Luke 10:10

Luke 10:10 says, But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,  Jesus also told those disciples what to do in a city that would not receive them.  Verse eleven adds, 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.  They were to go out in the streets of those cities, shake the dust off their feet, and tell the people there that the kingdom of God had come nigh to them.  They were not to rant and rave, but were simply to tell the people in those cities that they had been given the opportunity to become a part of God's kingdom.  We are not to be angry at people who will not hear us when we witness, but we can at least tell them that they had the opportunity to be saved.  Verse twelve, continues, But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.  These disciples were also to warn the people in those cities that it would be more tolerable for the people of Sodom in the day of judgment than it would be for them.  Those who have a greater understanding of the gospel and reject it will be held more accountable then those who never heard the gospel.  Verse thirteen declares, 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.  There was a warning to two cities in particular, telling them if the mighty works done in them had been done in Tyre and Sidon, that they would have have repented long ago.  Since great works of God have been done in America, and we call ourselves a Christian nation, if people here reject Christ, I believe they will be held more accountable than in places where Christ cannot be preached.  Verse fourteen adds, But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.  Jesus said it would be more tolerable in Tyre and Sidon, Gentile cities, where His message had not been preached,  than in these two cities.  Verse fifteen continues, And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.  There was a warning for the people of Capernaum, another Jewish city where Jesus had preached, that they might think they were exalted to heaven because the were a part of the nation of Israel, but they were to be cast down into hell for rejecting Jesus Christ.  It doesn't matter if we feel that we are exalted by God because of where we were born if we reject the gospel of Christ.  Verse sixteen says, He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.  Jesus said that those who rejected the disciples that He sent rejected Him and the heavenly Father Who sent Him.  This remains true today of those who reject us when we share the gospel of Christ with them.  Verse seventeen adds, And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.  These seventy that Jesus sent out returned telling Him that even the devils were subject to them when they dealt with them by faith in Jesus's name.  We have no less power when we are truly acting in the power of Christ today.  Verse eighteen states, And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.  Jesus said He had seen Satan fall from heaven.  His power had always been limited, and it still is today.  Verse nineteen adds, 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.  This did not mean that these disciples were to go out and look for serpents and scorpions to walk on to prove their faith, but that if they were to step on them while proclaiming the gospel that they would have no more power over them than any enemy of God had.  They were secure in their relationship to God through faith in Jesus Christ no matter what.  If we stand for God, nothing can stand against us.  Verse twenty continues, Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.  Jesus told these disciples not to rejoice in their victory over demons, but to rejoice that their names were written down in heaven.  This is reason that we should rejoice today as well.  

Luke 10 :1

Luke 10:1 says, 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.  Jesus appointed seventy other disciples and sent them out by twos to prepare the people in the cities around there where He might come for His coming.  We today are to prepare the cities around us for the second coming of Jesus by sharing the gospel with them.  Verse two adds, 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.  The harvest then, those who needed to hear about Jesus was great, and it is even greater today.  There were few laborers, those who would share the gospel then, and their are few today.  Just as Jesus told them to pray to the Lord of the harvest then to send harvesters, so must we today.  Verse three states, Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.  Jesus told these seventy to go on their way, and He sent them as lambs among wolves.  We may find it dangerous to preach the gospel today, but we still must go where God sends us and do what God calls us to do.  Verse four adds, Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.  Jesus gave them the same instructions that He had given the disciples earlier.  They were to take nothing with them and not to salute people along them way.  They were to let nothing distract them from their mission.  I believe that too often today we want to carry too much with us as we go where God sends us instead of relying on His provision, and we are often distracted by others along the way.  Verse five says, And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.  Jesus told them to declare peace to the first house they entered.  If they accepted the disciples and the gospel of Christ then they would have peace, and so will anyone who accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord today.  Verse six adds, And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.  Jesus warned them that some people would accept their message and others would not, and this is still true today. Verse seven continues, 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.  Jesus told them to stay in the house that they were invited to stay in and to eat and drink whatever was offered them, and that as laborers for Christ they were worthy to have their needs provided for.  God will provide for us as Christians today if we rely on Him in faith.  Verse eight states, And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:  In any city that received these disciples,  they were to eat what was set before them.  They were not to make special demands for what they ate, but were to eat as those that they met ate.  We should never demand better for ourselves today as we share the gospel than what those that we are sharing it with live off of.  Verse nine adds, And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.  These disciples were to heal the sick and tell them the kingdom of God had come nigh to them.  Jesus had yet to complete His sacrifice of Himself for our sins, but the time was getting closer.  When someone accepts Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord today, their salvation is assured. 

