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Luke 10

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.

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.

Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

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

And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.

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

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.

And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:

And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,

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.

But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

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.

But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.

And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.

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

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

And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

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.

And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

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.

And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

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.

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.

Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

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.

And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

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.

And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

What does Luke 10:22 mean?

Explanation

Luke 10:22 is a verse in the Christian New Testament where Jesus Christ speaks about the special relationship between Himself (the Son) and God the Father.

The literal meaning is that Jesus asserts that all things have been handed over to Him by the Father.

He stresses the unique knowledge that He and the Father share regarding each other's identity, which is inaccessible to others unless Jesus chooses to reveal it.

The deeper meaning reflects the divine authority bestowed upon Jesus and His unique position as the mediator who can reveal the Father to humanity.

It suggests an incomprehensible and intimate knowledge between God the Father and Jesus, the Son, highlighting the mystery of the divine and the exclusivity of their understanding of one another.

The idea that Jesus will reveal the Father to whom He chooses points to His role in salvation and divine revelation.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

This verse is part of the gospel of Luke, written around 80-110 AD, traditionally ascribed to Luke the Evangelist.

The gospel was meant to be a careful account of the life of Jesus Christ, aimed at both the Gentile and Jewish Christian audiences.

During this period, early Christians were concerned with understanding and consolidating the teachings of Jesus, and the nature of His relationship with God was a central theological question.

Luke 10 is positioned after Jesus appoints seventy disciples and sends them out to preach and heal in his name, suggesting a time of active ministry and the establishment of Jesus' authority on earth.

This verse is part of Jesus' response to the return of the seventy, where He celebrates their success and speaks about the mysteries of the Kingdom of God.

Theological Insights

From a Trinitarian Christian perspective, Luke 10:22 reinforces the doctrine of the Trinity, emphasizing the profound unity and mutual knowledge between the Father and the Son. For non-Trinitarian Christians, it could be used to argue for a unique but separate relationship between God and Jesus.

Additionally, it carries insights about the sovereignty of Christ and God's plan for humanity's redemption.

Catholic and Orthodox theologies see this passage as a reflection of Jesus' dual nature as both fully divine and fully human.

The verse's reference to divine knowledge may be interpreted through the lens of kenosis, the self-emptying of Jesus' will and becoming entirely receptive to God's divine will.

For Protestant theology, this verse is often highlighted in discussions of the authority of Jesus and the doctrine of revelation, asserting Christ as the sole mediator through whom God's will and nature are known to humanity.

Practical Applications

For believers, Luke 10:22 offers several practical applications.

It encourages Christians to seek a deeper understanding and relationship with God through Jesus.

It can inspire humility, as it shows that knowledge of God is not something that can be achieved through human effort alone, but is a revealed gift.

This verse also encourages trust in Christ's sovereignty and His purposeful revelation of the Father to believers according to His will. It could also foster a sense of gratitude for the knowledge of God that Christians believe they have received through Jesus.

Cross-References

Matthew 11:27: "All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him."
John 1:18: "No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him."
John 14:6: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
John 14:9: "Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?"
John 10:15: "As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of Luke 10:22 include:

"delivered" (παρεδόθη) - from paradidōmi, meaning to give into the hands (of another), to surrender, to entrust.
"knoweth" (γινώσκει) - from ginōskō, meaning to know, understand, perceive.
"reveal" (ἀποκαλύπτω) - from apokalyptō, meaning to uncover, lay open what has been veiled, to disclose, reveal.

The use of these terms emphasizes the themes of authority, knowledge, and revelation, core concepts in understanding the relationship between the Father and the Son in this verse.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparison to other ancient religions, the concept of a unique mediator between God and humans is fairly distinct to Christianity. In various Greek mythologies, individuals might receive insights from the gods, but the gods did not have an exclusive mediator like the Son in Christianity.

In Judaism, the idea of God sharing His authority with a person would be seen as heretical, as God is uni-personal and does not share His divine essence with anyone.

In Islam, while Jesus (Isa) is recognized as a prophet and messenger, he is not accorded the divine status and unique mediator role he has in Christianity.

Scientific Perspectives

The verse speaks to spiritual beliefs and divine relationships which are out of the realm of empirical scientific study.

Modern scientific perspectives typically do not intersect with metaphysical claims of scripture about divine knowledge and revelation.

Science can help understand the historical and sociological aspects of religion but does not comment on theological truths.

Commentaries

Commentators offer a variety of interpretations of Luke 10:22.

Some emphasize the exclusive knowledge between the Father and the Son as pointing to their divine nature and unity. Others focus on the revelation aspect, viewing it as a statement of Jesus' role as revealer of divine truths.

Matthew Henry's Commentary provides an evangelical Christian view, suggesting that the verse shows Jesus' delight in God's wisdom and His role as the one chosen by the Father to reveal heavenly wisdom to His followers.
The Jerome Biblical Commentary, reflecting Catholic scholarship, might discuss the Trinitarian implications of the verse and its relevance to understanding the nature of Christ in Christian doctrine.
William Barclay's Daily Study Bible series offers contextual insights, exploring how this verse fit into the message and theology of Luke as a whole.

Each commentator seeks to unpack the theological and practical significance of the verse, drawing out its implications for Christians throughout the ages.

Luke 10

Luke 10

What does Luke 10:22 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 10:22 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?