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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

CHAPTER TEN:
WORKERS BUSY IN THE KINGDOM HARVEST

[“Harvest Workers”]
Key word: Listen

Luke 10:1-7 – 70 Workers Sent Out into Harvest

|| Matthew 9:37, 38; 10:9-16; 392 Mark 6:8-11 393

392	Matthew 9:37, 38; 10:9-16: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

393	Mark 6:8-11: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

LK10:1 Now after this the Master appointed seventy 394 others and sent them out two by two before him into every village and area he was about to visit. 395

394	Seventy: Some versions say “seventy-two” which would be half of 144.

395	He was about to visit: This is a struck of advertising genius.

LK10:2 And he told them: “The harvest is truly large but the workers are few. So beg the Sovereign 396 of the harvest so that He might send out workers into His harvest.

396	The Sovereign: Jesus does not mean himself, but his Father.

LK10:3 Go! Behold I sent all of you out as lambs among wolves! LK10:4 Do not carry 397 a wallet, nor a shoulder bag, or sandals. Do not greet anyone 398 along the way.

397	Do not carry: Like the apostles before he is teaching them a lesson in trusting God.

398	Not greet anyone: They are to be about their business quickly and should not be distracted by idle conversation along the way.

LK10:5 When you enter into a house first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ LK10:6 Now if the household is peaceful, your peace will rest upon them. If things work out differently your peace will return to you. LK10:7 Stay in the same home eating and drinking whatever they provide. For the worker is worthy of his wages. 399 Do not move from house to house. 400

399	Worker is worthy of his wages: Compare Paul’s quotation of this phrase at 1 Corinthians 9:11, 14; 1 Timothy 5:18. [Matthew 10:10]

400	Do not move from house to house: Or, NAS: do not keep moving from house to house; BER: do not change from home to home. They are to remain at the same house where they were first shown hospitality. Compare the Greek construct here with Acts 5:42.

Luke 10:8-12 – Preach the Kingdom

LK10:8 “Into whatever town you enter where they welcome you, eat the food set before you. LK10:9 Heal the sick there and tell them, ‘God’s Realm has approached you.’ 401

401	God’s Realm has approached you: The opportunity for membership in the Church of Christ has now opened up to these village folk.

LK10:10 If you enter any village where they do not welcome you, on leaving their streets tell them: LK10:11 ‘Even the dust of your town clinging to us we shake off our feet! But, know this, God’s Realm has come near!’ LK10:12 I tell you this: it will be more endurable 402 for Sodom 403 in that Day 404 than for that town!

402	Endurable: Or, tolerable, bearable, easier, fare better. See below on Judgment Day.

403

Sodom: Rejection of the Messiah is a greater sin. Some teach a probationary period during the thousand years when all the dead, with former sins canceled by their death, will have an opportunity for everlasting life. If this were true, then Sodom – and the other cities mentioned next – would be free of sin just as these villages.

404	Day: Judgment Day as seen in verse 14. On the subject of judgment day see notes on Acts 17:31, Romans 2:12-16, and Revelation 20:12-14. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on the subject God and Judgment in Biblical Articles.

Luke 10:13-16 – Woes against Three Cities

|| Matthew 11:21-24 405

405	Matthew 11:21-24: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

LK10:13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! Because if the miracles that occurred in you had happened in Tyre and Sidon they would have long ago repented in sackcloth sitting in ashes. LK10:14 Instead, it will be more endurable 406 in the Judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.

406

More endurable: The Nazarene teaches that all will be judged by their words at Matthew 12:35-37. Paul writes that Jews will be judged by the very Law they claim to observe, while non-Jews will be judged by that “universal human conscience.” [Romans 2:12-16] The Jews in these towns rejected the Prophet foretold by Moses in their own Law. [Deuteronomy 18:15-18]

LK10:15 And you, Capernaum, did you want to be exalted to heaven? You will descend into Hades! 407 [Isaiah 14:13-15]

407	You will descend into Hades: Jesus uses the same language as in Isaiah 14:13-15.

LK10:16 Whoever listens to you, listens to me. Whoever rejects you, rejects me. Also, the person rejecting me rejects the One who sent me.” 408

408	Rejects the One who sent me: Here is the reason these Jewish cities come in for condemnation.

Luke 10:17-24 – Joyous Workers Report

|| Matthew 11:25-27; 13:16, 17 409

409	Matthew 11:25-27; 13:16, 17: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

LK10:17 Now the seventy returned joyously, reporting: “Master, even the demons submit to us in your name!” LK10:18 Then Jesus said to them: “I saw Satan already fallen from heaven 410 like lightning!

410	I saw Satan already fallen from heaven: Jesus foresees that event in the future described in Revelation 12:7-10.

LK10:19 Behold, I have given you [seventy] to tread on serpents [Psalm 91:13] and scorpions, and no matter how much power the enemy possesses they will by no means injure you. LK10:20 However, do not rejoice over the fact demons submit to you. Rather rejoice that ‘your names have been recorded’ 411 [Daniel 12:1; Malachi 3:16] in the heavens.”

411	Names have been recorded: Compare Exodus 32:32; Psalm 69:28; Isaiah 4:3; Daniel 12:1; Philippians 4:3; Hebrews 12:23; Revelation 3:5; 13:8.

LK10:21 At that same moment, Jesus was filled with the joy of the holy Pneuma, 412 and said: “I praise you, Father, Absolute Sovereign of the Heaven and the Earth, because You concealed these things from the sophist and intellectual, 413 and You revealed them to babes. Yes, Father, for such was well-pleasing in Your sight.

412	Filled with the joy of the holy Pneuma: Or, rejoiced, exulted, inspired with joy, filled with gladness, rapturous joy.

413	Sophist and intellectual: Or, learned, sages. Compare 1 Corinthians 1:19; 2:6.

LK10:22 Everything has been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father; and, who the Father is 414 no one knows except the Son, and to anyone whom the Son wishes to reveal Him.”

414	Who the Father is: Compare Matthew 11:27. Note the Holy Spirit is missing in this statement.

LK10:23 Then turning to his disciples in private, Jesus said: “Blessed are the eyes seeing what you see. LK10:24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see and they did not see them; and also to hear what all of you hear and they did not hear them.”

Luke 10:25-37 – Who Is My Neighbor?

|| Matthew 22:34-40; 415 Mark 12:28-31 416

415	Matthew 22:34-40: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

416	Mark 12:28-31: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

LK10:25 Now, look, a certain man versed in the Law [of Moses] rose to test Jesus, asking: “Teacher, what must I do to inherit everlasting life?” LK10:26 Jesus answered him: “What is written in the Law [of Moses]? How do you read it?” LK10:27 And so this man responded: “‘You will love YHWH 417 your God from all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind.’ And also, ‘[You will love] your neighbor as yourself.’” [Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18]

417	YHWH: The Tetragram occurs in Deuteronomy 6:5 and the Greek suggests the possibility YHWH originally occurred here.

LK10:28 Then Jesus said to him: “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.” LK10:29 But wanting to make himself righteous, he asked Jesus: “And who is my neighbor?” 418

418	And who is my neighbor: We can hear the man’s sarcastic, self-righteous tone.

LK10:30 And so Jesus replied to him: “A certain [Jewish] man was descending from Jerusalem on his way to Jericho and he came upon bandits. They stripped him of everything he had and beat him until he was half-dead. LK10:31 Now by coincidence a certain [Jewish] priest was descending by the same way. And when he saw the [Jewish] man he passed by on the far side of the road. 419

419

Passed by on the far side of the road: The very opposite of love. To this day some Christians do not want to get involved in other people’s problems. Jesus deliberately uses the examples of Jewish temple ministers. The same could be done using any ministers of Christian sects today. Compare notes on John 4:20-24. It is a crime before God that some persons, very religious on the outside, completely lack love, kindness, and charity. One of the major criteria for judgment on Judgment Day is how fellow worshippers are treated. This is the thrust behind the parable of the sheep and goats. [Matthew 25:31-46] James writes that any believer who fails in this practices a dead faith. [James 2:15-17] John writes those who ignore those in need have removed themselves from God’s love. [1 John 3:15-17] Such are the same as a murderer.

