Sending Out the Seventy (Luke10:1–12)
What Is the Meaning of Luke 10:1-12?
In Luke 10:1-12, Jesus sends out seventy (or seventy-two, depending on the manuscript) disciples to prepare the way for his coming. This passage highlights the need for workers in the harvest and underscores the urgency of proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Jesus equips his followers with authority and warns them of the challenges they will face, showing that the task of spreading the gospel is both a privilege and a serious responsibility. The passage also contains a sobering warning to those who reject the message of the Kingdom, reinforcing the consequences of rejecting God’s work.
Sending Out the Seventy – A Verse-by-Verse Breakdown and Commentary
Luke 10:1 – Jesus Appoints the Seventy
“After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself was about to go.”
The number seventy (or seventy-two) is significant. It may recall the seventy elders of Israel appointed in Numbers 11:16-17 to assist Moses, representing the spread of God’s work beyond a select few. In sending out seventy disciples, Jesus is expanding the circle of his ministry. His mission is growing beyond the immediate twelve disciples—this is a clear signal that the Kingdom of God is for all people, not just a few select individuals.
Jesus’ method of sending pairs is also notable. Ministry is never meant to be done in isolation; there’s strength in community and collaboration. This teamwork sets the example for the Church today. We, too, are called to work together, sharing the message of the Kingdom in partnership with others.
Luke 10:2 – The Harvest Is Plentiful, but the Workers Are Few
“And he said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’”
Jesus paints a vivid picture: a great harvest, waiting to be gathered, but few workers to do the job. The harvest represents the people who are ready to hear the gospel, but the laborers—those willing to go and share the message—are few. The call here is twofold:
1. A call to prayer – Jesus urges the disciples to pray for more laborers, recognizing that the work of God requires divine intervention and provision. It’s a reminder for us to pray for workers and for the readiness of hearts to receive the message.
2. A call to action – The very fact that Jesus sends them out in pairs is a tangible answer to this prayer. They are the workers he is sending into the field. This passage challenges us: when we pray for laborers, are we willing to be the answer to our own prayers? Are we willing to go where God calls?
Luke 10:3-4 – Jesus Prepares Them for the Challenges Ahead
“Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road.”
Jesus doesn’t sugarcoat the reality of the mission ahead. He sends his disciples out as “lambs among wolves.” They will face danger. The imagery here is stark—lambs are vulnerable and weak compared to wolves, who are predators. Yet, this is the nature of the Kingdom of God: it often involves vulnerability, rejection, and even persecution. Remember, Jesus is preaching about a kingdom in a land that is under Roman oppression.
The instructions not to carry a purse, bag, or sandals emphasize total reliance on God. The disciples are called to go out with nothing but their trust in God’s provision. This is a radical departure from the way the world works.
Finally, the instruction to greet no one on the road seems strange, but it underscores the urgency of the mission. Jesus is reminding them not to be distracted by peripheral matters or customs but to focus entirely on the task at hand.
Luke 10:5-7 – What to Do When You Enter a House
“Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house.”
When the disciples enter a town, they are to proclaim peace. This declaration is not just a greeting but a blessing, signaling the arrival of the Kingdom of God. If the house receives their peace, it’s a sign that the people are open to the message of the Kingdom. If they do not, the disciples are to move on—there’s no need to force acceptance.
The instruction to stay in one house and accept whatever is offered also teaches the disciples about contentment and humility. They are not to seek luxury or comfort but to focus on the task, trusting that God will provide through the hospitality of others. This further reinforces the message that the disciples are to rely fully on God, not on their own abilities or possessions.
Luke 10:8-9 – Healing and Proclaiming the Kingdom
“Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’”
As the disciples minister, they are to heal the sick and proclaim the Kingdom of God. This is a tangible demonstration of God’s reign breaking into the world. Healing is not just about physical restoration but serves as a sign that the Kingdom of God is at hand, bringing both physical and spiritual renewal.
This mirrors Jesus’ own ministry, where healing and proclaiming the Kingdom often went hand-in-hand. The disciples are invited to continue the work Jesus started, showing that the gospel is both a message of spiritual salvation and a call to bring physical restoration to a broken world.
Luke 10:10-12 – The Consequences of Rejection
“But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off as a testimony against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.”
Jesus warns the disciples that not everyone will accept their message. In fact, many will reject it. For those towns that refuse to welcome them, the disciples are to shake the dust off their feet as a symbolic gesture of judgment. This act was a common Jewish tradition to signify that the town was rejecting the message of God.
The mention of Sodom is sobering. In the Old Testament, Sodom was destroyed because of its sin, and yet Jesus says it will be “more tolerable” for Sodom than for the towns that reject the message of the Kingdom. This stark warning emphasizes the seriousness of rejecting the gospel and serves as a reminder that the proclamation of the Kingdom is not a trivial matter—it has eternal consequences.
