1Christ sendeth out the seventy disciples to work miracles and to preach: 13he pronounceth a woe against Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. 17The seventy return with joy; Christ sheweth them wherein to rejoice: 21he thanketh his Father for having revealed his gospel to the simple only: 23he sheweth the blessedness of those that were called into his church: 25he teacheth a lawyer how to attain eternal life; and by the parable of the good Samaritan sheweth whom we are to consider as our neighbour: 38he commendeth Mary's attention to his doctrine in preference to Martha's busy care to entertain him.
1AFTER these things the Lord appointed 1other seventy also, and sent them two and two 2before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
1 Namely, besides the twelve whom He had chosen for apostles, and sent out beforehand.
2 That is, before Him; namely, to warn the Jews of His coming, and to prepare them for the receiving of Him and His doctrine.
2Therefore said he unto them, Thea harvest truly is 3great, but the labourers are few: prayb ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would 4send forth 5labourers into his harvest.
a Mat. 9:37; John 4:35.
3 Gr. much.
b 2 Thes. 3:1.
4 Gr. thrust out, that is, send forth being made willing and capable for it by the power of the Spirit, 2 Cor. 3:5.
5 That is, faithful teachers.
3Goc your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
c Mat. 10:16.
4Carryd neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: ande6salute no man by the way.
d Mat. 10:9; Mark 6:8; Luke 9:3; 22:35.
e 2 Kings 4:29.
6 That is, do not stay with saluting or speaking to those you meet, but make haste on your journey. See 2 Kings 4:29. Otherwise, Christ does not take away civil courtesy in saluting, which He Himself often used towards His disciples.
5Andf into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, 7Peace be to this house.
f Mat. 10:12; Mark 6:10.
7 That is, happiness and salvation. This is a manner of salutation with the Jews.
6And if the 8son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
8 That is, who by God’s grace is worthy of peace, as is expounded Mat. 10:11. So the word son is often taken. See 2 Sam. 12:5; Mat. 23:15; Eph. 2:3.
7Andg in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: forh the labourer is worthy of his hire. 9Go not from house to house.
g 1 Cor. 10:27.
h Lev. 19:13; Deut. 24:14; 25:4; Mat. 10:10; 1 Cor. 9:4, 14; 1 Tim. 5:18.
9 Namely, to seek more comfort or better reception elsewhere, as you are not to remain there long.
8And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, 10eat such things as are set before you:
10 That is, be content therewith.
9And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
10Buti into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,
i Mat. 10:14; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5.
11Evenj the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do 11wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
j Acts 13:51; 18:6.
11 Or, we shake off. See the annotation at Mat. 10 on verse 14.
12But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in 12that day for Sodom, than for that city.
12 Namely, of the last judgment, as may be seen in verse 14.
13Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty 13works 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.
13 That is, powerful works or miracles. Hereby Christ wants give to understand that the stubbornness of those Gentiles was not as great as of these Jews. See the like Ezek. 3:6, 7.
14But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.
15And thou, Capernaum, 14which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.
14 See Mat. 11:23.
16Hek that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; andl he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
k Mat. 10:40; Mark 9:37; John 13:20.
l 1 Thes. 4:8.
17¶And 15the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
15 Namely, who were sent forth by Christ, verse 1.
18And he said unto them, Im beheld Satan 16as lightning 17fall 18from heaven.
m Rev. 12:8, 9.
16 That is, swiftly.
17 That is, loose his power and dominion. See Rev. 12:9, etc.
18 That is, out of the air, as Mat. 6:26. See Eph. 6:12.
19Behold,n I give unto you power to tread 19on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power 20of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means 21hurt you.
n Mark 16:18; Acts 28:5.
19 See hereof Mark 16:18.
20 That is, of the devil. See Mat. 13:39; 1 Peter 5:8.
21 Gr. injure. See also Rev. 6:6.
20Notwithstanding in this rejoice 22not, that 23the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, becauseo your names are written 24in heaven.
22 That is, not so much; namely, because hypocrites have sometimes done this also. See Mat. 7:22, 23.
23 That is, the unclean spirits.
o Exod. 32:32; Isa. 4:3; Dan. 12:1; Philip. 4:3.
24 Namely, in the book of life. See the exposition thereof Philip. 4 on verse 3, the 19th and 20th annotations.
21¶Inp that hour Jesus rejoiced 25in spirit, and said, 26I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things fromq the 27wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto 28babes: even so, 29Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
p Mat. 11:25.
25 That is, inwardly and from the heart.
26 Gr. I confess.
q Job 5:12; Isa. 29:14; 1 Cor. 1:19; 2:7, 8; 2 Cor. 3:14.
27 Namely, of this world, 1 Cor. 1:26.
28 That is, the despised and little ones according to the world; or, the plain in understanding and knowledge, 1 Cor. 1:27.
29 Namely, thus Thou hast done.
2230Allr 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 hes to whom the Son will 31reveal him.
30 That is, the power over all things in heaven and on earth. See Mat. 28:18.
r Psalm 8:6; John 3:35; 17:2; 1 Cor. 15:27; Philip. 2:10; Heb. 2:8.
s John 1:18; 6:44, 46.
31 Namely, by His Word and Spirit, 1 Cor. 2:11, 12.
23¶And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessedtare the eyes 32which see the things that ye see:
t Mat. 13:16.
32 Namely, the Christ or Messiah now manifested in the flesh, and executing His office, John 8:56; Acts 2:25; 1 Peter 1:8, etc.
24Foru I tell you, that many prophets and kings 33have 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.
u 1 Peter 1:10.
33 Gr. would have seen.
25¶And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27And he answering said, Thouv 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; andw thy neighbour as thyself.
v Deut. 6:5; 10:12; 30:6.
w Lev. 19:18; Rom. 13:9; Gal. 5:14; James 2:8.
28And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt 34live.
34 Namely, eternally, as he had asked, verse 25. This Christ says, not that any man can perfectly keep the law, and so inherit eternal life, but by the law to bring him to the knowledge of his imperfection, Gal. 3:18, 24.
29But he, willing to justify 35himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
35 That is, to pass himself off for righteous, as Luke 18:9.
30And Jesus answering said, A certain man 36went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among 37thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and 38wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
36 Namely, forasmuch as Jerusalem was situated on high upon hills, Psalm 125:1, so that those who traveled towards Jerusalem are said to go up, and they who came from thence, to come down.
37 Gr. highway men, robbers.
38 Or, struck.
31And 39by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
39 That is, without premeditation, namely, in respect of these men. For, otherwise in respect of the Providence of God, nothing comes to pass by chance, Mat. 10:29, 30.
32And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33But a certain 40Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
40 Which Samaritans were otherwise accounted enemies by the Jews, John 4:9. See the cause thereof in Luke 9 on verse 53.
34And 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.
35And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two 41pence, 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.
41 Gr. denarii, whereof see the value, Mat. 18 on verse 28.
36Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was 42neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
42 That is, who discharged the duty of a neighbor.
37And 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 43village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
43 Namely, Bethany. See John 11:1.
39And she had a sister called Mary, which 44also satx at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
44 Namely, amongst other hearers.
x Acts 22:3.
40But Martha was cumberedy45about 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 46that she help me.
y distracted, worried
45 Namely, to make the meal ready, as Mat. 8:15.
46 Gr. that she undertake it together with me.
41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42But 47one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, whichz shall not be taken away from her.
47 Namely, to take care of spiritual things before all else, Psalm 27:4; Mat. 6:33.
z Psalm 27:4.