Luke 10:1-3

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Well, we’ve finally made our way...

…to a new chapter.

We’re going to be in Luke 10 this morning...

And as always...

…I encourage you to follow along...

…in your own Bibles.

Chapter 10 begins much the same way...

…that Chapter 9 had begun.

With Jesus putting his people to work.

And, like I said in Chapter 9...

…this was a unique commissioning.

We can’t apply it tit for tat...

…for every ministerial situation.

But, there are over-arching principles in it...

…that we desperately need to get.

We’re going to read verses 1-12 for context...

…but we’re going to focus on Verses 1-3 today.

Luke 10:1–16 (ESV)

1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.

2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.

5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.

7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.

8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say,

11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’

12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

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Pray

-Let me draw your attention...

Back to Verse 1

To the way Luke introduces this event.

Luke 10:1 (ESV)

1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others...

Now, there’s a lot to break down in that.

First of all, notice the sequencing: “After this”

(Luke doesn’t often do that)

But, here he connects it to the previous section (Chronologically)

Remember, that in that section...

…Jesus had given those frank and sobering statements...

…about the nature of true discipleship.

And in the last two of those statements...

…he had invoked the context...

…of the Kingdom of God.

So, following that...

…Luke records “the King” (i.e., The Lord)...

…making some executive appointments.

He says that He...

“appointed seventy-two others” (Not on Screen)

“Others” in addition to whom?”

Well remember how chapter 9 had begun.

Luke 9:1–2 (ESV)

1 ...he called the twelve together...

2 and he sent them out...

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(we’ll talk about the details of their commission next week)

But, remember that they had been previously...

Called

Set apart

…for Apostleship (Chapter 6).

And In Chapter 9:2 they’re sent out on a short term missions trip.

-Well, for the group that’s “set forth” in our text...

...this is the first (and only) time they’re ever mentioned.

These men haven’t been called...

…to any formal office.

They appear to be just common disciples.

(And, in passing...

…that should indicate to us that...

…the scope of the coming great commission...

…would go beyond the work of the Twelve!)

(Although, they would certainly...

…have authority (under Christ) over it.)

-Also, in addition to that difference...

…notice the number:

The ESV says:

Luke 10:1 (ESV)

1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others...

Most translations say:

Luke 10:1 (NASB95)

1 Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others...

Now, these differences in translation...

…are usually attributed to...

…the recent discovery of older manuscripts...

…that shed a convincing light...

…upon the original autographs.

That’s why we so often see...

…the newer (orthodox) translations...

…taking the same position...

…on so many of these textual issues.

But here, we just read two solid, newer translations...

…coming to different conclusions.

The reason for that, is...

…that this issue is not the same...

…as the ones we usually encounter.

Here, it’s not an issue of older/newer manuscripts.

The Reformation Study Bible voices...

… the conclusion that most end up coming to:

The Gk. manuscripts are divided between seventy and seventy-two as the number sent out … and there is no way of being sure which is original.

Both represent the number of the nations of the world in Gen. 10 (the Hb. text has seventy names, the Gk. has seventy-two). — Reformation Study Bible

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And, that’s another reason why translators...

…have the uncertainty that they do.

And, I’d say that that’s why most...

…err on the side of 70 (inspired Hebrew)...

…and just give a footnote of explanation.

-However, what the number is supposed to...

signify

represent...

…is far from universally agreed upon.

Everyone (that I’m aware of)...

…acknowledges that there’s an expansion happening.

(We’ll talk more about that in a minute)

But, there is a lot of varied speculation...

…about what the number is meant to connote.

Represents the 70 original Israelites...

…that went down into Egypt

The Jewish Sanhedrin (72)

The 72 Translators of the Septuagint (“The 70”)

These final two seem more plausible to me:

1.) The 70 anointed elders:

Numbers 11:16–17 (ESV)

16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you.

17 And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone.

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This one’s possible, but...

These men were known and named

Were formally ordained to a permanent office.

-Finally, MANY suggest an allusion to the...

…Table of nations in Genesis 10.

The Faithlife Study Bible explains...

…what the significance would be, if so:

As the gospel accounts proclaim, Jesus’ inauguration of the kingdom meant that the nations would be reclaimed—the 70 mentioned in Genesis 10 and dispersed in Genesis 11:1–9 would be readopted.

Sending 70 or 72 disciples, as Jesus does in Luke 10:1, expressed this theological message.

Jesus’ declaration at the return of the 70 (or 72) and His announcement of the expulsion of Satan from heaven later in the chapter reinforces this message (see Luke 10:17–18). — Faithlife Study Bible

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-Now, let’s read on...

…and see which scenario (if any) fits with the text.

(We certainly can’t impose it on the text)

Look at Verse 1 again:

Luke 10:1 (ESV)

1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.

So, most of this assignment...

…is the same as the assignment to the twelve.

They were “sent out” (apostello — Missio)

-They were sent out in pairs.

Consistent throughout the NT

I don’t know why we don’t do that anymore

Provides:

Biblical burden of testimony

Spiritual/Emotional Support

Spiritual/Practical Accountability

And, here too, this is...

…the way Jesus sends them out.

-Even the nature of the assignment was similar:

Luke 10:9 (ESV)

9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

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-But, there are a couple of major differences:

1.) Jesus was going to come behind these folks

a. They were serving as forerunners (Royal Heralds)

Similar to John the Baptist:

“Prepare the way of the Lord!”

