The Service Of The Seventy Series

Probably Judea

Lesson: The Service of the Seventy

Luke 10:1-24

Luke recorded several events from Jesus’ life that are not included in the other Gospels. The commissioning of the seventy is one of those events unique to Luke’s Gospel.

(Luke 10:1-2) 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. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

“After these things” probably means: after Jesus started on His journey to Jerusalem, as recorded in Luke 9:51.

Jesus was a trainer of men. The Lord sent out seventy disciples who were to prepare the way for the ministry of Jesus. He gave these seventy men a burden for the souls of men. He told them that the harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few. He sent them out two by two to help meet this need. The work was for a limited time, and their office was temporary because Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem to die for the sins of the world.

He sent them out in pairs on this dangerous mission. There are several reasons which have been suggested for this arrangement.

• The two together would provide support and encouragement for each other.

• Old Testament Law required that a matter be settled by the testimony of at least two witnesses (Deut. 19:15).

The twelve held a unique place in the early church and they were certainly blessed to see the miracles and receive the personal teaching by Jesus. These seventy though, were sent out to preach on His behalf. That indicates that the twelve were not the only ones with a responsibility to proclaim the coming of God’s kingdom in Jesus Christ.

(Luke 10:3-9) Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Jesus warns them that they can expect hardship and danger—they will be “lambs among wolves.” They are to travel light and waste no time in idle conversations. They are to be men compelled by one supreme motive—to prepare hearts for the coming of Christ personally.

These messengers were to travel light. Their mission was so urgent that they were not to take the time to gather provisions for their journey. They were not to carry extra money, provisions or sandals. They were to trust God to meet their needs as they traveled about in this itinerate preaching ministry.

Furthermore, they were to “salute no man by the way.” That doesn’t mean that they are not to speak to people they meet along the way. Rather, they are not to engage in lengthy greetings even though that was customary for that time and region. They had an urgent job to do and they must get on with it.

Jesus told the 70 preachers that they were not to spend time looking for the best accommodations in each town. They were to accept whatever home was first opened to them. They were to bless that household and ask God’s peace to rest on it. They were to accept the hospitality and food of that family “for the labourer is worthy of his hire.” The 70 were to be given what was needed to sustain them. They were entitled to sustenance, not luxury.

Wherever they were accepted, they were to minister to the people there with words and deeds. They were to “heal the sick” and proclaim the coming of God’s kingdom in Jesus Christ. As Christ’s disciples today we are also sent out to find those who are receptive to the Gospel message, and wherever we are received we are to minister. First, we are to minister by meeting their physical and material needs. Second, we are to witness to them and give them the plan of salvation. We are to show them how God’s love purchased eternal life for them through what Jesus did at Calvary.

(Luke 10:10-16) But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, 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. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. 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. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.