Sent into the Field. Luke 10:1-12 The twelve had been sent by the Lord when He was in Galilee to go and heal the sick and preach the kingdom of God. Sometime later, likely when the Lord Jesus Christ was on His way into Perea and then on to Jerusalem, He sent seventy more disciples to go two by two into the towns and villages of Perea and perhaps even into Judea, where He was soon going to go. Those seventy were to do the same work as the twelve did previously. They, too, were to heal the sick and tell the people of every community that the kingdom of God was near them.
This event teaches us that discipleship is not limited to the twelve apostles. When people trust the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and have heard the Gospel and taken into their hearts what they heard, they have work to do for our Lord. What we have seen and experienced for ourselves of the power of the Gospel moves us to go forward under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and tell other people that the kingdom of God is here. Those born again have entered the kingdom of God themselves and become His sons and daughters.
It is an encouragement to us to know that even though the focus of attention was on the twelve apostles most of the time, there were at least seventy others qualified enough and available and willing to carry out the same work as the twelve had earlier. The large area of Perea and perhaps Judea also needed many people to inform the inhabitants that Jesus was coming right behind them. We are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets and are responsible, as well as they were, for providing material for the Lord to build His church.
Those disciples had no unusual qualifications, which is important for us to consider. We do not need a lot of higher education or social status than other people to work for the Lord. It is not super-capable people that the Lord is looking for to fulfill His commission but people who are available and willing to serve Him. When we are conscious of the Lord Jesus Christ with us and enabling us by His power to do the work set before us, we need the vision and personal commitment to go forward in faith. Our personal skills may be useful in opening conversations and doors when we help other people as opportunities arise. Our Lord knows who has listened to Him and learned from Him.
We are reminded, as were those seventy, that there is a cost to faithful service for the Lord. The Lord Himself gives us the power to meet the needs of people in ways that are appropriate to each situation. The seventy knew Jesus was the Messiah. We know that all power is His, and He saves all who come to God through Him. They knew their weaknesses, and we knew our weaknesses if we were honest. We also know that God’s strength is demonstrated through our weakness. There is no reason or right to be proud when our Lord and Master trust us with an opportunity to serve Him publicly or privately.
Like those seventy, we need to pray that others will go out to gather in the harvest of souls. When the multiplying principle is applied, the word of God goes far beyond our limited sphere of service. The protocol He laid out to guide them in their labors for Him still applies to the work of the Lord today. Two people working closely together is a safety precaution from physical danger and, more importantly, from spiritual danger from our deceptive hearts and attacks from the powers of darkness.
Workers are to be content with whatever they receive and are not to covet more so “we can be more effective.” The Lord knows how much we need and sends His people to do His work themselves, not to throw money at it. Finances received without solicitation come from God to us through the exercise of fellow laborers who labor for the Lord in a different place and a different way. Second, if we lack what we consider sufficient means to do what is before us comfortably, that is part of the cost of following One who “had no place to lay His head.” Austerity goes with effective labor. Third, we are not to be distracted by what people might say in conversation or what they might do, but we are to concentrate on what we have been sent to do by our Lord. Lastly, we are not to be looking for the best accommodation, but gladly accept what is first offered to us. The Lord opens doors to us by moving others to do what we need. Little or much, plain fare and shelter are all that is needed. It is enough to have a supply for this day and accept it with grateful thanks and a gracious attitude.
To leave one house when one has been staying there and move to another home without some reason on the part of those who have been showing us hospitality can create problems. By staying in one place, competition between people is avoided, and showing partiality will not be an issue. Resentment toward the messenger and those in the second home may be hard to avoid if we move to another, more convenient place without a good reason. We are not to be picky eaters, and it is only right to do what we can to help those who show kindness toward us. Some people will appreciate some practical interest shown to them by the one who is the sent messenger of the Gospel. We need to remember that we represent our Master.