Do As I Do

Luke 10:1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[fn] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’

Luke 10:16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (NIV)

Luke 10:1-11 and 16-20 is the account of Jesus sending the seventy-two and their return. The key phrases are eating what is offered, remaining in one house, and wiping the dust from your feet. The locations may not follow the Jewish food restrictions as they are being sent into Gentile territories. It signifies that the message is more important than the comfort of the people delivering it. Shaking the dust from your feet signifies breaking ties with the unrepentant individuals that reside in a location.[1] The title, Do as I Do, seems appropriate because Jesus is sending them into areas to prepare for his later arrival.

As a visitor to a new location, it was the custom to wait in the town square for someone to invite you to stay in their home. As long as you are in the location, it is polite to eat what is offered and not seek better living arrangements. The individuals were paid in lodging and food for proclaiming the gospel. There is no reason for the seventy-two to be offended by any rejections because the town rejects God and Jesus.

The current hearers would understand that being rejected was not a cause for fighting, but removing the dust from the land from their feet and sandals left the evil with the location. The workers were taken care of because of the gospel they were bringing to the people in this way, working for the lodging and food. Unlike the workers wishing to bring in the harvest being plentiful, the workers available to spread the message are few. The term lambs and wolves would be understood as that prayer is essential because wolves hunt in packs and prey on lambs. God will keep the workers safe. Sending them out by two can be best explained from Deuteronomy 17:6 and 19:15 as it was required that two or more individuals were required to accuse a person of wrongdoing.[2]

Today, we should strive to proclaim the gospel without seeking pay. As Jesus sent the seventy-two, he sent us as well. Pray daily that each meeting will allow a conversation regarding the kingdom of God is near. The workers’ reward is in Heaven. It is essential to go out and share the word of God. Will you share the word today? No need to fear rejection because God is being rejected, not you.

Bibliography

Garland, David E. Luke. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011.

Martin, John A. “Luke.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: New Testament, edited by John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, 199-265. Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 1984.

[1] Martin, “Luke,” 228. [2] Garland, Luke, 437-439.