Notes on Luke 10:13-28

Luke 10:13-14

Chorazin . . . Bethsaida. Cities near Capernaum (v. 15) in Galilee where Jesus and his disciples preached. Woe. See note on 6:20-26. Tyre and Sidon. Well-known Phoenician cities condemned by the Old Testament prophets for their idolatry (see Jer. 25:17-26; Joel 3:4). Even wicked Gentiles would experience less judgment than Jewish cities that had heard Jesus' message and rejected it.

Luke 10:15

Capernaum. A city where Jesus often ministered (4:23; 7:1-10). It would suffer the same fate as Chorazin and Bethsaida (v. 13) if it did not respond to Jesus' message. Hades. Also known as she'ol, it is the final residing place for the wicked dead (16:22-26).

Luke 10:17

seventy returned. The narrative moves forward to when the disciples returned from their mission (vv. 1-12). joy. The disciples rejoiced in the success they saw in ministry.

Luke 10:18-19

watching. This could have been an actual vision or simply an explanation of what success in mission means (v. 17; Isa. 14:12). Satan fall. The main idea is the defeat of Satan's reign over the lives of people. Spiritual blindness is removed as the gospel goes forward (11:20-22; Rev. 20:3). Serpents and scorpions . . . power. A picture for the spiritual victory Christ's disciples have over Satan, the ancient serpent (Ps. 91:13; see Gen. 3:1-15; Rom. 16:20; Rev. 12:9). Although, sometimes this protection is also literal (Acts 28:1-6).

Luke 10:20

Joy in ministry success (v. 17) is second to joy in salvation. engraved. A picture of being known by God. Often this is pictured as believer's names being recorded in a book (Exod. 32:32; Dan. 12:1; Phil. 4:3; Heb. 12:23; Rev 13:8). See WCF 3.8.

Luke 10:21

Jesus used the picture of little children to represent the weakness and humility of his disciples (v. 23). They stood in contrast to the wise. God's revelation is surprising to highlight his glory (1:51-52; 1 Cor. 1:20-31).

Luke 10:22

Son . . . Father. Jesus revealed more about his relationship to the Father in the Trinity. Here the emphasis is on the unique relationship Jesus has with God the Father (John 10:26-30, 37-38; Heb. 1:5). The Father has supreme authority, which he extends to the Son (Matt. 28:18; Eph. 1:20-23; Phil. 2:9-10). chooses to reveal. Jesus rejoiced (v. 21) in God's decision to reveal a saving knowledge of himself to certain people and not others. The Bible calls this doctrine election (Rom. 9:11-13, 16; see John 10:24-25; Acts 13:48; Eph. 1:4-5; 2 Tim. 1:9). Salvation is always because of God's grace, not our works (Rom. 4:16; Eph. 2:8-9).

Luke 10:23-24

The Old Testament prophets and kings longed for the Christ and his kingdom (1 Pet. 1:10-12). The disciples were privileged to see these promised in Jesus (Rom. 15:8; 2 Cor. 1:20).

Luke 10:25

teacher of the Jewish laws. See note on 5:17. eternal life. Life with God, which comes by knowing Jesus by faith (John 3:16; 17:3; Rom. 6:23).

Luke 10:26-28

See WLC 93, 157.

Luke 10:26

written in the law. This was an important standard for Jesus (18:19-20; Matt. 12:3, 5; 19:4; 21:6; John 17:17). The truth of God's word is more important than traditions and human understanding (Matt. 22:29; Mark 7:13).

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