Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 10 : 1-16 "MESSENGERS OF PEACE"
Day 123 – Luke 10
Text: Luke 10 : 1-16
MESSENGERS OF PEACE
The Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ were mentally prepared for the fact that they could meet up with wolves! Nevertheless, they were to continue to have the nature of lambs (Luke 10:3)! They were not to think that because the Lord Jesus Christ had authorized them, they could call down fire from heaven, should they be resisted (Luke 9:54).
They were to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom. When they entered into a house, they must present themselves as messengers of peace. They must greet the household with these words, “Peace to this house.” (Luke 10:5).
“THE LABOURER IS WORTHY OF HIS WAGES” Luke 10:7
The Lord Jesus encouraged The Seventy to trust the Lord for His provision. They must not be afraid that they would go a-begging when they were sent forth to preach. If they were true and good labourers, they would be provided for!
When they go out to preach, there would be homes opened up to receive them. There would be “sons of peace” who would recognize the significance of the mission of the Disciples. They would recognize and value the greetings of “Peace”. These worthy sons of peace would provide for them!
The Disciples must honour the people who open up their homes to them. They are to…
“… remain in the same house, eating and drinking
such things as they give,
for the labourer is worthy of his wages….
Whatever city you enter, and they receive you,
Eat such things as are set before you…”
Luke 10:7-8
“THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS COME NEAR TO YOU…” Luke 10:9
The Seventy were to follow the pattern of ministry the Lord Jesus Christ Himself maintained. As always, the ministry of preaching the Kingdom of God must be foremost in their mind.
Should the Disciples come across people who were sick, they would also be empowered to “heal the sick there” (Luke 10:9; Cp. Luke 9:6). Their ability to heal the sick would be evidence that the Lord Jesus Christ especially commissioned them.
SHOULD THERE BE REJECTION
Again and again, the Lord Jesus primed His Disciples to expect and accept REJECTION! There would always be those who would reject their message of peace. There would be those who would scorn their proclamation of the Kingdom of God. As the Master was Himself sometimes rejected, so must the Disciples expect that they too can be rejected! The Disciples must not take rejection personally. Rejection from people does not invalidate the message of the Gospel!
How should the Disciples respond at the end of the day? The Lord Jesus declared these words firmly,
“…go out into its streets and say,
The very dust of your city which clings to us
‘ we wipe off against you.
Nevertheless know this,
That the Kingdom of God has come near you.”
Luke 10:11
EXAMPLES OF CITIES THAT HAD REJECTED THE GOSPEL
Three cities were especially mentioned by the Lord Jesus Christ. We now know of four cities that had rejected the Lord Jesus Christ. They are Nazareth (Luke 4:28-29), Chorazin (Luke 10:13; probably a Galilean city, though no specific details were given in the Gospel of Luke concerning this city), Bethsaida (the city of Andrew, and Peter; also of Philip; John 1:44), and Capernaum (Luke 4:31; 7:1. The Lord Jesus had a fairly extensive ministry in Capernaum for Luke mentioned it a number of times).
The rejection of these cities does not indicate that Jesus had failed in His ministry. The rejection of the Lord Jesus and His Message of the Kingdom of God brought forth this lament from the lips of the Master,
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty works which were done in you
Had been done in Tyre and Sidon (Gentile cities not yet reached),
They would have repented long ago,
Sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon
At the Judgment than for you.
And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven,
Will be brought down to Hades.”
Luke 10:13-15
What ultimately is rejection of the Message of the Gospel? The Lord Jesus had this to say,
“He who hears you hears Me,
he who rejects you rejects Me,
and he who rejects Me
rejects Him who sent Me.”
Luke 10:16
What a thrill it must have been to The Seventy, as they were commissioned and sent out by the Lord Jesus Christ. They represented the Lord Jesus and His Father!