Luke 9:57

Luke 9:57 says, And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.  As Jesus and His disciples were traveling a certain way, a man came to Him and said that he would follow Jesus, whom he called Lord, anywhere that He went.  The man had decided on his own to follow Jesus, and this was a bold statement, and many people make the same bold statement today, but it wasn't necessarily a statement made from faith in Who Jesus really is.  Verse fifty-eight adds, And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.  Jesus toldcthe man that he hadn't counted the cost of following Him.  Jesus said that unlike the foxes and birds, He didn't even have a place to lay His head.  Jesus had no home here on earth, and if the man was going to follow Jesus for earthly rewards, he was going to be disappointed.  This earth is not our home, and if we are following Jesus for earthly rewards, we are going to be disappointed.  Verse fifty-nine states, And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.  Jesus called on another man to follow Him, but the man said let him go and bury his father first.  Matthew Henry says the man's father was not yet dead, but had only a short time to live.  When Jesus calls us following Him should be our first priority.  Verse sixty adds, Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.  Jesus told the man to let the dead bury the dead, and for the man to go and preach the gospel.  We cannot allow anything in the world to stop us from following Jesus Christ when He calls us, nor from doing what He calls us to do and be truly faithfulful.  Verse sixty-one says, And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.  Another man who had decided on His own to follow Jesus said that he would follow Him once he said goodbye to his family.  He was putting saying goodbye to them as a condition to following Jesus, and we can never do this.  We must put following Jesus above everything else.  Verse sixty-two adds, And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.  Jesus said that no one who had claimed to follow Him and continued to look back at the things left behind as more important than following Him was not fit for the kingdom of God.  Once we become a follower of Christ, we cannot look back on what we have left behind materially and allow it to be more important than following Him, and that even includes our family. 

Luke 9:46

Luke 9:46 says, Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.  Jesus's disciples started to reason, or we would probably say argue, about which of them should be the greatest.  They still did not understand Who Jesus really was nor what He had called them to do.  Some people today still argue about who is the greatest in God's kingdom, but when they do, it shows that they really don't know what it means to follow Christ.  Verse forty-seven adds, And Jesus, perceiving the thought of the heart, took a child, and set him by him,  Jesus knew what they were thinking, and took a child and set him by Him.  We need to realize that we will be held accountable not only for our actions, but for our thoughts as well.  Verse forty-eight continues, And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. Jesus said anyone who received a child in His name received Him, and anyone who received Him received the heavenly Father Who sent Him.  The key is not receiving the child, but faith in Jesus Christ as ones Savior and Lord.  Then Jesus said the least among them, and He was talking to His disciples, would be greatest.  We should never serve God for self recognition by the world.  Verse forty-nine states, And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.  John told Jesus that the disciples had seen someone casting out devils in Jesus's name, and they forbid him from doing so.  The man was evidently being successful in doing what God would have His people do, even if He wasn't one of the twelve disciples.  We should never attempt to stop other people from doing God's work because we feel they aren't qualified or authorized.  Verse fifty adds, And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.  Jesus told them to not forbid the man, because anyone who was not against Jesus was for Him.  We cannot limit who serves God as long as they have put their faith in Jesus.  Verse fifty-one says, And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,  When the time came that Jesus was to be received up, or killed, He set His face resolutely toward Jerusalem.  Jesus knew what awaited Him, but He didn't waiver in His resolve to do it, and neither should we.  We should set our face resolutely not on Jerusalem but on Jesus, and never waiver in our faith, even if it costs us our life.  Verse fifty-two adds, And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.  Jesus sent a messenger before Him into Samaria, a place that the Jews avoided.  We need to carry God's good news of salvation to all people, whether we like them or not.  Verse fifty-three continues, And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.  The Samaritans did not receive Jesus, and He remained steadfast in His resolve to go to Jerusalem.  If people that we witness to do not accept us, we must still remain steadfast in doing what He calls us to do.  Verse fifty-four states, And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?  When James and John saw that the Samaritans rejected Jesus, they asked if they should call down fire from heaven as Elijah did and destroy the Samaritans who rejected Jesus.  Destroying those who reject Jesus is not our responsibility.  We are still to reach out to them with the love of God.  Verse fifty-five adds, But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.  Jesus rebuked James and John and told them they didn't know what spirit they were under, but it wasn't His spirit.  If we begin to call for the destruction of those who will not accept Jesus, then we are not operating under His spirit.   Verse fifty-six continues, For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.  Jesus told them that He didn't come to destroy people but to save them, and that is still true today.  Jesus and the disciples went to another village to witness, and if we are rejected when we witness today, we must just move on to someone else to witness to. 

