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Luke 10:17
Verse
Context
Sermons
Bill McLeod
Zac PoonenZac PoonenZac Poonen
John McGregor
James Malachi JenningsSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
The seventy returned again with joy - Bishop Pearce thinks they returned while our Lord was on his slow journey to Jerusalem, and that they had been absent only a few days.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
returned--evidently not long away. Lord, &c.--"Thou hast exceeded Thy promise, for 'even the devils,'" &c. The possession of such power, not being expressly in their commission, as in that to the Twelve (Luk 9:1), filled them with more astonishment and joy than all else. through thy name--taking no credit to themselves, but feeling lifted into a region of unimagined superiority to the powers of evil simply through their connection with Christ.
John Gill Bible Commentary
And the seventy returned again,.... The Syriac version adds, "whom he had sent": these disciples having received orders and instructions from Christ, went as he directed them; and when they had finished their embassy, they returned again to him, and gave him an account of their journey and success. The Vulgate Latin and Persic versions read here, "the seventy two", as they do in Luk 10:1 with joy; with great joy, as read the Syriac and Persic versions; notwithstanding the difficulties that had attended them, reproaches cast upon them, the ill treatment they might have met with in some places, and the labours and fatigues of their journey, and the dangers they had been exposed to: saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name: they found the miraculous power conferred on them was greater than they at first imagined, or could collect from what Christ said to them, who only bid them heal the sick, Luk 10:9, but when they came to make use of it they found they had a power of casting out devils; not in their own name and strength, but in the name, and through the power, and by the authority of Christ; and this had thrown them into an ecstasy of joy, and in a sort of a rapture: they express themselves as men astonished at the powers bestowed on them.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
Christ sent forth the seventy disciples as he was going up to Jerusalem to the feast of tabernacles, when he went up, not openly, but as it were in secret (Joh 7:10), having sent abroad so great a part of his ordinary retinue; and Dr. Lightfoot thinks it was before his return from that feast, and while he was yet at Jerusalem, or Bethany, which was hard by (for there he was, Luk 10:38), that they, or at least some of them, returned to him. Now here we are told, 1. What account they gave him of the success of their expedition: They returned again with joy (Luk 10:17); not complaining of the fatigue of their journeys, nor of the opposition and discouragement they met with, but rejoicing in their success, especially in casting out unclean spirits: Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. Though only the healing of the sick was mentioned in their commission (Luk 10:19), yet no doubt the casting out of devils was included, and in this they had wonderful success. 1. They give Christ the glory of this: It is through thy name. Note, all our victories over Satan are obtained by power derived from Jesus Christ. We must in his name enter the lists with our spiritual enemies, and, whatever advantages we gain, he must have all the praise; if the work be done in his name, the honour is due to his name. 2. They entertain themselves with the comfort of it; they speak of it with an air of exultation: Even the devils, those potent enemies, are subject to us. Note, the saints have no greater joy or satisfaction in any of their triumphs than in those over Satan. If devils are subject to us, what can stand before us? II. What acceptance they found with him, and how he received this account. 1. He confirmed what they said, as agreeing with his own observation (Luk 10:18): "My heart and eye went along with you; I took notice of the success you had, and I saw Satan fall as lightning from heaven." Note, Satan and his kingdom fell before the preaching of the gospel. "I see how it is," saith Christ, "as you get ground the devil loseth ground." He falls as lightning falls from heaven, so suddenly, so irrecoverably, so visibly, that all may perceive it, and say, "See how Satan's kingdom totters, see how it tumbles." They triumphed in casting devils out of the bodies of people; but Christ sees and rejoices in the fall of the devil from the interest he has in the souls of men, which is called his power in high places, Eph 6:12. He foresees this to be but an earnest of what should now be shortly done and was already begun - the destroying of Satan's kingdom in the world by the extirpating of idolatry and the turning of the nations to the faith of Christ. Satan falls from heaven when he falls from the throne in men's hearts, Act 26:18. And Christ foresaw that the preaching of the gospel, which would fly like lightning through the world, would wherever it went pull down Satan's kingdom. Now is the prince of this world cast out. Some have given another sense of this, as looking back to the fall of the angels, and designed for a caution to these disciples, lest their success should puff them up with pride: "I saw angels turned into devils by pride: that was the sin for which Satan was cast down from heaven, where he had been an angel of light I saw it, and give you an intimation of it lest you, being lifted up with pride should fall into that condemnation of the devil, who fell by pride," Ti1 3:6. 