Luke · chapter 10 of 24
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Luke 10 tells how Jesus sends seventy-two disciples ahead of him, who return with joy; Jesus rejoices in the Spirit and blesses his disciples. When a lawyer asks who his neighbor is, Jesus tells the parable of the good Samaritan. Then, at the house of Martha and Mary, he says Mary has chosen the good portion.
Jesus is already on the way to Jerusalem, and Luke 10 shows how he widens his mission: not only the twelve but many more are sent. The chapter combines mission, joy, the question of eternal life and the best-known parable about loving one's neighbor, and closes with a household scene about the priorities of discipleship.
Jesus appoints seventy-two others and sends them two by two ahead of him to every place he was about to go. He tells them the harvest is plentiful and the workers few, that they should ask the Lord of the harvest, and that they go as lambs among wolves, with no purse or bag. They are to offer peace to each house, heal the sick and announce that the kingdom of God has come near. Jesus pronounces woes on Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum for not repenting despite his miracles.
The seventy-two return with joy, saying that even the demons submit to them. Jesus answers that he saw Satan fall like lightning, but that their greater joy should be that their names are written in heaven. He himself rejoices in the Spirit and praises the Father for revealing these things to the childlike, and tells his disciples they are blessed to see what they see.
A lawyer tests Jesus by asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus points him to the law: love God with all one's being and one's neighbor as oneself. The man asks who his neighbor is, and Jesus tells of a traveler attacked on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. A priest and a Levite pass by, but a Samaritan has compassion, bandages his wounds, takes him to an inn and pays for his care. Jesus asks who proved to be a neighbor, the lawyer answers the one who showed mercy, and Jesus tells him to go and do likewise.
In a village, a woman named Martha welcomes him into her home. Her sister Mary sits at Jesus' feet to listen to his word, while Martha is distracted by much serving and asks Jesus to tell Mary to help her. Jesus answers that one thing is necessary and that Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken from her.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
Jesus says the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few, and asks them to pray that the Lord of the harvest send out workers. The first step in mission is prayer, and the sending is God's work.
Jesus tells the disciples to rejoice not because the spirits submit to them but because their names are written in heaven. Our greatest joy lies not in power but in secure salvation.
Jesus asks who acted as neighbor to the wounded man, and the lawyer answers the one who showed mercy. Jesus changes the question from who deserves my help to whom I become a neighbor to, and commands us to do the same.
Jesus tells Martha she is anxious about many things, but only one is necessary, and Mary has chosen the good portion. He does not rebuke serving, but the anxiety that crowds out listening to his word.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: Two by two, ahead of him, to every town and place where he was about to go. — Luke 10:1
Answer: That he send out laborers into his harvest. — Luke 10:2
Answer: Because their names were written in heaven. — Luke 10:20
Answer: To love the Lord with all heart, soul, strength and mind, and one's neighbor as oneself. — Luke 10:27
Answer: He had compassion, bandaged his wounds, took him to an inn, cared for him and paid the innkeeper. — Luke 10:33-35
Answer: That it was the good portion, which would not be taken away from her. — Luke 10:42
The parable of the good Samaritan challenges us to look at whoever lies wounded on our road, even if the person is different or inconvenient. The Samaritan spent time, money and comfort. In a class you can think about who our unexpected neighbor is today and what concrete gesture of mercy we can make.
The scene of Martha and Mary reminds us that service without listening to Jesus ends in exhaustion. It is not a choice between acting and praying, but of letting fellowship with Christ order our service. Set aside a moment this week to sit at his feet, alone with his word, before you set about doing.
Luke 10 ends with Mary at Jesus' feet, listening. In Luke 11 the disciples ask him to teach them to pray, and Jesus gives them the Lord's Prayer and speaks of perseverance in prayer.
Ancient manuscripts are divided: some say seventy and others seventy-two. Translations vary according to the text they follow. The number may evoke the nations of Genesis 10 or the elders of Israel; in either case, the central idea is a wider mission.
Jews and Samaritans despised one another. That the hero is a Samaritan, while the priest and Levite pass by, breaks the listener's expectations. Jesus teaches that love of neighbor does not depend on race or religion, and that we must be the ones to take the step.
No. Serving is good and necessary. Jesus points out that Martha was overwhelmed and distracted, and that Mary had chosen what is most important: listening to his word. The teaching is about priority: first be with the Lord, and healthy service flows from there.