Jesus Sends Ordinary Disciples
[ READ ] Luke 10:1–12
Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two
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.
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.
One thing that struck me as I read this passage is the flow of thought between verses 1 and 2. In vs. 1 Jesus sends out his disciples and in vs. 2 he commands them to pray for the Lord to send out workers, the very thing he is doing. As I pray for laborers or perhaps for financial support for a missionary, or help for someone in need I also ask myself where or in what way am I part of the answer to that prayer?
As Jesus sends his disciples he instructs them. One bit of guidance is to not go from house to house (Luke 10:7). If a stranger came into town the custom was for each neighbor to invite the stranger to dine and stay with them. A stranger who was interested in the finest fare or most comfortable lodging could accept an offer and if a better one was presented could “trade up” to a better arrangement. The implication of this passage is that Jesus’s disciples were to be moving from town to town. They were not supposed to be looking for comfortable places to remain. As we share the Good News with others a present day application could be to “keep the main thing the main thing” which is reaching others and not our personal gain or comfort.
- Gary Gunther
As Jesus sends his disciples he instructs them. One bit of guidance is to not go from house to house (Luke 10:7). If a stranger came into town the custom was for each neighbor to invite the stranger to dine and stay with them. A stranger who was interested in the finest fare or most comfortable lodging could accept an offer and if a better one was presented could “trade up” to a better arrangement. The implication of this passage is that Jesus’s disciples were to be moving from town to town. They were not supposed to be looking for comfortable places to remain. As we share the Good News with others a present day application could be to “keep the main thing the main thing” which is reaching others and not our personal gain or comfort.
- Gary Gunther
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What word or phrase in this passage grabs my attention? Why?
+ What word or phrase in this passage grabs my attention? Why?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Am I praying for workers for the expansion of God’s kingdom?
+ Where am I or can I be a part of answering the Father’s call for workers?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Am I praying for workers for the expansion of God’s kingdom?
+ Where am I or can I be a part of answering the Father’s call for workers?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord of the Harvest, send workers into the fields which are white for harvest. Show me the area where my gifts can be best used. Enable me to love others with the same love you have shown me.
+ Pray with me:
Lord of the Harvest, send workers into the fields which are white for harvest. Show me the area where my gifts can be best used. Enable me to love others with the same love you have shown me.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ When the disciples returned they came with joy, Luke 10:17. What story do you have that encourages you and would encourage others?
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ When the disciples returned they came with joy, Luke 10:17. What story do you have that encourages you and would encourage others?
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