To Every Town and Place

Luke 10:1-24

Key Verse 10:1

“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.”

Read v. 1. Why did it become necessary for the Lord to appoint the seventy-two "others"? What can we learn from the following expressions?

1) [the Lord] "appointed" seventy-two others;

2) [the Lord] "sent them"; 

3) "two by two"; and

4) "every town and place he was about to go". 

** Jesus did this to save the souls in the areas which were yet to be evangelized. 

There were towns and places where Jesus wanted to go and visit. 

To reach these areas out, Jesus organized the seventy-two and sent them out.

** Appoint has the meaning of commission or establish. It is like a carpenter securing two by fours and cutting them to sizes he already measured up for the work he has in mind. 

** Jesus understood God's mind: that is, God is the God who: 1) looks for the lost; 2) sends out his servants for the lost; and 3) waits for the lost to come back home.

To bring the lost back home, the Lord Jesus came to look for the lost, and to recover them he is going to visit every town and place. For that purpose he is sending his disciples in advance, to get them ready for the work of salvation to be done in and through him. 

** Two by two reminds us of the need for team work. We are limited in many ways. But when we work together, we can get the work done, which we might not be able to accomplish on our own.

It used to be said that in order to succeed, you need a high IQ. But later it was said, you need not just a high IQ but a high EQ. However nowadays it is said, a high IQ or EQ is not enough; to succeed you need a high NQ (networking quotient). 

 

It was observed when two believers get together they pray in Jesus' name. When three get together, they work to pioneer a church. But due to man's sinful nature, when four people get together the church gets divided into two. 

But this is not God's will. God's will has been the other way around. 

After the fall, both Cain and Abel competed and Cain ended up killing Abel. The same thing happened between Joseph and his half brothers. However, God willed for the brothers to work together, so later, thanks to God's efforts, Moses the younger brother could work together with Aaron the elder brother, and Moses established Aaron to be the high priest. Similarly, thanks to the love of God working in Joseph, the Lord brought both Joseph and Judah (and the other brothers) together, embracing each other, forming one unit of love. 

** Every town and place: this expression indicates that God is like a man who has ten fingers. When one finger is aching, the whole body starts aching. So one never stops working to give the injured finger complete relief from hurting. NO matter who you are and where you are, God is looking for you to be recovered back to him and his kingdom. 

As God (the Father of all) he knows who suffers and how much. Just as it is our head that feels pain ahead of any part of our body which hurts, so also Jesus, the head of his body, feels pain, until every lost soul is recovered back to him. 

The passage gives out hints that tell us of this truth: for example words like Satan, demons, snake, or scorpion indicate how much people suffer under the hands of the enemies that hate us. In addition the word "kingdom" (of God) [as in "kingdom of God is near") denotes the perfect paradise which is for all who live under God's perfect love and power. Jesus came from the Father's house. He came to fetch the lost back to home (God's kingdom). For this purpose, Jesus sent out the seventy two others. 

Read v. 2. What was the problem? What was the solution? What can we learn from Jesus? 

** The problem was that the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. This is surprising, for we say the harvest is scarce. The harvest here refers to the souls that need to be reaped into God's barn (house). 

Technically, the expression, 'The harvest is plentiful,' refers to the greatness of the number of souls that are yet to be saved. There are so many souls that need to be saved, no matter where you turn. 

The workers refer to those who can save them. Categorically, the workers refer to the "qualified" workers. Not all can work to save souls. Who then can? (See the answers to the following questions.)

** The solution was to ask the Lord of the harvest. This indicates that we are not to be anxious about anything, for God is in charge of the ministry. We are merely his instruments, if we offer ourselves to him. So despite all the strains and stresses, we need to bring all of our troubles and burdens, problems and questions, to the Lord, asking the Lord to help us out. 

 

** We learn that God is the God of harvest, so we need to take a close look at what God is doing, where he is leading us, etc. and go the way he goes. 

Read verse 3. How are lambs different from wolves? Yet, what can we learn from Jesus who said, "Go!"

** Lambs are no match for wolves. They are weak and timid whereas wolves are strong and shrewd. Lambs are safe to be around, but wolves are aggressive, so they can hurt you. 

Jesus has faith in God. Jesus wants them to go by faith in God as well.

Read verses 4-16 and think about the do's and don'ts. What does this passage teach us about: 1) the position of the disciples (apostles); 2) their mission; and 3) the consequences of people either rejecting or welcoming them? 

** They are God's servants.

** They are to heal the sick and proclaim the kingdom of heaven to those who are under the bondage to the power of sin and death.

** They will miss out on the kingdom of heaven (found in Jesus); they will die in their sins, and will have to bear the consequences of their sins on their own. 

Read verses 17-24. What does this passage tell us about the real blessing the disciples received out of following Jesus and his commands?

** Their names are written in the book of life.

The end.

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