LK10:32 Also, in a similar manner a certain Levite happened to be in the same place, and approaching and seeing [the Jewish man] he also passed by on the far side of the road. LK10:33 However, a certain Samaritan 420 was traveling and came near the man and saw him. He was filled with compassion, 421

420	Samaritan: That is someone of another faith who is viewed as demonized and an enemy. Compare notes on John 4:20-24.

421	Compassion: Or, moved to pity, touched. The Greek is ESPLANCHNISTHE [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #4697, feel sympathy]. Compare also Luke 7:13; 10:33. [Matthew 9:36; 14:14; 15:32; 18:27; 20:34; Mark 1:41; 6:34; 8:2]

LK10:34 so he drew near and bandaged his wounds, pouring wine 422 and oil over them. Then he put him on his animal and brought him to an inn and there cared for him some more.

422	Wine: Luke notes this mild antiseptic.

LK10:35 The next day upon leaving the Samaritan gave two denarii 423 to the inn-keeper and said: ‘Take care of him and whatever it costs you extra I will repay when I return.’

423	Two denarii: Two days’ wages for the average laborer.

LK10:36 Who of these three seems to you to have become a neighbor to the man who had fallen among the bandits?” LK10:37 And so [the man versed in the Law of Moses] answered: “The person who demonstrated charity.” 424 Jesus said to him: “Go and you do the same!” 425

424	Charity: Or, mercy, kindness, pity, practical sympathy.

425	Go and you do the same: The greatest argument against a self-righteous and judgmental person fixated on a salvation doctrine is the challenge in becoming Christ-minded.

Luke 10:38-42 – Mary and Martha

LK10:38 On their way [to Jerusalem] Jesus and his disciples entered into a certain village 426 and were welcomed by a certain woman named Martha.

426	Certain village: For his own reasons Luke does not name Bethany, a village about two miles from Jerusalem. The home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary was frequented by the Nazarene. [John 11:1, 38-44; 12:2]

LK10:39 She had a sister named Mary who sat down beside Jesus at his feet listening to his message. LK10:40 However, Martha was very distracted 427 by serving [the guests]. Standing by, Martha said to Jesus: “Master, does it not concern you 428 that my sister has left me alone to serve [the guests]? So speak to her and tell her to help me.”

427	Martha was very distracted: Or, KJV: cumbered. This is not a criticism for it is important to many women to display proper hospitality. We can see her quite busy in the kitchen making preparations.

428

Master, does it not concern you: Or, PME: don’t you mind; RIE: is it nothing to you; TCN: do you approve; WMS: do you not care. This is something of a mild rebuke as though Jesus was partly to blame for her sister’s failure to assist. Martha has made the same mistake Jesus’ mother did – trying to direct him. [John 2:1ff]

LK10:41 Then the Master answered her: “Martha, Martha, you worry and concerned yourself 429 with too much.

429	Worry and concerned yourself: Or, NAS: worried and bothered; NEB: fretting and fussing; ALF: anxious and troubled; KNX: worry and fuss; BER: anxious and bustling about; LAM: worried and excited.

LK10:42 Perhaps one is necessary. 430 But Mary chose the better part 431 and that will not be taken away from her.” 432

430	Perhaps one is necessary: Or, KJV: one thing is needful; NAS: only a few things are necessary. This is not the answer Martha expected.

431	Mary chose the better part: Or, good part, good portion, best part of all, most important.

432	That will not be taken away from her: Jesus was a man not to be directed by others, including women, and he spoke his mind to even his close friends.

Review Questions on Chapter Ten