Book of Luke

Luke Chapter 10

• Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. 
• 2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. 

This is so sad that our Lord has to say, "The laborers are few." So many lost and so few to tell them the message that they can be saved. 

• Luke 10:3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. 
• 4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. 

Indicating complete trust in the Lord for provisions along the way to take care of them. They were not to be overly concerned and worrisome about anything but having their minds on the mission they were to accomplish. 

• Luke 10:5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. 
• 6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. 

If we are kind to those that bring the gospel, we will reap the same reward that they receive. 

• Matthew 10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 
• 41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 
• 42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. 

I remember my dad visiting people when I was a child. I was with him many times. Many of his friends were not saved but they treated him with respect and had respect toward the bible when they talked about it. They were kind to those that brought the word of God even if they didn't really receive it for themselves at the time.

• Luke 10:7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.

So many take this to mean that we have a right to fleece the flock of God. NO. The bible speaks against devouring widows houses and for pretense made long prayers. However, when a visiting minister brings the gospel, we are to feed them, make sure they have clothes and basic needs. It doesn't mean that we are to shower them with expensive material things that we can't afford for our own family. We are to take care of them however the best we can for their needs. 

We are not to live in great mansions and expect our pastors to live in a shack but pastors should not be living in mansions while one member of their congregation is living in poverty. It works both ways. 

How can we drive around in expensive cars, have boats, gold rings etc., when a poor widow among us can't pay for her own medication or has no proper winter coat to wear. God help us to have compassion and not fleece the flock of God.

Nevertheless, God will reward those that show kindness to those who faithfully are bringing the gospel. We are to take care of them. I believe in giving to help support a faithful minister of a local church. If we don't support them, they would have to find work to support their families and the gospel no longer be a priority. To those that say, "Well they should just trust God and not worry about finances," I say to them, God uses us to supply those finances. He doesn't drop money from the sky. 

It is a blessing to give to support a local church as well as missions in foreign lands. To do this brings joy that we are part of the spreading of the gospel. We need local churches as a local place to worship and learn of the word. It takes funds to pay bills and upkeep as well as care for the pastor and his family. It is a privilege to be used of God in this way. Never should it be neglected. However, I believe in freewill giving not high pressure guilt tactics or threats of a curse. We never should feel guilty about not supporting a charlatan and con artist who fleeces the flock.

• Luke 10:8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: 
• 9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 
• 10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, 
• 11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 
• 12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. 
• 13 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 
• 14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. 
• 15 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. 

Once a city or community hears the gospel by those that risk their life and leave the comfort of their own home to preach; once they leave everything for the cause of Christ, and the people of the city reject them, persecute them or treat them shamefully, they will be judged worse than Sodom and Gomorrah. Sodom didn't have the wonderful message of the gospel. 

• Luke 10:16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. 

To reject the true and I emphasize true, minister of the gospel is to reject Jesus Christ Himself. How do we know the true? Read the bible God provided us with and we can know. 

• Luke 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 
• 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 
• 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 
• 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. 

Even though we receive authority over unclean spirits, we are not to rejoice in that but that our names are written in heaven. Once our names are written in heaven which happens when we receive Jesus Christ, that is something to rejoice about. 

• Luke 10:21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. 
• 22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. 
• 23 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: 
• 24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. 

How can we take these things with a grain of salt? How can we take these things lightly? How can we ignore the word of God so easily when prophets, kings and many before desired to hear of these things but could not because the time had not yet come for Christ to appear. We have so much yet take so little. We have access to all the word, all the promises and the gifts of the Holy Spirit which those in the past did not have. It is ours for the asking but how many of us prefer to seek material things and things that will pass away.

Even some preach a material gospel which will perish with the using. We need the deeper things of God, the things that pertain to eternal life and life in the spirit. God has better things for us that the paltry things of this world that brings only temporary pleasure that is gone the next day. The joy of the Lord is forever. 

• Luke 10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 
• 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 
• 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. 
• 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 
• 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?
• 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 
• 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 
• 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 
• 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 
• 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 
• 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 
• 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? 
• 37 And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. 

This is where compassion comes in. Compassion overrides fear. Fear says, I might get dirty, I might get a disease, I might get involved. Compassion says, sure I might suffer loss but this person needs help. What if it were me? Compassion gets involved. 

I've had trouble in this area because of something that happened in my childhood. As a small child I had compassion. I cared. I saw a another classmate at a grade school that was sitting alone and crying. I went to her to see if I could help and asked, "What was wrong?" The child shouted at me and said, "None of your business." I immediately retreated. After school she and some of her friends were behind me on the way home and started pushing me and making fun of me. This rejection has affected me practically all of my life and I usually hesitate from getting involved for fear of rejection.

This caused me to retreat from seeking out those that may have needs. It is something I have had to overcome and I don't yet know that I have. The Holy Spirit has to really come on strong with urging before I will do anything that involves approaching someone troubled. Yet I want to be honest and share my weaknesses because the bible says to confess our faults one to another. I have no trouble with compassion when it comes to anonymous giving or something where I can stay hidden but when it becomes public, I shy away. 

• Luke 10:38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 
• 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 
• 40 But Martha as encumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 
• 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 
• 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. 

The importance of the word and spiritual things cannot be stressed loudly enough. We need spiritual food as well as physical food. We need to hunger after the things of God rather than the things of this life. Seek first the things of God and He will take care of the necessary things we need. I must emphasis here that being filled with God's Holy Spirit is better than anything the whole world has to offer. I love this story about Martha and Mary because it is one I can identify with. I would hate to be stuck in the kitchen when someone anointed of God was teaching the word in another room.

DC