Sending Out the Seventy – Meaning for Today
1. The Urgency of the Mission
The mission to proclaim the Kingdom is urgent and requires total commitment. Like the seventy disciples, we are called to act without delay, depending fully on God for provision and guidance. Our lives are to be marked by the same urgency as Jesus’—to go where the harvest is plentiful and bring the message of salvation.
2. Dependence on God
Jesus teaches us to rely on God’s provision, not our own resources. This call to dependence is difficult in a culture that values self-sufficiency, but it’s crucial for discipleship. We must learn to trust God with every aspect of our lives, knowing that he will provide for our needs as we follow Him.
3. The Reality of Rejection
Not everyone will welcome the message we bring. Jesus warns his disciples that rejection is part of the journey, and he provides a way of handling it: continue proclaiming the Kingdom, even in the face of opposition. T
When we face rejection, we need to remember Jesus’ rebuke of James and John when they reacted to Samaritan opposition.
Conclusion
Luke 10:1-12 is a powerful reminder that the call to follow Jesus is not a call to comfort, but to urgent, sacrificial mission. We are called to go into the world, proclaim the Kingdom, and depend on God’s provision, knowing that we will face both acceptance and rejection. The question is: are we ready to go where the harvest is plentiful, no matter the cost? May we respond to Jesus’ call with faith and obedience.
FAQ – Sending Out the Seventy (Luke 10:1-12)
1. Who were the seventy (or seventy-two) disciples Jesus sent out?
In Luke 10:1, Jesus appoints seventy (or seventy-two) disciples, in addition to the twelve apostles, to go ahead of him into towns he plans to visit. The exact identity of these disciples is not specified in the text, but they are followers of Jesus who are entrusted with spreading the message of the Kingdom of God.
2. Why does Jesus send them out in pairs?
Jesus sends his disciples out in pairs to model the importance of collaboration and support in ministry. Ministry is never meant to be done alone. By going in pairs, the disciples can encourage and strengthen each other as they face the challenges ahead.
3. What does it mean that the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few?
This statement (Luke 10:2) emphasizes the abundance of people ready to hear the gospel (the harvest) and the shortage of people willing to share it (the laborers). It serves as both a call to prayer for more workers and a challenge to those of us who are followers of Christ to be active participants in spreading the good news.
4. Why does Jesus say, “I am sending you out like lambs among wolves”?
In Luke 10:3, Jesus warns his disciples that their mission will not be easy. Like lambs, they are vulnerable, and like wolves, the opposition they face will be dangerous. However, this metaphor highlights the vulnerability and courage needed in sharing the gospel, especially in a world that may be hostile to it.
5. What is the significance of the disciples not carrying a purse, bag, or sandals?
In verses 10:3-4, Jesus instructs his disciples not to bring extra provisions, emphasizing complete dependence on God. They are to trust that God will provide for their needs through the hospitality of others. This lesson challenges us to rely on God’s provision rather than our own resources when fulfilling his calling.
6. What does Jesus mean by “Peace to this house”?
In Luke 10:5-6, the disciples are instructed to pronounce peace upon the homes they enter. This “peace” is not just a greeting, but a blessing and an offer of the Kingdom of God. If the house welcomes them, they are to stay and proclaim the gospel; if not, they move on, taking their peace back with them. It represents the offer of God’s peace that comes with the message of salvation.
7. What should the disciples do if their message is rejected?
In verses 10:10-11, Jesus tells his disciples that if a town rejects their message, they are to shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against it. This symbolic action shows that the rejection is not the fault of the messenger but the responsibility of those who reject God’s invitation.
8. What does the reference to Sodom mean in Luke 10:12?
Jesus uses Sodom as an example of a city that was destroyed due to its sin. He says that on the day of judgment, it will be “more tolerable for Sodom” than for towns that reject the message of the Kingdom. This severe warning underscores the eternal consequences of rejecting the gospel and the serious responsibility of those who hear it.
9. What does this passage teach us about the Kingdom of God?
The passage shows that the Kingdom of God is near, and its arrival is both a message of hope and a call to action. Jesus is inviting his followers to participate in the work of the Kingdom, by proclaiming peace, healing the sick, and spreading the message of salvation. It is urgent, requiring our full attention and reliance on God.
10. How can we apply this passage to our lives today?
We are called to continue the work of the seventy by sharing the message of the Kingdom, whether in our communities or beyond. Like the disciples, we must depend on God for provision, accept rejection without discouragement, and be urgent in our mission. The world is full of people who need to hear the good news, and it’s our job to help bring them to the Kingdom.
