Luke Chapter 10

Updated: September 14, 2025

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two

1After 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. 2Therefore 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. 3Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. 4Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. 5And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. 6And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. 7And 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. 8And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: 9And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 10But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, 11Even 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. 12But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

Woe to the Unrepentant

(Matthew 11:20-24)

13Woe 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. 14But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. 15And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.

16He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

The Seventy-Two Return with Joy

17And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19Behold, 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. 20Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

(Matthew 11:25-30)

21In 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. 22All 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.

23And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: 24For 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.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27And 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 neighbour as thyself. 28And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

30And 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. 31And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34And 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. 35And 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. 36Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Martha and Mary

38Now 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. 39And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40But Martha was cumbered 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. 41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

Jesus Sends the Seventy-Two
(Matthew 9:35–38)

1 Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place, where he was about to come. 2 Then he said to them, “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your ways. Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry no purse, nor wallet, nor sandals. Greet no one on the way. 5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ 6 If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don’t go from house to house. 8 Into whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat the things that are set before you. 9 Heal the sick who are therein, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But into whatever city you enter, and they don’t receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the Kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.

Woe to the Unrepentant
(Matthew 11:20–24)

13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you. 15 You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades.

16 Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

The Joyful Return

17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 He said to them, “I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, don’t rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Jesus’ Prayer of Thanksgiving
(Matthew 11:25–30)

21 In that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.” 22 Turning to the disciples, he said, “All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is, except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son, and he to whomever the Son desires to reveal him.”

23 Turning to the disciples, he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see, 24 for I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them.”

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.” 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”

30 Jesus answered, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, 34 came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him, ‘Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.’ 36 Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Martha and Mary

38 It happened as they went on their way, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him, and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me.” 41 Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Jesus Sends the Seventy-Two
(Matthew 9:35–38)

1 After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two a others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit. 2 And He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.

3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Carry no purse or bag or sandals. Do not greet anyone along the road.

5 Whatever house you enter, begin by saying, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay at the same house, eating and drinking whatever you are offered. For the worker is worthy of his wages. b Do not move around from house to house.

8 If you enter a town and they welcome you, eat whatever is set before you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’

10 But if you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go into the streets and declare, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off as a testimony against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

Woe to the Unrepentant
(Matthew 11:20–24)

13 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.

15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades!

16 Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”

The Joyful Return

17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.”

18 So He told them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Jesus’ Prayer of Thanksgiving
(Matthew 11:25–30)

21 At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.

22 All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”

23 Then Jesus turned to the disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 One day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 “What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ c and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ d”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus said. “Do this and you will live.”

29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 Jesus took up this question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.

31 Now by chance a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 So too, when a Levite came to that spot and saw him, he passed by on the other side.

33 But when a Samaritan on a journey came upon him, he looked at him and had compassion. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 The next day he took out two denarii e and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he said, ‘and on my return I will repay you for any additional expense.’

36 Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 “The one who showed him mercy,” replied the expert in the law.

Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Martha and Mary

38 As they traveled along, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to His message. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations to be made. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord replied, “you are worried and upset about many things. 42 But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two

1And after these things, the Lord did appoint also other seventy, and sent them by twos before his face, to every city and place whither he himself was about to come, 2then said he unto them, 'The harvest indeed is abundant, but the workmen few; beseech ye then the Lord of the harvest, that He may put forth workmen to His harvest. 3'Go away; lo, I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves; 4carry no bag, no scrip, nor sandals; and salute no one on the way; 5and into whatever house ye do enter, first say, Peace to this house; 6and if indeed there may be there the son of peace, rest on it shall your peace; and if not so, upon you it shall turn back. 7And in that house remain, eating and drinking the things they have, for worthy is the workman of his hire; go not from house to house, 8and into whatever city ye enter, and they may receive you, eat the things set before you, 9and heal the ailing in it, and say to them, The reign of God hath come nigh to you. 10'And into whatever city ye do enter, and they may not receive you, having gone forth to its broad places, say, 11And the dust that hath cleaved to us, from your city, we do wipe off against you, but this know ye, that the reign of God hath come nigh to you; 12and I say to you, that for Sodom in that day it shall be more tolerable than for that city.

Woe to the Unrepentant

(Matthew 11:20-24)

13'Woe to thee, Chorazin; woe to thee, Bethsaida; for if in Tyre and Sidon had been done the mighty works that were done in you, long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes, they had reformed; 14but for Tyre and Sidon it shall be more tolerable in the judgment than for you. 15'And thou, Capernaum, which unto the heaven wast exalted, unto hades thou shalt be brought down.

16'He who is hearing you, doth hear me; and he who is putting you away, doth put me away; and he who is putting me away, doth put away Him who sent me.'

