Luke 10: 1 – 24
The NFL Developmental League
After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. 5 But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ 12 But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city. 13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. 16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” 21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 22 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” 23 Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; 24 for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.”
Today we are going to look at the Lord’s new NFL [Not Famous Leaders] Developmental League. It is composed of 36 teams or two members of each team. The Major League as you well are aware is composed of 12 players called the A-Team or the 12 apostles. These 12 names are listed for all generations to remember. On the other hand these 72 men are unknown to us but are well know to the Lord. We will read shortly our Lord’s encouragement to these unknowns.
As a reminder, the apostle Matthew was the first one to write a Gospel. He was followed by the disciple Mark who was Peter’s son in the faith. Peter gave Mark all his information on what he heard, observed, and experienced in his time with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke on the other hand came back with the apostle Paul many years later. He personally interviewed the eyewitnesses to our Lord’s life on earth while also having at his disposal the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. We can note for our learning that only Luke mentions the fact that our Lord selected 72 guys to do the same thing as He had originally assigned the apostles to do.
We will see that our Lord gives these 72 men the same job to do as the apostles. Let us compare what He told His apostles to do in relation to what He told these 72 guys.
Luke 9: 1 – 6, “Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece. 4 “Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
Matthew 10:5-16, “5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9 Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. 11 “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 12 And when you go into a household, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city! 16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
Mark 6:7-13, “ And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. 8 He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts— 9 but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics. 10 Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. 11 And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” 12 So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.
For all of you who have ever served in the military, then you are familiar with the term ‘OJT’. I have already given to you in the title what the term means – On The Job Training. Our Lord is now in the process of getting now His next group of Ambassadors ready to begin their lives of ministry on His behalf. He calls His close selected group together and says, ‘men, now is the time for you to get a dry run of what your future ministry will be. So, I want you to pair off.
After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.
The 72 disciples received from the Lord ‘power and authority’ to preach that the Messiah has arrived on the scene and that His kingdom is now accepting citizens. To prove that their message is true, then are given His power to heal all physical infirmities and His Authority to cast out evil spirits.
How come we do not see the same spectacular effects from men and women who serve our Lord today? I have heard it said from some teacher’s that the power and authority was only given to the apostles and was only for their ministry. That doesn’t seem to jive with what other Scripture reveals. Here our Lord Is also giving 72 other guys the same power and authority.
For example, in the following verses we read of the apostles abilities and then Paul’s who was not ever a believer at the time the gifts we read about here were given.
Acts 5:15-16, “15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.”
Acts 28:7-9, “7 In that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed.
1 Corinthians 12:1-11, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”
So, it looks like our Precious Holy Spirit even today distributes to people individually whatever gift He fells like distributing. It seems that during the time of the apostles, which were only twelve, they seem to have all the gifts of our Majestic God given to them. Now that the church has grown, there are now millions of candidates for our Wonderful Holy Spirit to issue out His gifts to.
I just wish He would issue to individuals who serve with me the whole variety of gifts. Then it would be besides the important task of evangelism and preaching the Word, we would have more influence to heal individuals, especially children, and to raise some from the dead. Now that would be awesome to be part of, would it not?
2 Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.
I am amazed at how some of the salaries that many men who are fortunate enough to be allowed to teach God’s sheep. Some of these guys and women have salaries and benefits exceeding one million dollars a year. What bothers me is that they see nothing wrong with this at all. What also bothers me is that our Mighty God allows this to happen.
I just did a funeral recently of a young woman who was not a believer in our Lord Jesus Christ. One of her sister’s read that she was disgusted with how some ‘men of the cloth’ were living so high while the people they served struggled to make ends meet. She said that these men go around driving Lexus’s, Cadillac’s, Lincoln Continentals, and other luxury cars. To clarify to all, I drive a Hyundai.
Do you notice why our Lord specified the means in which the disciples were to use in their travels?
He wanted them to travel light. This way, the six groups would be able to cover the whole country of Israel.
In addition, there were some other things that our Lord was not only teaching His ministers but for all those they would evangelize.
1. The Messiah did not come to offer wealth but there followers would be dependent on the Lord supplying their needs.
2. They would have to depend on the Lord to cover the housing and food.
3. It allowed the people to invest in the work of the ministry.
5 But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you. 12 But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city. 13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. 16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”
Shaking the dust off their feet was not a new gesture. Religious Jews would do this same things after passing through Gentile territory. This act was to show their separation from non-Jewish cultures.
By shaking the dust off their feet from a town that rejected them, the apostles would in effect be displaying that this area rejected the Messiah. For these guys went in His power and authority. So, by rejecting them they were rejecting Him Who sent them.
Truly all of Israel would be abuzz with the news that the Messiah had come to the nation of Israel. For all over the message was proclaimed bow by 72 men who were picked by the Lord Jesus Christ. As the prophet Isaiah had proclaimed, these men were fulfilling the long awaited prophecy, “Isaiah 35:5-6, “5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.”
17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
Now there are some type of churches that go out each year and collect poisonous snakes to try to prove this scripture true – “19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
I think this is stupid. People need to study the whole word of God before doing something crazy. For example our Lord says this in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 5 “28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
If this was something our Lord wanted us to do, then we all would be walking around with only one eye and hand. Do you see my point? The Scriptures speak about snakes and scorpions. I think you who are faithful to learn the Scripture already know who these are, but let me list a few for those who might not know.
Matthew 3:6-8, “6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance.
Matthew 12:33-35, “33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
Ezekiel 2:5-7, “5 As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 “And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. 7 You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious
So, what are scorpions and snakes? They are people who try to fight the truth of God’s word.
If you have been serving our Lord and are not recognized for all the things you do then take comfort in our Lord’s words to these 72 unknown disciples – “20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
When we slow down to the speed of life we come to realize that nothing in this life time means anything as far as accomplishments, recognition, and notoriety. Generations come and generations go. As you are aware there are only a few people who are ever remembered in all of mankind’s existence. What matter most of all is that you belong to El Shaddai – God Almighty. You are His son or daughter. It does not get any better than that.
As you know our Precious Holy Adoni Yeshua – our Lord Jesus Christ knows the beginning from the end. He had told the His followers that the ‘gates of hell’ shall not prevail against the church. Here He let’s us all know of Satan’s demise where he will be kicked out of heaven forever.
21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 22 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” 23 Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; 24 for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.”
I have personally observed this Scripture be real. It is amazing when you see how the Lord can take a certain individual who is not ‘gifted’ by worldly standards and use that person greatly for His purposes. In the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 1 the apostle Paul put this thought greatly into his discourse, 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
If God has chosen you then you will accomplish great things by you and through you. If He hasn’t chosen you then just enjoy your relationship with Him. Amen.