(BTW, this is still the Church’s commission)

(We’re announcing his Second Coming)

2.) They’re scope was broader.

Remember:

Matthew 10:5–6 (ESV)

5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

But, in our text, Luke tells us that he...

Luke 10:1 (ESV)

1 ...sent them on ahead of him . . . into every town and place where he himself was about to go.

Remember:

They’re traveling from the North Country...

Down to the South (Jerusalem)...

Through Samaria, etc.

You see, he’s no longer...

…restricting their evangelism...

…to the Nation of Israel.

It does seem to me...

....that he has the Nations (plural) in mind, here.

That He’s giving a little foretaste...

…of what was going to happen...

…in an even bigger way...

…after His work in Jerusalem was accomplished.

Remember what he said in:

John 12:32 (ESV)

32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

-Now, Verse 2 also seems to have...

…that same expansive connotation:

-So, as he’s sending them out...

…on this temporary assignment:

Luke 10:2 (ESV)

2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful...

What does he mean by that?

Well, it’s obviously an agricultural metaphor.

The JFB Commentary speculates on it a bit:

His eye doubtless rested immediately on the Jewish field, but this he saw widening into the vast field of “the world” (Mt 13:38), teeming with souls having to be gathered to Him. — JFB Commentary

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-Now, for Jesus to say this with certainty...

…implies something about God’s Sovereignty over the matter.

Otherwise, how could he be sure...

…that the harvest of the nations...

…would be plentiful and abundant?

-But, notice what’s coupled with it once again:

Luke 10:2 (ESV)

2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few....

The harvest may be certain...

…but it’s going to be accomplished...

…through the use of certain means.

Laborers!

The grain doesn’t gather itself, does it?

The laborers harvest it...

…and bring it into the barn.

God’s Sovereignty/Man’s Responsibility.

-But, there’s an acknowledged problem here.

What is it?

The number of laborers...

…isn’t sufficient for the enormity of the harvest.

Long story short...

...The harvest of the nations...

…was going to be a much too bountiful...

…for these 70 be able to handle it.

(Remember that innumerable multitude in Rev 7)

So, what’s the solution to this problem?

How do we usually try to solve it...

…when we’re in need of gospel ministers today?

Incentives:

Offer Good Pay

Retirement Plans

Health Care

Appealing to pride/vanity/ego

Enticing them with the promise...

…of adventure and excitement

Sometimes we flat out try to...

…guilt and manipulate them into it.

But what was Jesus’ solution...

…at the end of Verse 2?

Luke 10:2 (ESV)

2 ...Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

Whose harvest is it?

Who’s Sovereign over it?

Who ULTIMATELY provides laborers for it?

So, who's going to get the credit and glory...

…when the harvest is over...

…and the barn is full?

Now, if all of this is true...

...what should we do when we need more workers?

Philip Ryken speaks to this powerfully:

Where will we get the missionaries we need?

The answer is not better recruitment, although of course this has its practical place in the church.

The answer is not better conferences, although God can use missionary gatherings to carry forward the good work of the Great Commission.

The answer is not better seminaries, although of course theological education can help prepare people for service.

The answer is persistent prayer—prayer for God himself to raise up new workers for the great harvest. “Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest,” Jesus said, “to send out laborers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2). Prayer has the priority.

Even as the seventy-two evangelists went out to preach, they were still to pray, because prayer was the chief part of their labor. — Ryken

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-Now, look at verse 3.

And, remember how I told you last week...

…that Jesus was always open and honest...

…about the demands of discipleship.

Well, here we see that again:

Luke 10:3 (ESV)

3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.

He’s telling them up front.

This glorious harvest of souls...

…it’s not going to be easy.

You’re going to face a lot of hostility.

You’re going to be opposed...

Your blood may even be spilled...

That’s your commission.

...Now go, and serve your King!

-And, you want to see something fascinating?

Luke 10:17 (ESV)

17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”

What’s my point?

It’s often the case, that spiritual victory...

…will be accompanied by physical defeat!

It did with the Cross!

And Jesus, tells them that they will face...

…the rejection and hostility of men.

And yet, they will prevail in their work.

Brethren, our blood may be spilt...

…but it will just fertilize the field!

When the King’s men...

…Speak the King’s words...

…the King’s harvest...

…WILL come in...

…in the King’s time.

Acts 8:2–5 (ESV)

2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.

Acts 11:19–21 (ESV)

19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.

20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus.

21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

The powers of hell...

…cannot withstand...

…the Lord of the Harvest!

His reaping is inevitable!

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-Now, You want to see something else...

Interesting

Instructive

Convicting?

In all of the rest of Scripture...

…we never hear another word about these itinerant evangelists...

…or the fruit of their work!

It’s as though, what was said about King David...

…was true of them:

Acts 13:36 (ESV)

36 ...David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption,

That should be enough for us all.

To have accomplished the purpose...

…that God has decreed for us...

…And then die and be forgotten.

This should be our heart:

Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee. Take my moments and my days; let them flow in endless praise...

Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love. Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee...

Take my voice and let me sing always, only, for my King. Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from thee...

Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold. Take my intellect and use every power as thou shalt choose...

Take my will and make it thine; it shall be no longer mine. Take my heart it is thine own; it shall be thy royal throne...

Take my love; my Lord, I pour at thy feet its treasure store. Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for thee… — Frances R. Havergal

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