Introduction

Luke chapter 10 continues to unfold the expanding mission of Jesus and His teaching on the nature of true discipleship. The chapter opens with Jesus sending out seventy disciples in pairs to prepare the way for His ministry, giving them instructions similar to those given earlier to the twelve. He warns them of the difficulty of the task, urges them to rely on God’s provision, and pronounces judgment on towns that reject the message of the kingdom, while also affirming that those who receive the disciples receive Christ Himself. Upon their joyful return, Jesus rejoices in the Holy Spirit, thanking the Father for revealing truth to the humble rather than the proud, and affirms that the disciples have witnessed something even the prophets longed to see.

The chapter then presents the well known encounter with a lawyer who tests Jesus by asking what is required to inherit eternal life. This leads to the Parable of the Good Samaritan, one of Jesus’ most powerful teachings, which redefines the concept of “neighbor” not by ethnicity or social status but by compassionate action toward anyone in need. Through this parable, Jesus challenges religious pride and calls for practical, self sacrificial love that mirrors God’s mercy.

The chapter concludes with the account of Martha and Mary, illustrating two different responses to Jesus’ presence. While Martha busies herself with hospitality and household duties, Mary chooses to sit and listen to Jesus’ teaching. Jesus gently affirms that Mary has chosen the more important priority, spiritual attentiveness over mere activity, without dismissing the value of service.

Together, these events emphasize the urgency of the gospel mission, the call to compassionate love without boundaries, and the importance of prioritizing relationship with Jesus above all distractions.

Chapter 10 (BBE)

1 Now after these things, the Lord sent out seventy others before him, two and two, into every town and place where he himself was about to come.

2 And he said to them, There is much grain but not enough men to get it in: so make prayer to the Lord of the grain-field, that he may send workers to get in the grain.

3 Go on your way: see, I send you out as lambs among wolves.

4 Take no money, or bag, or shoes: and do not stop to give words of blessing to any man on the way.

5 And into whatever house you go, first say, Peace be to this house.

6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will be with him: but if not, it will come back to you again.

7 And keep on that same house, taking what food and drink they give you: for the worker has a right to his payment.

8 And into whatever town you go, if they take you in, take whatever food is given to you:

9 And make well those in it who are ill, and say to them, The kingdom of God is near to you.

10 But whatever town you go into, if they will not take you in, then go out into the streets of it and say,

11 Even the dust of your town, which is on our feet, we put back on you; but be certain of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.

12 I say to you that it will be worse in that day for that town than for Sodom.

13 A curse is on you, Chorazin! A curse is on you, Beth-saida! For if the works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have been turned from their sins, in sorrow and shame, long before this.

14 But it will be less hard for Tyre and Sidon, in the day of judging, than for you.

15 And you, Capernaum, were you not to be lifted up to heaven? you will go down to the underworld.

16 He who gives ear to you, gives ear to me; and he who is against you, is against me; and he who is against me, is against him who sent me.

17 And the seventy came back with joy, saying, Lord, even the evil spirits are made subject to us by your name.

18 And he said to them, I saw Satan falling from heaven like a flame.

19 See, I have given you authority over all the power of the Evil One, and to put your feet on snakes and evil beasts, and nothing will do you damage.

20 But do not be glad because the spirits are under your power; be glad because your names are written in heaven.

21 In that hour he was full of joy in the Holy Spirit, and said, I give praise to you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have kept these things secret from the wise and the men of learning, and have made them clear to little children: yes, Father, for so it was pleasing in your eyes.

22 All things have been given into my hands by my Father: and no man has knowledge of the Son, but the Father; or of the Father, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will make it clear.

23 And, turning to the disciples, he said privately, Happy are the eyes which see the things you see:

24 For I say to you that a number of prophets and kings had a desire to see the things which you see, and saw them not; and to have knowledge of the things which come to your ears, and they had it not.

25 And a certain doctor of the law got up and put him to the test, saying, Teacher, what have I to do so that I may have eternal life?

26 And he said to him, What does the law say? What is your reading of it?

27 And he, answering, said, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.

28 And he said to him, Your answer is right: do this and you will have life.

29 But he, desiring to seem in the right, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

30 And Jesus said, A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho; and he came into the hands of thieves, who took his clothing, and gave him blows, and went away, leaving him half dead.

31 And by chance a certain priest was going down that way: and when he saw him, he went by on the other side.

32 And in the same way a Levite came, and looked at him, and went by on the other side.

33 But a certain man of Samaria, journeying that way, came where he was and saw him, and had pity on him,

34 And went to him, and put oil and wine on his wounds, and made them fast with linen; and he put him on his beast and took him to a house for travellers and took care of him.

35 And the day after he took two pieces of money and gave them to the owner of the house and said, Take care of him, and if the money is not enough, on my way back I will give you whatever more is needed.

36 Which of these three men, do you think, was neighbour to him who went among the thieves?

37 And he said, The one who had pity on him. Then Jesus said to him, Go and do the same.

38 Now while they were on the way, he came to a certain small town: and a woman named Martha took him into her house.

39 And she had a sister, by name Mary, who took her seat at the Lord’s feet, and gave attention to his words.

40 But Martha’s mind was on her work of getting a meal ready; and she came to him and said, Lord, is it nothing to you that my sister has let me do all the work? Give her orders to give me help.

41 But the Lord, answering, said to her, Martha, Martha, you are giving thought and care to small things:

42 Little is needed: for Mary has taken that good part, which will not be taken away from her.

Important Verses

• Luke 10:2 “There is much grain but not enough men to get it in.” This verse expresses the urgency of the gospel mission and the need for laborers to spread the message of the kingdom.
• Luke 10:16 “He who gives ear to you, gives ear to me.” Jesus affirms that the reception of His disciples’ message is directly tied to the reception of Himself.
• Luke 10:27 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart… and your neighbour as yourself.” This summary of the law forms the foundation for the parable that follows and for Christian ethics as a whole.
• Luke 10:33-34 The Samaritan’s compassionate response to the wounded man illustrates practical, boundary crossing love that defines true neighborliness.
• Luke 10:41-42 “Mary has taken that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Jesus affirms the priority of spiritual devotion and attentiveness over mere busyness or activity.