Luke 10:1-42 King James Bible KJV

The Sending of the Seventy-Two, Judgment on Unrepentant Towns, The Parable of the Good Samaritan, Home of Martha and Mary

Luke Chapter 10:1-42. Luke Chapter 10 contains key teachings and events in Jesus’ ministry, focusing on discipleship, mission, and love for others. It highlights themes such as the responsibility of sharing the gospel, the joy of serving God, the importance of love for one’s neighbor, and listening to Jesus. Luke is emphasizing those to live out their faith by proclaiming the kingdom, showing mercy to others, and ensuring that their relationship with Jesus remains at the center of their lives.

• The Mission of Discipleship: Jesus sends out His followers to proclaim the kingdom of God, highlighting that discipleship involves active participation in spreading the gospel. There is also a sense of urgency and reliance on God’s provision.
• Judgment and Responsibility: Greater knowledge of God’s truth brings greater responsibility. The rejection of God’s message, as seen in certain towns, leads to greater judgment.
• True Joy in Salvation: While spiritual power is significant, the true joy of discipleship lies in the assurance of salvation and eternal life with God.
• Humility and Revelation: God reveals His truth to the humble and childlike, not to the proud or those who rely on their own wisdom. Jesus celebrates the accessibility of God’s kingdom to those with open hearts.
• The Call to Love Your Neighbor: The parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates that love for one’s neighbor extends beyond cultural or religious boundaries. Compassion and mercy are central to living out God’s command to love others.
• The Priority of Being with Jesus: In the story of Martha and Mary, Jesus teaches that the most important aspect of discipleship is being present with Him, listening to His Word, and cultivating a deep relationship with Him.

Luke 10:1-42 King James Bible KJV
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The Sending of the Seventy-Two – verses 1-12
Jesus appoints 72 disciples (some manuscripts say 70) and sends them ahead in pairs to prepare the way in the towns He plans to visit. He instructs them to proclaim the coming of God’s kingdom, heal the sick, and rely on the hospitality of those they meet, warning them about rejection. This sending mirrors the earlier mission of the Twelve (Luke 9:1-6) but is expanded, symbolizing the broader scope of Jesus’ mission to spread the message of the kingdom beyond His immediate circle. The instruction to travel lightly, depend on hospitality, and move on if rejected emphasizes faith in God’s provision and the urgency of the mission.

Jesus is telling us discipleship involves being sent out to proclaim the kingdom of God, relying on God’s provision and the hospitality of others. It also involves the reality that not everyone will accept the message, but the mission must continue.

Judgment on Unrepentant Towns – verses 13-16
Jesus pronounces woes on the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, where many of His miracles were performed, yet the people did not repent. Despite witnessing Jesus’ power firsthand, these towns did not respond with faith or repentance. Jesus contrasts their lack of response with the potential response of historically sinful cities like Tyre and Sidon, who would have repented if they had seen such miracles.

Privilege and exposure to God’s truth come with responsibility. Those who have greater knowledge of God’s work but fail to repent are held to a higher standard of judgment.

The Return of the Seventy-Two – verses 17-20
The 72 disciples return joyfully, reporting that even demons submitted to them in Jesus’ name. Jesus responds by affirming their authority over evil but reminds them to rejoice not in their power but because their names are written in heaven. The success of the mission shows the authority of Jesus’ name and the disciples’ participation in God’s work. However, Jesus shifts the focus from the miraculous results to the eternal significance of their salvation. The true joy should come from their relationship with God and their place in His kingdom, not just the power they wield in His name.

Spiritual victories are significant, but the greatest joy and source of security for believers should be in their salvation and relationship with God. Jesus’ authority over evil is given to His followers, but their ultimate hope lies in heaven.

Jesus’ Prayer of Praise – verses 21-24
Jesus rejoices in the Holy Spirit, praising God for revealing His truth to “little children” and hiding it from the wise and learned. He speaks of His unique relationship with the Father and the blessedness of the disciples for seeing and hearing what many prophets and kings longed for. Jesus praises God for revealing divine truths to those with childlike faith, rather than to the worldly wise. This underscores the idea that God’s kingdom is received not through human wisdom or status but through humility and openness. The disciples are blessed because they are witnessing the fulfillment of God’s promises.

The revelation of God’s truth comes to those who approach Him with humility and childlike trust. Understanding the kingdom is a gift from God, and those who receive it are blessed beyond what the prophets and kings of the past experienced.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan – verses 25-37
An expert in the law, asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus leads him to answer from the Law: to love God and neighbor. The lawyer, seeking to justify himself, asks, “Who is my neighbor?” In response, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. In the story, a man is beaten and left for dead, and while a priest and a Levite pass by without helping, a Samaritan (a group despised by Jews) shows compassion and helps him. The parable redefines “neighbor” as anyone in need, regardless of social, ethnic, or religious boundaries. Jesus contrasts the indifference of the religious leaders with the Samaritan’s active compassion, illustrating that true love for one’s neighbor is shown through action, not just knowledge or religious status.

Jesus is telling us our love for God is inseparable from love for others, and being a “neighbor” means showing mercy and compassion to all people, especially those who are marginalized or different from us. True obedience to God’s command to love is shown in practical acts of kindness and mercy.

Jesus at the Home of Martha and Mary – verses 38-42
Jesus visits the home of Martha and Mary. Martha is busy with preparations, while Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, listening to His teaching. Martha complains to Jesus, asking Him to tell Mary to help her. Jesus gently rebukes Martha, saying that Mary has chosen the better part by focusing on Him.

This story contrasts two responses to Jesus: Martha is focused on serving, while Mary prioritizes being present with Jesus and learning from Him. Jesus affirms that while service is important, the highest priority is spending time with Him and listening to His Word.

Luke 10:1-42 King James Bible KJV

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

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.
14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.
15 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.
16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

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

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

25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And 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.
28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
30 And 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.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And 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.
35 And 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.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

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