The Seventy-Two Return with Joy

17And the seventy turned back with joy, saying, 'Sir, and the demons are being subjected to us in thy name;' 18and he said to them, 'I was beholding the Adversary, as lightning from the heaven having fallen; 19lo, I give to you the authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and on all the power of the enemy, and nothing by any means shall hurt you; 20but, in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subjected to you, but rejoice rather that your names were written in the heavens.'

Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

(Matthew 11:25-30)

21In that hour was Jesus glad in the Spirit, and said, 'I do confess to thee, Father, Lord of the heaven and of the earth, that Thou didst hide these things from wise men and understanding, and didst reveal them to babes; yes, Father, because so it became good pleasure before Thee. 22All things were delivered up to me by my Father, and no one doth know who the Son is, except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son, and he to whom the Son may wish to reveal Him.'

23And having turned unto the disciples, he said, by themselves, 'Happy the eyes that are perceiving what ye perceive; 24for I say to you, that many prophets and kings did wish to see what ye perceive, and did not see, and to hear what ye hear, and did not hear.'

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25And lo, a certain lawyer stood up, trying him, and saying, 'Teacher, what having done, life age-during shall I inherit?' 26And he said unto him, 'In the law what hath been written? how dost thou read?' 27And he answering said, 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God out of all thy heart, and out of all thy soul, and out of all thy strength, and out of all thy understanding, and thy neighbour as thyself.' 28And he said to him, 'Rightly thou didst answer; this do, and thou shalt live.' 29And he, willing to declare himself righteous, said unto Jesus, 'And who is my neighbour?'

30and Jesus having taken up the word, said, 'A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and having stripped him and inflicted blows, they went away, leaving him half dead. 31'And by a coincidence a certain priest was going down in that way, and having seen him, he passed over on the opposite side; 32and in like manner also, a Levite, having been about the place, having come and seen, passed over on the opposite side. 33'But a certain Samaritan, journeying, came along him, and having seen him, he was moved with compassion, 34and having come near, he bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine, and having lifted him up on his own beast, he brought him to an inn, and was careful of him; 35and on the morrow, going forth, taking out two denaries, he gave to the innkeeper, and said to him, Be careful of him, and whatever thou mayest spend more, I, in my coming again, will give back to thee. 36'Who, then, of these three, seemeth to thee to have become neighbour of him who fell among the robbers?' 37and he said, 'He who did the kindness with him,' then Jesus said to him, 'Be going on, and thou be doing in like manner.'

Martha and Mary

38And it came to pass, in their going on, that he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman, by name Martha, did receive him into her house, 39and she had also a sister, called Mary, who also, having seated herself beside the feet of Jesus, was hearing the word, 40and Martha was distracted about much serving, and having stood by him, she said, 'Sir, dost thou not care that my sister left me alone to serve? say then to her, that she may partake along with me.' 41And Jesus answering said to her, 'Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and disquieted about many things, 42but of one thing there is need, and Mary the good part did choose, that shall not be taken away from her.'

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two

¹ After this, the Lord appointed seventy others, sending them out in pairs to prepare every town and place where He planned to visit. ² "The harvest is plentiful," He told them, "but the workers are scarce. Pray earnestly for the Lord of the harvest to send more workers into His harvest field.

³ Go now, but understand this: I'm sending you like lambs into a wolf pack. You'll need to rely completely on My protection. ⁴ Don't get bogged down with extra supplies – no money bag, no traveler's pack, not even extra sandals. Don't waste time with lengthy social greetings on the road. Focus on your mission's urgency. ⁵ When you enter a home, first speak peace over it, saying, 'May God's peace rest on this household.' ⁶ If someone there welcomes this peace, your blessing of peace will transform that home. If not, the peace returns to you. ⁷ Stay in one hospitable home, not moving from house to house seeking better accommodations. Eat and drink what they provide – a worker deserves proper support.

⁸ In welcoming towns, gratefully accept the hospitality and food offered. ⁹ Heal the sick there and proclaim, 'God's kingdom has arrived in your midst!' ¹⁰ But when a town refuses your message, go into its streets and declare, ¹¹ 'We shake your town's dust from our feet as a warning. Yet know this: God's kingdom came near to you.' ¹² I tell you, when the Day comes, even Sodom's judgment will be more bearable than what awaits that town!"

Woe to Unrepentant Towns

¹³ "Tragedy awaits you, Chorazin! Disaster looms, Bethsaida! If the miracles you witnessed had happened in the pagan cities of Tyre and Sidon, they would have returned to God long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ¹⁴ Tyre and Sidon will face lighter judgment than you! ¹⁵ And you, Capernaum! Will your arrogance lift you to heaven? No, you'll be brought down to the depths. ¹⁶ Remember: Whoever listens to you listens to Me. Whoever rejects you rejects Me. And whoever rejects Me rejects My Father who sent Me."

