Luke 10:11, commentary and pictures

Christ gave this charge to the seventy when He sent them two by two after the twelve with the same first directions into every place where He Himself would follow, commanding that when a town refuses them they leave it and shake off even its dust as a public testimony against it while still assuring it that God's kingdom has come near to it. Their mission was to announce that nearness by preaching the gospel with deeds of mercy, love and healing the sick as positive evidence of their calling. The wiping off of dust is not from resentment or wounded pride but impresses the importance of the message and the seriousness of slighting it, for to reject the messengers and the light they bring is to reject Christ Himself and the Father who sent Him. Even rejection does not remove responsibility for having heard, and those who refuse will be called to account in a judgment worse than that of Sodom and Gomorrah, as Capernaum fell under condemnation because it did not improve its privileges despite Christ's greatest labors and miracles there. These instructions remain the pattern for work in the great centers now, requiring laborers not to confine themselves to believers or work alone but to cooperate together, train new workers under direction, and seek unbelievers and precious souls in the cities whom Christ died to redeem.

Charge to the Seventy

Luke 10:1-20 sets forth Christ's way of putting men into responsibility to preach the kingdom of God, the gospel of truth, everywhere, for after sending out the twelve He sent out seventy men two by two into every place where He Himself would follow, in the same manner and with the same first directions as the twelve first received. Their mission was to announce that the kingdom of God had come near, with preaching of the gospel and with deeds of mercy and love and healing the sick as positive evidence of their high calling. That first offer of salvation was directed to the lost sheep of Israel, yet the mission was not limited to the Jews but was to reach the whole world. No one man is to begin and carry forward a work entirely himself, but each is to cooperate gladly with other gifts and other laborers to supply what he lacks and to do the essential parts he did not see needful to do. The charge also required using judgment about where to labor and depending on the households visited for food and lodging. The sending was to reap because the harvest is ripe and the fields are white already to harvest, the same harvest work Peter took up when three thousand souls were added.

The chapter lays a serious work requiring heart, mind, soul, and strength in service, meaning labors must not be confined to believers but must reach unbelievers by becoming acquainted with them and placing truth before those living up to all the light they have, because God has precious souls in the cities and Christ died to redeem human beings from sin, so that love to God requires love to those for whom He gave His only begotten Son and use of the open door to bring others into fellowship with the saints. Those instructions in Luke 10:1-12 are the pattern for work in the great centers now and for leaders to bring new men into responsibility under direction so they obtain an education in how to care for the work. Strong men are to be appointed to labor in the cities, with many young men and women associated with them to work in a humble manner in harmony with Christ's sending, and such work, necessary in Christ's time and even more necessary now, requires great ingenuity in presenting the words of eternal life so souls are reached and converted, and requires thoroughly converted workers who present the Word of truth in a spirit of tenderness that wins hearts.

Warning to Rejecting Cities

When a city or town refuses the disciples and the plain message they bring, they are to leave it and wipe off even its dust from themselves as a public testimony and warning against it. The instruction applies after positive evidence of their calling in preaching the gospel and healing the sick, marking a high calling that is not abandoned but carried to new fields where they will be received gladly. The gesture marks the city's refusal to receive the warning brought to it.

The act is not done from resentment or wounded pride. It impresses on the people the importance of the message and the seriousness of slighting or rejecting it, showing that the gospel message cannot be slighted or rejected without consequence. Even when rejected, the messengers must still assure the city that the kingdom of God has come near to it through the message brought. Rejecting the warning does not remove responsibility for having heard it, for the kingdom has nevertheless come near to its people.

To reject the messengers and the light they bring is to reject Christ Himself and the Father who sent Him. Disregarding God's message is therefore a grave matter. Those who reject God's message and messengers will be called to account, facing certain judgment. That judgment will be worse than the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Capernaum fell under this guilt and condemnation because it did not improve its privileges despite Christ's greatest labors spent there and His greatest miracles wrought there. It had the plain word from Jesus Christ yet chose fables in place of the Word. That rejection is set against others who would appreciate the truth if they had it, which calls for evangelistic work in places like Boston and for going to new fields where messengers will be received gladly.