Luke 10:1-221After 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 laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers 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 laborer 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. 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. 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. 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. (Luke 10:1‑22)
People used to walk long distances, lodging nights on the way. When Jesus was to make His last journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, He sent men ahead to tell the people on the way that He would soon come to them.
This was to be done promptly, so they were not to stop to “Salute”, or talk to friends by the way; they were not to carry supplies, because the people should receive them as God’s messengers, and they were to do the people great good, for the Lord gave them power to cure the sick and to cast out evil spirits.
Jesus knew all would not welcome them, and He told of cities which had already refused Him as Messiah. He spoke of Capernaum, where He had done the greatest miracles, cured the lepers, the sick, the lame and blind and raised the dead: He said the people had been “exalted to heaven”, in their pride, yet the city would be “thrust” from its high honor, because the people did not believe Him.
Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum were later destroyed by armies which came through the land.
Perhaps if we had lived in those cities we would not have found the people more wicked than in cities now; the great sin was they did not want Jesus to be their Messiah or King.
Yet the Lord would have every one told of Him: He likened the people to a harvest field, needing workers, saying,
“The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He send forth laborers into His harvest.”
It is not easy to work the long hours in a harvest field, cutting or carrying grain, and the Lord knew it would not be easy to go to people with His words, for many would not believe, even though they were words of blessing.
All the world is now as a “harvest field” for men to labor to tell people of the Lord Jesus; not now as King, but as their Saviour. It is not easy, for there is still unbelief, but we can pray God to send the workers.
When the men whom Jesus had sent, returned, they were very happy because they had cast out wicked spirits by His name. But Jesus said not to rejoice for that, but “rather rejoice, bause your names are written in Heaven.”
What do you think that meant? Names are written that there be no mistake; so we know the Lord meant the men could be certain there was a place for them in Heaven. He did not say, would be written when they died, but He said, “are written.”
Those men believed in the Lord Jesus; can the same promise be for those now who believe Him? Yes, for He said,
ML 05/13/1945