The Seventy Return with Joy

¹⁷ The seventy returned overjoyed: "Lord, even demons submit to us when we use Your name!" ¹⁸ Jesus replied, "I watched the Adversary fall from heaven like lightning – our ministry deals decisive blows to his kingdom. ¹⁹ Yes, I've given you authority to overcome all enemy power – trampling serpents and scorpions without harm. ²⁰ But don't celebrate your authority over spirits. Instead, rejoice that your names are permanently recorded in the heavens."

Jesus’ Prayer of Praise

²¹ At that moment, Jesus burst into Spirit-inspired joy: "I praise You, Father! Lord of heaven and earth! You've hidden these truths from those who are proud of their own wisdom and intelligence, while revealing them to those with childlike hearts. Yes, Father! This was Your good pleasure. ²² My Father has entrusted everything to Me. No one fully knows the Son except the Father, and no one fully knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him." ²³ Turning privately to His disciples, He said, "Blessed are your eyes that see what you're seeing! ²⁴ Many prophets and kings longed to witness what you see, and hear what you hear, but never had the opportunity."

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

²⁵ A religious expert stood up to test Jesus: "Teacher, what must I do to inherit everlasting life?" ²⁶ Jesus responded, "What does God's law say? How do you interpret it?" ²⁷ He answered, "Love יהוה (Yahweh) your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself." ²⁸ "Excellent answer!" Jesus replied. "Do this consistently and you'll live." ²⁹ But wanting to justify himself, he asked, "And who exactly counts as my neighbor?"

³⁰ Jesus answered with a story: "A man traveled the dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Robbers attacked him, stripped him, beat him severely, and left him half-dead. ³¹ By chance, a priest came down that road. Seeing the victim, he crossed to the opposite side and hurried past. ³² Similarly, a Levite religious servant came by, looked at the man, and also passed by on the opposite side.

³³ But a Samaritan traveler – from a people despised by our people – came upon him. His heart overflowed with compassion. ³⁴ He approached the man, and cleaned and bandaged his wounds by pouring on oil and wine as medicine. He lifted him onto his own animal, brought him to an inn, and cared for him through the night. ³⁵ The next morning, he gave the innkeeper two silver coins, saying, 'Take care of him. Whatever extra you spend, I'll reimburse when I return.' ³⁶ "Now, which of these three acted like a true neighbor to the robbery victim?" ³⁷ The religious expert replied, "The one who showed mercy." And Jesus said, "Go and do the same."

At the Home of Martha and Mary

³⁸ As they continued their journey, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. ³⁹ Her sister Mary sat at Jesus' feet, absorbing His teaching – taking the traditional posture of a disciple, which was unusual for a woman in that culture. ⁴⁰ Meanwhile, Martha became increasingly frustrated with all her hosting duties. Finally, she blurted out, "Lord, doesn't it bother You that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!" ⁴¹ And the Lord answered with gentle understanding, "Martha, Martha, you're worried and upset about many things. ⁴² But only one thing is truly essential. Mary has chosen that better portion, and it won't be taken from her."

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The F.O.G Commentary

When Jesus Sent Amateur Missionaries Into the Lions’ Den

What’s Luke 10 about?

This is the chapter where Jesus sends out seventy-two ordinary people on what looks like an impossible mission, then tells the most famous story ever told about helping strangers. It’s about discovering that God’s kingdom breaks every rule we thought we knew about power, success, and who counts as “neighbor.”

The Full Context

Luke 10 sits right in the middle of Luke’s famous “travel narrative” – that long section where Jesus is journeying toward Jerusalem and his inevitable crucifixion. But this isn’t just geographical movement; Luke is showing us Jesus systematically preparing his followers for a world-changing mission that will continue long after he’s gone.

The chapter opens with Jesus commissioning seventy-two disciples (not the famous twelve, but a much larger group of ordinary followers) and sending them out as advance teams to every town he planned to visit. This happens shortly after the dramatic moment when Jesus “set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51), and the urgency is palpable. Then, after the missionaries return with wild stories of success, a lawyer tries to test Jesus with a question about eternal life, which prompts the parable of the Good Samaritan – arguably the most influential short story ever told.

What the Ancient Words Tell Us

The number seventy-two is fascinating. Some manuscripts say seventy, others seventy-two, but both numbers carried deep symbolic weight in Jewish thought. Seventy represented the nations of the world (from the table of nations in Genesis 10), while seventy-two matched the number of translators who worked on the Greek Septuagint. Either way, Luke is signaling that this mission isn’t just about Jewish villages – it’s about the whole world.

