A New Responsibility
Explore the Bible Series
Background Passage: Luke
Lesson Passages: Luke 9:57-10:4, 8-9,17-20
Introduction: Luke marks an important turning point in this gospel account. The beloved physician devoted approximately five chapters to the Great Galilean Ministry of the Lord, but, at this point of the story, Luke refocused his attention on the great redemptive work of Christ. The shadow of the cross falls across the narrative at every turn. The later portion of chapter nine and the entirety of chapter ten deal with Jesus’ preparatory work with his disciples. He seized every opportunity to train them for the great work of building the church in the aftermath of the imminent crucifixion and the resurrection. Contemporary Christians owe a great debt to Dr. Luke because much of the material recorded in this section does not appear in the other gospels.
This section records the Savior’s descending pathway to the
humiliation of the cross, and the first verse of this lesson introduces the
reader to the Lord’s appointment with the shameful events that loomed on the
horizon. However, Luke also anticipated
that the Lord’s shameful treatment in
The road to
The Lesson Context:
Note: Many churches, it seems to me, could learn from Mary’s example. Church bulletins groan with the weight of religious activities; yet, how often we mistake bustle for godliness. Growth in grace requires one needful thing. Choose the good part.
Lesson Passage (Luke )
I. Three Potential Followers (-62)
A. A Naïve “Disciple” (vv.57-58): This impetuous follower made a pledge he has not carefully considered. This poor man apparently had little idea of the way of the cross. Suffering and privation attend the Master’s path, and this would-be follower seemed to misunderstand the gravity of the promise he has made. He confidently assumed that the way of the Master would bring comforts and ease. Not so, said the Lord. Unlike the birds and foxes, the Lord and his disciples would find no “home” on this earth. They were aliens and sojourners, “pilgrims in a barren land.”
B. A Distracted “Disciple” (vv. 59-60): Geldenhuys notes that this man was not forbidden to bury his dead father; rather, he asked to postpone his discipleship until a more convenient season. At that moment, the prospective follower has other concerns that demanded his attention and affection. Jesus allowed no rival. The man must reorder his life to admit only one Sovereign in the heart. Of course, Jesus did not encourage his followers to abandon irresponsibly their family duties, but he did (and does) allow for only one allegiance in the heart. A discipleship postponed is a discipleship unrealized.
C. A Reluctant “Disciple” (vv. 61-62): This man seemed torn between his home and his Master. His was a discipleship with conditions. Other things took priority for this man. Jesus called him to immediate, unreserved discipleship.
II. The Sending Out of the Seventy (Luke 10:1-20)
The destination of the seventy (v.1): Luke tells us that these thirty-five teams
(seventy, sent out two-by-two) went before the Lord’s “face” into cities the
Master planned to visit soon. Geldenhuys
observed that Jesus may have sent these men into the Trans-Jordan area, east of
B. The promise, peril, and privation of this mission (vv. 2-8): Jesus sent his disciples to a fruitful area; indeed, he instructed them to pray for more laborers to enter the fertile region. Thus, the disciples entered this work with great expectancy. Furthermore, they were to expect grave opposition and personal peril. They were, Jesus said, like defenseless lambs among wolves. Finally, the disciples were given instruction about the provisions they should take on their journey. The Lord called them to a temporary period of great austerity. They could not afford to take any distractions with them on this mission. The Lord would provide for their needs by means of the kind benevolence of gracious people they would meet on the way; however, they were instructed not to see themselves as beggars. “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
C. The nature of their mission (vv. 9-12): The disciples had a two-fold task. They were to heal the sick and announce the coming of the Kingdom. In other words, the disciples were to follow the ministry pattern of the Lord. If their hearers did not respond favorably to the ministry, Jesus instructed his disciples to wipe the dust from their feet and pronounce judgment on the city.
judgment on the unresponsive cities (vv. 13-16): Jesus pronounced a sharp
judgment on three cities: Chorazin,
was located about two miles north of
Note: All three of these cities
remained unresponsive and callous to the ministry of the Savior. Their citizens had observed marvelous and
wondrous works, and they heard matchless teaching. Nevertheless, they refused to repent of their
sins and believe in the Lord. Since they
had received great light (in the form of the Lord’s miracles and teaching),
they would also receive a more severe judgment than other notorious cities,
Questions for Meditation and Discussion: