Luke 10:1-24
Kingdom mission goes out under Jesus’ authority, but the deepest joy is that names are written in heaven.
1 Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place where he was about to come.
2 Then he said to them, “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest.
3 Go your ways. Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.
4 Carry no purse, nor wallet, nor sandals. Greet no one on the way.
5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’
6 If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.
7 Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don’t go from house to house.
8 Into whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat the things that are set before you.
9 Heal the sick who are there, and tell them, ‘God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’
10 But into whatever city you enter, and they don’t receive you, go out into its streets and say,
11 ‘Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’
12 I tell you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.
13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done 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 You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades.
16 Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”
18 He said to them, “I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven.
19 Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you.
20 Nevertheless, don’t rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
21 In that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.”
22 Turning to the disciples, he said, “All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is, except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son, and he to whomever the Son desires to reveal him.”
23 Turning to the disciples, he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see,
24 for I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them.”
Kingdom mission goes out under Jesus’ authority, but the deepest joy is that names are written in heaven.
Luke records Jesus appointing and sending seventy-two messengers ahead of him, instructing them to proclaim the nearness of God’s kingdom, warning rejecting towns of judgment, receiving their joyful return over demonic submission, and rejoicing in the Father’s revelation to the humble, so readers see kingdom mission as urgent, dependent, Christ-authorized, judgment-bearing, and rooted in divine revelation through the Son.
After Jesus has set his face toward Jerusalem and given severe sayings about the cost of discipleship, he appoints seventy-two others and sends them two by two ahead of him into every town and place where he is about to go. He instructs them to pray for workers, travel vulnerably, receive hospitality, proclaim peace, heal the sick, and announce that the kingdom of God has come near. He warns that towns rejecting them face judgment worse than Sodom and pronounces woes over Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. When the seventy-two return rejoicing that demons submit in Jesus’ name, Jesus speaks of Satan falling, grants authority over enemy power, redirects their joy to their names written in heaven, and rejoices in the Holy Spirit over the Father’s revelation to little children through the Son.
The Kingdom Mission Expanded, Mercy Defined, and the Better Portion Chosen
The kingdom of God comes through Jesus’ sent mission, gracious revelation, costly mercy, and attentive hearing, calling disciples to rejoice in salvation, love the wounded neighbor, and sit under the Lord’s word.