LUKE LESSON 27

    We will begin this lesson in 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."

    These seventy who Jesus chose from among His followers were like
missionaries. They were sent two at a time, because by two a thing
shall be established, and also if any two of you shall agree as
touching anything on this earth; it will be done of the Father. They
were to go into all the villages and get them ready to receive Jesus.
In the case like happened in Samaria, Jesus would not bother to go
there. Jesus' time is now very precious, because this is the last part
of the last year of His ministry. Every moment must count. By doing
this, 35 cities could be prepared at once.

    Luke 10:2 "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."

    This means that the people are open to receiving the Lord Jesus.
There are thousands of souls out there who would come to Jesus if they
could just hear the gospel message. Jesus is saying in this, get busy
and get the people into God's kingdom. This message was earlier
repeated to the twelve when they went forth. It is for the seventy and
is also true today.

    Luke 10:3 "Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among
wolves."

    The world is an angry cruel place. Those who will not receive the
gospel will try to tear you to shreds. If they are not physically
attacking you, they will try to tear you apart with that most vicious
weapon, the tongue. The truth is that a Christian is not supposed to
repay a wound for wound. We are told to love our enemies, to pray for
those who despitefully use us. If they want what we have, we are to
give it to them, no questions asked. We are to be wise as a serpent,
but harmless as a dove. You see, we are vulnerable to their attack. We
truly are as a helpless lamb, and they are like the wolf.

    Luke 10:4 "Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute
no man by the way."

    In this, we see that these disciples were not to weigh themselves
down with extras. They are in a rush to get the message out. Their
only concern is to preach the gospel. This "salute no man" just means
to me that they were not to stop and visit along the way. Their
purpose was to preach and that alone. They were to prepare the people
to receive Jesus.

     Luke 10:5 "And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace
[be] to this house."

     In almost all of these little towns, they were setting up
churches in the homes. These two disciples are to go into an area and
find who seems to be worthy and go to that one house and stay, not
moving around. As they entered the house, they were to speak a
blessing of peace on the house.

     Luke 10:6 "And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall
rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again."

     This is speaking of whether this is a Christian home or not. If
not, the blessing shall return to the disciple.

    Luke 10:7 "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."

    This is to establish home churches, as we said before. A labourer
for the Lord should be able to live off the ministry. That is what is
intended here and bears true even today. This house would be the
center of the work in this town. It would profit nothing to jump from
house to house.

    Luke 10:8 "And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive
you, eat such things as are set before you:"  Luke 10:9 "And heal the
sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come
nigh unto you."

    There is a double message in eating whatever is set before you.
One of the meanings. I believe, is don't check to see if it has been
offered to idols. Prayer makes all foodstuff clean to eat. The other
meaning would be to be content with whatever the family has that is
feeding you. Don't ask for special dishes. When they were dealing with
someone who had not been favored with knowing the Lord before, it
would be easy to win them over by healing their sick. After they
believe you are from God, preach the gospel and get them into the
kingdom.

    Luke 10:10 "But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive
you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,"
Luke 10:11 "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."  Luke 10:12 "But I say unto
you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for
that city."

    These people were not refusing these disciples, but were in all
reality refusing the Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ the righteous.
This "shaking of the dust off their feet" shows that they will not
have anything more to do with this city. It will be left for God to
punish. Just as Sodom deserved the punishment inflicted upon it, the
city or even person that rejects the Lord Jesus Christ deserves the
punishment it will receive from God. He tells them here: You have been
offered the kingdom of God and you refused. It is your own fault.

    Luke 10:13 "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."

    Chorazin and Bethsaida were near the sea of Galilee and were
frequented by Jesus often. They had every opportunity to turn from
their wicked ways to Jesus and they did not, even though He did
numerous miracles there. There were no miracles in Sodom and Gomorrah.
Chorazin and Bethsaida had their opportunity and failed to receive it
so their punishment would be great. These woes are great to those who
will not repent.

    Luke 10:14 "But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at
the judgment, than for you." Luke 10:15 "And thou, Capernaum, which
art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell."

    Capernaum was the city where Matthew was called. It was the home
of Peter, James, and John. This was a thriving city in the time of
Jesus and had its own synagogue where Jesus taught. It was on the side
of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus called Capernaum home during His
ministry.  Even though He was raised in Nazareth, He headquartered in
Capernaum.  This city had many miracles done here by Jesus. The people
still did not accept Jesus as Messiah as a whole. Jesus said a prophet
is not without honor but in His own country. This was true of
Capernaum.  Just as these woes have been spoken on these cities, they
have been destroyed. The whole city of Capernaum is in ruins.

    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."

    This is just saying the rejection is not of the disciple but of
Jesus and the Father.

    Luke 10:17  "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying,
Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."

    This seventy, on their return were delighted to report to Jesus,
that the power over devils that He had given them to use in His name
worked. They had never been privileged to use this power before and
are amazed at the effectiveness. It is not really their power but
Jesus' power transferred through them.

    Luke 10:18 "And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning
fall from heaven."

    Jesus is Alpha and Omega ( the Beginning and the End). Jesus was
there when Satan fell.

     Luke 10:19 "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."

    This power that these disciples (and that we have, as well) is
Jesus' power. We do these things in the name of Jesus Christ. In St.
John, we find that we can ask anything in His name, and He will do it.
If we belong to Jesus, He protects us.

    Luke 10:20 "Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits
are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are
written in heaven."

    The most important thing to any of us is whether we are saved or
not.  We should rejoice because we have accepted the Lord Jesus as out
Saviour and had our names written in the Lamb's book of life. We must
not get too caught up in the gifts God has given us and forget the
giver. Being able to cast out demons in the name of Jesus is a gift
from God.








































                           Luke 27 Questions

1.  How many did Jesus appoint to go to the cities and prepare the way
    for Him?
2.  How many were to go together?
3.  What were the 70 like?
4.  At what point in Jesus' ministry, did He do this?
5.  The harvest is great but the ________ are few.
6.  Thousands would come to the Lord if what happened?
7.  Jesus told this 70 they would be like _________ among wolves.
8.  Those who would not receive the gospel would do what to this 70?
9.  What things classify Christians as lambs?
10. Christians are to be wise as a serpent and harmless as a ______.
11. There were 3 things Jesus told them not to carry, what were they?
12. Their only concern is to do what?
13. What were they to say when they entered a house?
14. What were they setting up in the homes?
15. If the Son of peace is not there, what will happen?
16. The laborer is worthy of his_________.
17. What should the minister make his living by?
18. What 2 things does "eat what is set before you" mean?
19. What was the minister to do for the people (2 things)?
20. What were they to do on leaving a city that would not accept them?
21. If the people do not receive these ministers, who are they really
    rejecting?
22. What 2 cities did Jesus speak woes on in verse 13?
23. What did Jesus say Sodom would have done if the miracles had been
    done there that were done in these 2 cities?
24. Which city had been exalted to heaven and yet shall be thrust to
    hell?
25. Who were some of the disciples who lived in Capernaum?
26. Jesus taught where in Capernaum?
27. Where is a prophet not accepted?
28. What has happened to Capernaum?
29. The rejection is not of the disciple, but of _________ and the
    ______.
30. What were the 70 rejoicing over when they returned to Jesus?
31. Jesus said He beheld Satan as ___________ fall from heaven.
32. Jesus gave them and all believers the power to ______ ______ _____
    in His name.
33. He said rejoice not over having power over the evil spirits, but
    to rejoice over what?