Luke 10

the Lord appointed seventy-two others: The mission of the twelve disciples represented the ministry of Jesus to Israel (9:1–6). This mission represented his outreach to the Gentiles. The number 72 represents the nations of the world. Genesis 10 lists 70 nations in the Hebrew text, but the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) lists 72.

Luke, who used the Septuagint, likely wrote 72, and then a later scribe changed it to match the Hebrew text. The main idea is that the good news about Jesus and the kingdom of God is for both Jews and Gentiles.

• The message preached by the apostles required people to decide whether to trust in Jesus. Opinions were clearly divided.

• Paul and Barnabas are called apostles for the first time (also in 14:14). This broadened the meaning of the word apostle. It no longer referred only to the Twelve. The Gospel of Luke shows an earlier example of this. Jesus sent out 70 (or 72) others as messengers (see Luke 10:1, 17).

  Paul and Barnabas's message continued the work of the original apostles. They were ready to encounter difficulty and abuse for it, just as the earlier apostles had done (5:41; 14:19; 20:24; 21:13–14; see also Romans 8:35–38; 2 Corinthians 4:8–17).

The harvest refers to people who need to hear the good news about Jesus and be gathered to God's presence (compare Isaiah 27:12). There was urgency to the task, just as crops have to be brought in at the exact time when they are ripe. More workers were needed.

lambs among wolves: are not to dominate others, but to sacrifice themselves for the benefit of others. This makes them vulnerable (see Jeremiah 5:6; Ezekiel 22:27; Habakkuk 1:8; Zephaniah 3:3). But the good shepherd protects them from the wolves (Psalm 23:1).

• Carry no purse: Compare 9:3. The disciples of Jesus were to depend on God and on the help of those whom they served.

• Do not greet anyone along the road: This did not mean being unfriendly, but remaining focused on the task Jesus had given them.

God's peace means spiritual blessings and becoming whole. This is known as the shalom of God (see study note on 8:48).

• Stay at the same house: See study note on 9:4.

• For the worker is worthy of his wages: Those who minister for Jesus should receive compensation from those they serve (see also 1 Corinthians 9:14; 1 Timothy 5:18).

• Jesus gave the same mission to the twelve disciples (see 9:1).

• Heal the sick: Healing was a sign of salvation (Isaiah 29:18–19; 35:5). It was physical evidence that the kingdom of God was present (see study note on Luke 7:22).

See study note on 9:5.

God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness (Genesis 18:16–19:29).

• Chorazin and Bethsaida were towns where Jesus taught. They were on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.

• Tyre and Sidon were Gentile cities in Phoenicia, on the Mediterranean coast north of Galilee. The prophets had delivered messages of judgment against their evil behavior (Isaiah 23; Ezekiel 28).

• Capernaum was where Jesus worked during his ministry in Galilee. This town witnessed many of his miracles (see 4:31–41).

• to Hades: Though Capernaum was blessed by the Christ's presence, it would be judged for its pride and rejection of Jesus.

I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven: See Revelation 12:7–12.

Snakes and scorpions were symbols of danger and evil (see Num 21:6–9; Deut 8:15; 1 Kgs 12:14; Isa 11:8; Ezek 2:6). Satan is the ancient serpent who tempted Eve (Gen 3:13–14; Rom 16:20; Rev 12:9; 20:2), and demonic forces are described as scorpions (Rev 9:3–4). • Nothing will injure you: This didn’t mean that Jesus’ followers should take dangerous chances. The point is that God protects his servants (e.g., Acts 28:3–6).

• Disciples should not rejoice in their spiritual power, but in the greatness of God who freely gives them salvation.

• your names are written in heaven: For the record of salvation in heaven's books, see Exodus 32:32–33; Psalm 69:28; Isaiah 4:3; Daniel 12:1; Malachi 3:16–17; Philippians 4:3; Hebrews 12:23; Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27.

You have hidden these things: God uses simple things that a child can understand to shame those who think themselves wise but are foolish in God’s eyes (see Isaiah 29:14; 1 Corinthians 1:18–31).

The Father and the Son share an intimate relationship. Jesus came to earth to reveal the Father to a lost world (see John 1:1–18).

see what you see: The disciples saw God’s promised salvation come. They saw the kingdom of God begin.

an expert in the law: See study note on 5:17.

Love the Lord your God: Jesus identified Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 as the two most important commandments (Mark 12:28–34). Deuteronomy 6:5 is part of the prayer called the Shema, which every Jew was to repeat daily.

Do this and you will live: Jesus was not suggesting that people would be saved by their works. Instead, such love expresses genuine faith and devotion to the Lord.

Who is my neighbor?: A neighbor, in this context, was normally identified as a fellow Israelite.

The road from Jerusalem to Jericho declined 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) through rugged terrain where robbers often waited for travelers.

This parable shows that true neighbors love even their enemies (10:29). True faith is not based on a person’s ethnic background or religious group, but on loving God and loving others.

• a priest: Priests were descendants of Aaron from the tribe of Levi (Exodus 28:1–3). They served in the temple and offered sacrifices to God.

• passed by: If Aa priest or a Levite touched a dead body, they would become ceremonially unclean and could not serve in the temple. This priest was unwilling to risk ritual impurity by helping a person in serious trouble.

a Levite: Levites were members of the tribe of Levi. They were not given a tribal homeland in Israel but were dedicated to God (Numbers 3:41, 45; 8:18; 35:2–3; Deuteronomy 18:1; Joshua 14:3). They assisted priests in temple service.

a Samaritan: This unexpected change in the story probably surprised the listeners. Jews and Samaritans hated each other (see 9:52–53; 17:16; John 4:4–42). After Assyria conquered the northern kingdom of Israel, Assyrian settlers married Israelites who remained in Samaria. Their descendants became known as Samaritans.

Later, after the Judeans returned from Babylon, conflict grew between Jews and Samaritans (Ezra 4:1–24). The Samaritans built their own temple on Mount Gerizim. They also used their own version of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, as Scripture.

This hatred grew worse when the Jewish king John Hyrcanus attacked the Samaritans and destroyed their temple on Mount Gerizim. This happened around 128 BC. Because of this long hatred, no first-century Jew would expect a despised Samaritan to help a wounded Jew. But in God’s kingdom, a despised foreigner becomes a true neighbor who helps!

Oil calmed the wound, and wine helped keep away infection.

Martha … Mary: These sisters and their brother Lazarus were good friends of Jesus. They lived in Bethany, east of Jerusalem (see John 11:1).

Mary … sat at the Lord's feet: She took the position of a disciple (compare Acts 22:3). Rabbis (Jewish religious teachers with authority) usually did not have female disciples.

Martha was distracted by all the preparations to be made: Hospitality was highly valued, and Martha was doing what people expected a woman to do in that culture. She was upset that Mary was not helping.

only one thing is necessary: Mary has discovered it. The words of Jesus were surprising. Women were expected to serve in the home, and they were not allowed to learn from a rabbi as disciples. Jesus affirmed Mary’s desire to be his disciple.