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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 10:3 mean?

Explanation

Luke 10:3 is a verse from the Christian New Testament where Jesus Christ is addressing seventy of his disciples before sending them out to various towns and places to preach the Gospel.

In this verse, He acknowledges the dangers and difficulties they will face by comparing them to lambs being sent among wolves.

Lambs are symbols of innocence and purity, while wolves represent threats and hostility.

The deeper meaning of this verse alludes to the non-violent and peaceful proclamation of the message of Christ in the midst of potential persecution, adversity, and opposition.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

During the time when this verse was spoken, Jesus was actively teaching and preaching about the Kingdom of God throughout Judea.

He appointed disciples to expand His ministry.

The image of lambs among wolves would have been readily understood in the agrarian and herding society of the time as representing vulnerability and the need for caution.

Jesus was preparing his disciples for the reality of mission work, which included the possibility of rejection and persecution by those opposed to His teachings.

Theological Insights

From a theological viewpoint, Luke 10:3 demonstrates the theme of God's protection and the divine mission entrusted to humanity.

Several perspectives include:

Providence and Trust: The disciples are assured of God's care despite being vulnerable, showcasing a profound trust in divine providence.
Mission and Persecution: This verse prepares the followers of Jesus for the reality of Christian mission, which includes the possibility of suffering for one's faith.
Peace and Nonviolence: Sending the disciples as lambs underscores the peaceful nature of their mission, contrasting with the violence they may encounter.

Practical Applications

In a practical sense, Luke 10:3 encourages individuals to:

Face challenges and adversity with courage and faith, despite feeling vulnerable.
Maintain integrity and innocence when confronted with hostile environments.
Approach difficult tasks with the awareness that one may not always be welcomed yet continue to perform one’s duties peacefully.

Cross-References

Matthew 10:16: "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."
John 15:20: "Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord.

If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also."

Language Study

The key terms in the original Greek text are:

"Lambs" (ἀρνίον - arnion): This word implies innocence and purity, often used in religious imagery.
"Wolves" (λύκος - lykos): A symbol of danger and aggression, representing those who might oppose the disciples' work.
"Send" (πέμπω - pempo): To dispatch or send with a commission, indicating the authority and purpose behind the sending.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, the symbolism of lambs and wolves is common, often representing the contrast between innocence and predation, respectively.

In the context of religious interpretations, this imagery can be seen in various mythologies as a representation of the eternal struggle between good and evil, order and chaos.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, the behavioral analogy between lambs and wolves can be understood through the lens of predator-prey relationships observed in nature.

While the literal interpretation involves biological survival dynamics, in a metaphorical sense, it models social and psychological interactions among humans, such as the confrontation between the defenseless and the powerful.

commentaries

Commentaries on Luke 10:3 often reflect on the challenges of Christian discipleship and evangelism:

Matthew Henry's Commentary discusses the courage and faithfulness required by the disciples in the face of danger.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes the stark reality of the task and the vulnerability of the disciples.
The Expositor's Greek Testament provides insights into the language and cultural implications, underlining the contrast between the vulnerability of the disciples and the hostility they might encounter.

Luke 10

Luke 10

What does Luke 10:3 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 10:3 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?