a thriving fishing town with prosperous glass and weaving shops and was famous for its art, commerce, and cedar trees (1 Kings 5:6 and 1 Chronicles 22:4). Today, Sidon is home to about 10,000 people and boasts many ancient ruins.
Capernaum -
Capernaum was a large city on the north-west shore of the Sea of Galilee and the hometown of several disciples. Located on the main highway from Damascus to Acco and Tyre, Capernaum was a bustling center of commerce. It also had a thriving fishing industry. A customs station (Matthew 9:9; 17:24; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27) and a large contingent of Roman soldiers were stationed there, and the city became known for its moral excesses. The disciple Peter owned a house in Capernaum, and Jesus made it His center of operations while in Galilee (as prophesized in Isaiah 9:1-2 and discussed in Matthew 4:13-16). Because its citizens witnessed many divine miracles (Matthew 8:14-16; Mark 1:30-34; Luke 4:38-41) yet still rejected Christ, Jesus denounced the city in Matthew 11:23 and in this passage. Its ancient remains have been excavated near the town of Tell Hum. Among the ruins
are the remains of a synagogue unearthed in 1905 by a German archeology team that could be the one built by the Roman centurion who sought a miracle from Jesus (Matthew 8:5-8; Luke 7:1-10).
The Gospel According to St. Luke
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
|
Luke 10:1-24
Instructions 1 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. 2 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. 3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. 5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. 6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. 7 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. 8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: 9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, 11 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. 12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. 13 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. 14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. 15 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. 16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. 17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 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. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. 21 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. 22 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. 23 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: 24 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. |
Margin notes:
"The LORD appointed other seventy also." (10:1) - "The Lord chose seventy other disciples." Jesus had many followers and chose seventy from among them. Additional note: Some ancient Greek manuscripts read that Jesus sent out seventy-two disciples. "Sent them two and two before his face." (10:1) - Means, Jesus sent them ahead of Him in pairs to prepare the way. "The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few..." (10:2) - Jesus is referring to the harvest of souls. He taught this message more than once (Matthew 9:37-38; John 4:35). "Wolves." (10:3) - The wolves are the Pharisees, false prophets (Matthew 7:15), and hypocritical religious leaders. "Salute no man by the way." (10:4) - Means, don't stop to talk on the road. "First say, Peace be to this house." (10:5) - This was a standard greeting going back to Old Testament days (1 Samuel 25:6). "If the son of peace be there." (10:6) - Means, if it's a peaceful and accommodating household. "It shall turn to you again." (10:6) - "It (the blessing) will return to you." "The labourer is worthy of his hire." (10:7) - "The worker deserves his pay." "Go not from house to house." (10:7) - The disciples were not to seek better quarters. "Which cleaveth on us." (10:11) - "Which sticks to us." "It shall be more tolerable." (10:12) - "It shall be more merciful." "At the judgment." (10:14) - Jesus is telling us that there will be a judgment day. "He that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me." (10:16) - Since Jesus lives inside believers, the way you treat a Christian is in essence, the way you treat God. Jesus repeats this message in Matthew 10:40 and John 13:20. "I give unto you power to tread on serpents." (10:19) - Jesus reinforced this message after the resurrection (Mark 16:18). "Your names are written in heaven." (10:20) - Exodus 32:32; Psalm 69:28; Revelations 13:8. "From the wise." (10:21) - From the worldly-wise. "All things are delivered to me of my Father." (10:22) - Means, God has entrusted everything to Jesus (John 3:35). "Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see." (10:23) - Jesus repeats this to His disciples (and us) in Matthew 13:16. "Many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see." (10:24) - The disciples were "blessed" (10:23) to see God's plan of salvation playing out. The Old Testament prophets foretold that a Messiah would someday arrive, but they weren't privy to the details of God's plan of salvation (1 Peter 1:10-12). God hid the mystery of redemption until the time was right. Today, with the mystery revealed, we are all "blessed" to have the New Testament teaching us what the prophets and ancient kings yearned to know but never did. |
You can read more about the "unrepentant" cities in Matthew 11:21-23 (lesson 21).
New Living Translation
Luke 10:1-24
Jesus Sends Out His Disciples
1 The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit.
2 These were his instructions to them: "The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.
3 Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.
4 Don't take any money with you, nor a traveler's bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don't stop to greet anyone on the road.
5 "Whenever you enter someone's home, first say, 'May God's peace be on this house.'
6 If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you.
7 Don't move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay.
8 "If you enter a town and it welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you.
9 Heal the sick, and tell them, 'The Kingdom of God is near you now.'
10 But if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into its streets and say,
11 'We wipe even the dust of your town from our feet to show that we have abandoned you to your fate. And know this-the Kingdom of God is near!'
12 I assure you, even wicked Sodom will be better off than such a town on judgment day.
13 "What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse.
14 Yes, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you.
15 And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead."
16 Then he said to the disciples, "Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me. And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me. And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God, who sent me."
17 When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, "Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!"
18 "Yes," he told them, "I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning!
19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.
20 But don't rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven."
Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving
21 At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.
22 "My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
23 Then when they were alone, he turned to the disciples and said, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you have seen.
24 I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, but they didn't see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn't hear it."
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Jesus Sends Out His Disciples
1 The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit.
2 These were his instructions to them: "The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.
3 Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.
4 Don't take any money with you, nor a traveler's bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don't stop to greet anyone on the road.
5 "Whenever you enter someone's home, first say, 'May God's peace be on this house.'
6 If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you.
7 Don't move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay.
8 "If you enter a town and it welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you.
9 Heal the sick, and tell them, 'The Kingdom of God is near you now.'
10 But if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into its streets and say,
11 'We wipe even the dust of your town from our feet to show that we have abandoned you to your fate. And know this-the Kingdom of God is near!'
12 I assure you, even wicked Sodom will be better off than such a town on judgment day.
13 "What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse.
14 Yes, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you.
15 And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead."
16 Then he said to the disciples, "Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me. And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me. And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God, who sent me."
17 When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, "Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!"
18 "Yes," he told them, "I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning!
19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.
20 But don't rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven."
Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving
21 At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.
22 "My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
23 Then when they were alone, he turned to the disciples and said, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you have seen.
24 I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, but they didn't see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn't hear it."
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Key verses from this passage
"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." (10:1)
"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." (10:13)
"And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." (10-18)
"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." (10:22)
"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." (10:13)
"And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." (10-18)
"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." (10:22)
Today's Question:
1. What did Jesus mean when he said, "I send you forth as lambs among wolves?" (10:3)
We value your input. Let us know your suggestions and comments.
1. What did Jesus mean when he said, "I send you forth as lambs among wolves?" (10:3)
We value your input. Let us know your suggestions and comments.
Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. Jesus knew that the disciples would face rejection and persecution from a hostile world. Their job would not be easy, and Jesus was warning them what lay ahead. Jesus alerted them many times that they would face opposition and sent them out in pairs (10:3) for protection (as He did when sending out the twelve disciples in Mark 6:7). When it comes to hostility to God, little has changed over the centuries.
Application thought for the day:
"We read the Bible frequently and regularly, so that God's thoughts may be frequently and regularly in our minds,
that His thoughts may become our thoughts; that our ideas may become conformed to God's ideas."
Henry Hampton Halley, minister and religious writer (1874-1965).
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible". All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2026 evolke
© 2026 evolke