Luke 9:37

Luke 9:37 says, And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.  After Jesus went down the hill, or mountain, with Peter, James and John they were met by many people.  The three disciples had wanted to build a tabernacle for Jesus and Moses and Elijah because of the glorious thing they had seen, but Jesus led them back down the mountain to where the people were.  If we have a mountaintop experience, we cannot just stay there, but must go back down to where the people are.  Verse thirty-eight adds, And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.  A man in the crowd called out to Jesus, calling Him Master, and said that Jesus had to look on his son, who was his only son.  If we come to Jesus with a problem today, we must acknowledge Him as not only our Master, but the Master of the universe.  Verse thirty-nine continues, And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.  The man said his son was under the control of a demon that was causing him to foam at the mouth and hurt himself.  If we have a child today that is under the control of a demon, and that might be drugs or alcohol instead of a real demon,  we need to come to Jesus in prayer out of real love and concern for them.  Verse forty concludes, And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.  The man had come to the disciples who had remained behind and asked them to cast the devil out, and they could not.  What we need to realize is that of our own ability we can do nothing spiritually, but only by the power of the Holy Spirit can we.  Verse forty-one states, And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.  Jesus called those there, including the disciples, a faithless and perverse generation and asked them how long He could be with them.  Though Jesus's time on earth was limited, by faith the people then and we today can do great things for God, but too often we like them fail to act in faith.  He told the man to bring his son to Him, and that is what we must do for our children today.  Verse forty-two adds, And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.  While the boy was on his way, the devil in him threw him down and caused him to harm himself.  The devil will still do all that he can to keep us from coming to Jesus.  Jesus rebuked the devil then, and He will do the same today if we allow Him to.  Verse forty-three says, And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,  The people were amazed and wondered about the miraculous things Jesus did, but we are not told that they put their faith in Him for Who He is, the only begotten Son of God and the Savior of all who will put their faith in Him.  Wondering about God is not enough.  Verse forty-four adds, Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.  Jesus had a message for His disciples, and that was that He would not be with them long before He as delivered into the hands of men who wanted Him dead.  We have so much more of an advantage as followers of Christ today, because the Holy Spirit is always with us.  Verse forty-five continues, But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.  The disciples didn't understand what Jesus was telling them and were afraid to ask Him.  If we do not understand something that Jesus is teaching us today, we need never be afraid to ask Him what He means. 

