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LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke
PART 4 - JESUS' MINISTRY DURING HIS JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM (Luke 9:51 - 19:27)
3. Christ Sends out the Seventy of His Followers Throughout the Country-Side (Luke 10:1-16)
LUKE 10:1-2
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.
The harvest truly is plenteous, and the world is ripe for judgment, to be reaped by the angel of the Lord for destruction. However God in his grace does not destroy men yet, but sends them messengers of peace, time after time, that the powerful gospel may dwell in prepared hearts, and bear a hundredfold. Christ testifies to you by his divine insight that the harvest today is also great, for many people are responding to the word of God, claiming its power, and doing the will of Christ.
Christ’s harvest does not come about by theories or emotions, nor do his reapers lie idle. But Christ chooses hardworking laborers and sends them to the demanding harvest. They neither rest nor walk proudly, but work and exert themselves without limiting their working hours as long as the day lasts.
Are you a laborer for Christ? Then ask him for partners who are humble and resolute, devoting their full strength and concentrated attention to their service, and accepting the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Thus this Spirit in Christ gives us the most important order in preaching. Your Lord does not want you to work hard even to death, but to pray for qualified laborers to be sent to his harvest, that they may altogether gather his grains to his stores and not to their own stores. What about you? For whom do you work, for yourself, or for Christ? Do you thank your Lord for all your co-workers, or do you complain about them? Do you ask your Lord to send enough faithful servants to work in your country?
Today, Christ is calling you to serve him, as he had sent out the seventy men for a preaching mission. He symbolized by their number the great Sanhedrin, or council of the Jewish nation, and the elders of the Old Testament, that they might become elders in his New Testament, filled with his Spirit (24:1 and 9; Numbers 11:16 and 25; Exodus 1:5).
Christ did not send them one by one to each village, but two by two to different villages that they might strengthen and encourage one another, and not vie in boasting. If one speaks, the other will pray; and if one sleeps, the other will stay awake. Thus Christ gives different gifts to his followers that they may rely on one another, and train themselves in loving humility. Dear brother, consider yourself the least in your company, for your co-worker needs to be patient to bear with you, just as you also need patience to bear with him.
LUKE 10:3-4
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.
Christ sent his followers as lambs among wolves. Imagine what would happen if a sheep came on a pack of hungry wolves! They would devour the poor sheep in one second. As such Christ explains the ministry of his apostles. The world is full of evil spirits who hate those who are born of Christ’s Spirit. This is why your Savior sends you out to those who are evil that they may be changed and become meek lambs, as Jesus himself was the meek Lamb of God who was attacked by the powers of darkness. His death has changed us to into God’s fellowship, and prepared us to work or even die for the evil world.
If you understood your walk and aim in this way, you would not worry any further about money, clothing, rest, and food, nor take interest in worldly things, nor be late for your missionary work wasting time by speaking meaningless words. Instead you would choose poverty, and go forward to danger, for the Lord himself promises to accompany and protect you. God is your only reward. Did you realize what Christ would offer you if you served him? Persecution, poverty, death? Instead of them all his great presence. He has chosen you, and is sending and guiding you now. He is responsible for you, and no one is able to snatch you out of his hand. He shuts the mouths of hungry wolves until your service is finished completely.
LUKE 10:5-7
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.
Christ does not send you to the whole world, but to certain groups and families. In fact, he offers the gospel to all men, but only special groups turn to the blessings of God’s peace. To preach individuals is not always the purpose of our service, but we often mean to win complete families. Take up the power of God’s peace in your words to the hearts of fathers, mothers, and brothers that the faith in the Crucified One may fill the atmosphere of the house, and draws all within the family to the spirit of peace.
But if you enter a house, where the Son of God is mocked, do not be angry and take revenge, but go out in peace, for the condemnation of God will fall upon that house. Seek first the family that is hungry for the peace of God, and stay with them. Do not be hesitant about accepting their hospitality, but eat until you are filled as long as you serve them, and work hard praying for them.
LUKE 10:8-11
8 Into whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat the things that are set before you. 9 Heal the sick who are therein, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God 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 the Kingdom of God has come near to you.’
Do you pray for a certain town or village, and do you include your town continually in your prayers? The spirit dwelling in the people of a town often decides whether to accept or refuse the gospel. Sometimes we find the people of a whole town hardened against the power of the ministers of the Lord. So do not strive for a long time, but make your way to other villages which are prepared for the gospel, where many commit themselves to Christ, winning his everlasting life. Great capital cities are not often written in the book of heavenly life, by contrast, some villages that are despised in our world are praised in heaven. Thank God that we sometimes find faith and godliness in some quarters, where there is good in the midst of corruption, while there are villages in which evil prevails. Be watchful when you preach, trusting the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and do not be obstinate in your service. Go wherever the Spirit of God’s love may lead you.
LUKE 10:12-16
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.”
God’s condemnation falls upon every individual, family, and city that rejects the Son of Man and his apostles; and destruction has several stages. Not only malice and lying decide the degree of punishment, but unbelief and refusing to accept the gospel in the first place. On the Day of Judgment, the godly cities of Galilee will stand ashamed before the people of Phoenician cities with their belief in corrupt gods, for the people of Galilee did not receive the Son of Man with open arms. Sodom was burnt with fire from heaven, because of sexual perversion that spread throughout the city. Yet every city which does not accept Christ will also be condemned for unbelief and incomplete commitment to Christ are more sinful than any great impurity. Capernaum was Christ’s chosen city in which he wrought most of his miracles. But its people will be afflicted with the severest torment, for they did not repent sincerely or become converted. Dear brother, do you hear the voice of the eternal Judge? Have you truly repented and believed completely in the gospel of salvation?
Wherever those who believe in Christ move and confess the Name of names, they are not alone or forsaken, but are accompanied by the Lord himself, in good and in evil. He considers their words as his, and he deals with them. Any insult, rejection, or persecution that falls on his apostles directly burns his heart, as he said to Saul of Tarsus who persecuted the Christians, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Since Jesus and his Father are one in Spirit and in truth, therefore any aggression against Christ’s witnesses is an aggression against God himself. God the Highest will be your shield and reward, if you continue faithful in bearing witness to the Savior.
PRAYER: O Lord, we worship you, for you called us to be laborers in your harvest. Please forgive us our laziness, fear, and slackness; and teach us to present the gospel of peace boldly. May wolves be turned into lambs, and wicked homes into places of peace. Thank you for you are in and with us always, even to the end of the age.
QUESTION 75: Why does Christ command you to ask God to send laborers into his harvest?