Grammar Geeks

When Jesus says “I send you out as lambs among wolves” (Luke 10:3), the Greek word for “send” is apostello – the same root we get “apostle” from. These aren’t just volunteers; they’re officially commissioned representatives with full authority to act on Jesus’ behalf.

The instructions Jesus gives are startling: no money, no bag, no sandals, no greetings on the road. This wasn’t poverty for poverty’s sake – it was a deliberate strategy. In a culture where hospitality was sacred, arriving with nothing forced people to make a choice: welcome these messengers or reject them outright. No middle ground, no polite neutrality.

When the seventy-two return, they’re practically bouncing off the walls with excitement: “Even the demons submit to us in your name!” (Luke 10:17). But Jesus’ response is intriguing – he celebrates with them, then immediately redirects their focus: “Don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).

What Would the Original Audience Have Heard?

The F.O.G Bible Project

This page has a unique origin story and vision. Find out why your visit today is about more than words.

What is the F.O.G?

Picture this scene in first-century Palestine. Jesus has just sent out seventy-two people – including women, tax collectors, former fishermen, and various other “nobodies” – with authority to heal the sick and cast out demons. The religious establishment would have been horrified. Healing and exorcism were serious business, typically handled by trained priests or recognized holy men, not by random disciples who’d been following this controversial rabbi from Nazareth.

Did You Know?

The phrase “shake the dust from your feet” (Luke 10:11) wasn’t just symbolic – it was a powerful ritual rejection. Devout Jews would literally shake the dust off their feet when leaving Gentile territory to avoid bringing ritual impurity back into the holy land. Jesus is telling his disciples to treat rejecting Jewish towns like pagan territory.

The lawyer’s question about inheriting eternal life (Luke 10:25) was loaded. The Greek word kleronomeo (inherit) implies something passed down through family lines, not earned through good works. He’s essentially asking: “What’s my birthright as a child of Abraham?” Jesus’ response – pointing him back to the Shema and the command to love one’s neighbor – would have been familiar ground for any educated Jew.

But then comes the twist. When the lawyer asks “Who is my neighbor?” he’s not looking for information – he’s looking for limits. The rabbinic discussions of his day were full of debates about how far the obligation to love one’s neighbor extended. Fellow Jews? God-fearers? Proselytes? Where do you draw the line?

Wrestling with the Text

Here’s where things get beautifully subversive. Instead of answering “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus tells a story that completely reframes the question. The parable of the Good Samaritan isn’t really about identifying who qualifies as our neighbor – it’s about becoming the kind of person who acts neighborly to anyone in need.

Wait, That’s Strange…

Why does Jesus specifically choose a Samaritan as the hero of this story? Samaritans and Jews had centuries of bad blood between them – theological disputes, territorial conflicts, mutual accusations of heresy. To Jesus’ Jewish audience, making a Samaritan the moral hero would have been as shocking as making your worst enemy the good guy in a story today.

The priest and Levite who pass by the beaten man weren’t necessarily being callous. They had legitimate concerns about ritual purity – touching a corpse (which the victim might have been) would have made them ceremonially unclean and unable to perform their temple duties. Their religious obligations arguably required them to avoid contact.

But the Samaritan stops. He doesn’t just help minimally – he goes all out. The Greek word splagchnizomai used to describe his compassion literally refers to a gut-wrenching, visceral response. This isn’t polite sympathy; it’s the kind of deep empathy that compels action regardless of cost or convenience.

How This Changes Everything

The genius of Luke 10 is how it demolishes our categories. The seventy-two mission shows that God’s kingdom isn’t limited to religious professionals or the specially gifted. Ordinary people, armed with nothing but Jesus’ authority and the simple message that “the kingdom of God has come near” (Luke 10:9), can turn the world upside down.

“Jesus isn’t asking us to identify who deserves our love – he’s calling us to become the kind of people who love without first checking credentials.”

The Good Samaritan parable completely redefines neighborliness. It’s not about proximity, ethnicity, or shared beliefs. It’s about seeing need and responding with extravagant compassion, even when it costs us something significant. The Samaritan doesn’t just bandage wounds and offer a ride to town – he pays for ongoing care and promises to cover any additional expenses (Luke 10:35).

This radically expands our understanding of what it means to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27). Jesus is saying that anyone who needs our help becomes our neighbor, regardless of who they are or how they ended up in trouble.

Key Takeaway

The kingdom of God isn’t advanced by the powerful and professional, but by ordinary people who are willing to go wherever they’re sent and help whoever they find along the way – even when it’s inconvenient, expensive, or socially awkward.

Luke Chapter 10

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God's Word is too vast for a single perspective. We all have a story, and as believers we all carry the Holy Spirit who is the Revealer. With this in mind - I would love to read your comments.