Luke 9:28

Luke 9:28 says, And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.  Jesus took three of His disciples,  Peter, John and James up a mountain to pray.  This was about eight days after Jesus had been teaching the people the parables.  We are not told what Jesus was doing during that time, but I believe that we can be certain that He wasn't just sitting and waiting.  People may not know what we are doing for God all the time, but we don't need to be just sitting and waiting for the return of Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-nine adds, And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.  As Jesus prayed, His countenance, or appearanc, changed.   His clothes began to glow.  I don't believe we will ever be that much in touch with God, but we should be spiritually glowing when we pray, because when we sincerely pray, we are as close to God as we can get in this lifetime.  Verse thirty declares, And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:  While Jesus was praying, two men appeared with Him, Moses and Elijah.  I do not profess to know how this was possible, except that Jesus is the bridge between heaven and earth.  I believe that from the way Jesus looked that He was more in the heavenly realm than that Moses and Elijah were in the earthly realm.  Verse thirty-one adds, Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.  Jesus was discussing with them His coming death and resurrection.  They were great prophets, but Jesus was so much more.  Jesus alone is the One Who is capable of bringing salvation.  Verse thirty-two adds, But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.  Peter, James and John had been very sleepy and fell asleep when Jesus took them with Him to pray.  We need to be careful that we are not spiritually asleep when we are called to do something for God, even the simplest of things like pray.  They woke up to a glorious sight, and so might we if we stay spiritually alert.  Verse thirty-three continues, And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.  As Moses and Elijah were leaving, Peter asked if it wouldn't be good for them to build three tabernacles for Jesus and them.  We are told that Peter did not know what he was asking.  We cannot nor should not want to have those who are in heaven to return and stay here on earth, nor could Jesus stay then.  Verse thirty-four states, While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.  While Jesus was speaking, the disciples and He were covered by a cloud.  The cloud had indicated God's presence and the three disciples were afraid as they entered the cloud.  As followers of Christ, we have no reason to be afraid of being in the presence of God.  Verse thirty-five adds, And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.  Once again, God declared Jesus be His beloved Son.  One day, when Christ returns God will pronounce all who believe in Jesus Christ to be His beloved children.  Verse thirty-six continues, And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.  When the cloud passed, Jesus was alone with the three disciples.  It was not yet time for Him to return to Heaven.  Peter, James and John told no one what had happened until after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.   We on the other hand, being on the other side of Jesus's death, burial and resurrection should tell everyone of any and all miraculous things we may see as followersofChrist. . 

Luke 9:18

Luke 9:18 says, And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?  When Jesus was alone with His disciples praying, He asked them Who did people say He was.  This is the question that every person ultimately needs to answer.  Verse nineteen adds, They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.  The disciples said that different people said different things.  Some said He was John the Baptist, some said Elijah, and others said one of the old prophets risen from the dead.  People may think that Jesus is just the same as some other long dead prophet, but until they see Him for Who He really is, the only begotten Son of God Who died to save mankind from the penalty of sin, it will do them no good to acknowledge that He existed in history.  Verse twenty states, He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.  Jesus then made it a personal question for the disciples, and at some point it will become a personal question that every individual will have to answer.  Peter answered and said that Jesus was the Christ of God, or the promised Messiah.  This is the only answer that will ever do us any good.  Verse twenty-one adds, And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;  At this time, Jesus told the disciples to not tell anyone this, but today we have His command to tell everyone.  Verse twenty-two  continues, Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.  Jesus then told them what He must suffer.  I am sure this is not what the disciples expected to hear.  They had left everything to follow Jesus, most likely expecting to reign with Him in power, and He was telling them that He was going to be persecuted, rejected by the religious leaders, be killed and raised the third day.  We cannot follow Jesus because we expect worldly riches and success, but as Christians must daily take up our cross and follow Him.  Verse twenty-three declares, And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.  As just stated, if we are to follow Jesus, we must deny ourself and daily take up our cross, or die to ourself.  Verse twenty-four adds, For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.  Jesus said that if we value our physical life more than our relationship with Him, we will ultimately lose our everlasting life with Him.  On the other hand, if we value our relationship with Jesus more then even our physical life, then we will save our everlasting life by our faith in Him.  Verse twenty-five asks, For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?  Jesus asked the disciples what they would gain if everything in the world in the world belonged to them, but they lost their relationship with God and were cast away.  We must individually answer this question today.  Verse twenty-six adds, For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.  Jesus said if we are ashamed of Him in this life that He will be ashamed of us when He returns in glory.  We need to live everyday for God's glory as followers of Christ and proclaim our faith to the world.   Verse twenty-seven continues, But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.  The disciple did not yet truly know Who Jesus was, but He said they would not face death until they did.  As long as we are alive, we have the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and we must do so before we die.