Luke 10 Devotional: Follow the sending of the seventy-two disciples and the famous Parable of the Good Samaritan. Learn the importance of choosing "what is better" as Jesus visits the home of Martha and Mary.Â
Dear brothers and sisters, peace in Christ. Welcome to Luke Chapter 10. Today, the mission of the Kingdom expands. We see Jesus sending out not just the twelve, but a larger group of followers to prepare the way. It is a chapter filled with the joy of service, the challenge of neighborly love, and the quiet beauty of devotion. Let us listen closely as our Lord defines what it truly means to follow Him.Â
The Harvest, the Neighbor, and the One Thing Needful
Luke 10 is a vibrant chapter of action and reflection. It begins with Jesus sending out seventy-two disciples, reminding them that "the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." Upon their joyful return, Jesus reorients their hearts, telling them to rejoice not in their power over spirits, but that their "names are written in heaven"âa core truth of our Salvation (Article 6). This is followed by the Parable of the Good Samaritan, where Jesus shatters religious legalism to show that our "neighbor" is anyone in need. The chapter concludes in the home of Martha and Mary, providing a timeless lesson on priorities.
What can we learn from this today? In this chapter, we see the Mission of the Universal Church. As your Statement of Faith affirms, the Churchâs mission is to proclaim the Gospel and demonstrate Godâs love in the world. We are called to be workers in the harvest, but we must never let the "work" for God replace our "worship" of God. Martha was distracted by many things, but Mary chose "what is better" by sitting at the feet of Jesus. This chapter reminds us that while we are called to active love (like the Samaritan), the source of that love must be a life rooted in the Word of God. We serve because we are saved; we work because we have first rested in the presence of our Savior.
10 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:
9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,
11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.
13 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works 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.
14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.
15 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.
16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
22 All 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 he to whom the Son will reveal him.
23 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:
24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have 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.
25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, Thou 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; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And 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.
35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, 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.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And 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 village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about 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 that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, thanking the Father for revealing His truths to the humble. Let us come before Him now with that same spirit of humility and praise.Â
Dear Heavenly Father, We praise You for the joy of the Gospel and the privilege of being workers in Your harvest. We believe that salvation is a gift of Your grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ alone, and we rejoice today that our names are written in heaven. Thank You for the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to demonstrate Your love to a world in need.
Lord, help me to be a "Good Samaritan" in my own community today. Open my eyes to see the needs of those around me and give me a heart of compassion that moves into action. Forgive me for the times I have been like Marthaâdistracted, anxious, and troubled by many things. Teach me to be like Mary, knowing when to stop and sit at Your feet. May Your Word be my final authority and my greatest delight. Help me to find the perfect balance between serving You with my hands and loving You with my whole heart, soul, strength, and mind.
We pray for the many "workers" currently in the harvest fieldâmissionaries, pastors, and every believer sharing the Gospel in difficult places. Grant them protection, bold speech, and a harvest of souls. We lift up those who are hurting, broken, or cast aside by society; may they encounter Your mercy through the hands of Your Church. We pray for a world that is busy and distracted; may the peace of Christ draw people to stop and listen to the only Message that brings eternal life. Amen.
Jesus told Martha she was "worried and upset about many things." What is the "one thing" currently distracting you from sitting at Jesus' feet, and how can you surrender that distraction to Him today?Â
Who were the seventy-two (or seventy) sent by Jesus? They were a larger group of disciples beyond the inner circle of the Twelve. Their mission shows that the task of proclaiming the Kingdom belongs to the whole Church, not just a few leaders.
What is the main point of the Parable of the Good Samaritan? Jesus used it to answer the question "Who is my neighbor?" He showed that love for God is inseparable from love for our fellow man, crossing all racial, social, and religious boundaries.
Why did Jesus correct Martha if she was just trying to serve Him? Jesus wasn't correcting her service, but her distraction and her anxiety. He wanted her to understand that spiritual nourishment from Him is the foundation that makes all service possible.
Thank you for joining us for Luke 10. May you go out today as a worker in the harvest, but may you always keep a "Mary-heart" in a "Martha-world." We look forward to seeing you tomorrow for Jesus' teaching on prayer in Luke Chapter 11.Â
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