2. He repeated, ratified, and enlarged their commission: Behold I give you power to tread on serpents, Luk 10:19. Note, To him that hath, and useth well what he hath, more shall be given. They had employed their power vigorously against Satan, and now Christ entrusts them with greater power. (1.) An offensive power, power to tread on serpents and scorpions, devils and malignant spirits, the old serpent: "You shall bruise their heads in my name," according to the first promise, Gen 3:15. Come, set your feet on the necks of these enemies; you shall tread upon these lions and adders wherever you meet with them; you shall trample them under foot, Psa 91:13. You shall tread upon all the power of the enemy, and the kingdom of the Messiah shall be every where set up upon the ruins of the devil's kingdom. As the devils have now been subject to you, so they shall still be. (2.) A defensive power: "Nothing shall by any means hurt you; not serpents nor scorpions, if you should be chastised with them or thrown into prisons and dungeons among them; you shall be unhurt by the most venomous creatures," as St. Paul was (Act 28:5), and as is promised in Mar 16:18. "If wicked men be as serpents to you, and you dwell among those scorpions (as Eze 2:6), you may despise their rage, and tread upon it; it need not disturb you, for they have no power against you but what is given them from above; they may hiss, but they cannot hurt." You may play upon the hole of the asp, for death itself shall not hurt nor destroy, Isa 11:8, Isa 11:9; Isa 25:8. 3. He directed them to turn their joy into the right channel (Luk 10:20): "Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you, that they have been so, and shall be still so. Do not rejoice in this merely as it is your honour, and a confirmation of your mission, and as it sets you a degree above other good people; do not rejoice in this only, or in this chiefly, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven, because you are chosen of God to eternal life, and are the children of God through faith." Christ, who knew the counsels of God, could tell them that their names were written in heaven, for it is the Lamb's book of life that they are written in. All believers are through grace, entitled to the inheritance of sons, and have received the adoption of sons, and the Spirit of adoption, which is the earnest of that inheritance and so are enrolled among his family; now this is matter of joy, greater joy than casting out devils. Note, Power to become the children of God is to be valued more than a power to work miracles; for we read of those who did in Christ's name cast out devils, as Judas did, and yet will be disowned by Christ in the great day. But they whose names are written in heaven shall never perish; they are Christ's sheep, to whom he will give eternal life. Saving graces are more to be rejoiced in than spiritual gifts; holy love is a more excellent way than speaking with tongues. 4. He offered up a solemn thanksgiving to his Father, for employing such mean people as his disciples were in such high and honourable service, Luk 10:21, Luk 10:22. This we had before (Mat 11:25-27), only here it is prefixed that in that hour Jesus rejoiced. It was fit that particular notice should be taken of that hour, because there were so few such, for he was a man of sorrows. In that hour in which he saw Satan fall, and heard of the good success of his ministers, in that hour he rejoiced. Note, Nothing rejoices the heart of the Lord Jesus so much as the progress of the gospel, and its getting ground of Satan, by the conversion of souls to Christ. Christ's joy was a solid substantial joy, an inward joy: he rejoiced in spirit; but his joy, like deep waters, made no noise; it was a joy that a stranger did not intermeddle with. Before he applied himself to thank his Father, he stirred up himself to rejoice; for, as thankful praise is the genuine language of holy joy, so holy joy is the root and spring of thankful praise. Two things he gives thanks for: - (1.) For what was revealed by the Father through the Son: I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, Luk 10:21. In all our adorations of God, we must have an eye to him, both as the Maker of heaven and earth and as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in him our Father. Now that which he gives thanks for is, [1.] That the counsels of God concerning man's reconciliation to himself were revealed to some of the children of men, who might be fit also to teach others, and it is God that by his Son has spoken these things to us and by his Spirit has revealed them in us; he has revealed that which had been kept secret from the beginning of the world. [2.] That they were revealed to babes, to those who were of mean parts and capacities, whose extraction and education had nothing in them promising, who were but children in understanding, till God by his Spirit elevated their faculties, and furnished them with this knowledge, and an ability to communicate it. We have reason to thank God, not so much for the honour he has hereby put upon babes, as for the honour he has hereby done himself in perfecting strength out of weakness. [3.] That, at the same time when he revealed them unto babes, he hid them from the wise and prudent, the Gentile philosophers, the Jewish rabbin. He did not reveal the things of the gospel to them, nor employ them in preaching up his kingdom. Thanks be to God that the apostles were not fetched from their schools; for, First, they would have been apt to mingle their notions with the doctrine of Christ, which would have corrupted it, as afterwards it proved. For Christianity was much corrupted by the Platonic philosophy in the first ages of it, by the Peripatetic in its latter ages, and by the Judaizing teachers at the first planting of it. Secondly, If rabbin and philosophers had been made apostles, the success of the gospel would have been ascribed to their learning and wit and the force of their reasonings and eloquence; and therefore they must not be employed, lest they should have taken too much to themselves, and others should have attributed too much to them. They were passed by for the same reason that Gideon's army was reduced: The people are yet too many, Jdg 7:4. Paul indeed was bred a scholar among the wise and prudent; but he became a babe when he became an apostle, and laid aside the enticing words of man's wisdom, forgot them all, and made neither show nor use of any other knowledge than that of Christ and him crucified, Co1 2:2, Co1 2:4. [4.] That God herein acted by way of sovereignty: Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight. If God gives his grace and the knowledge of his son to some that are less likely, and does not give it to others whom we should think better able to deliver it with advantage, this must satisfy: so it pleases God, whose thoughts are infinitely above ours. He chooses to entrust the dispensing of his gospel in the hands of those who with a divine energy will give it the setting on, rather than in theirs who with human art will give it the setting off. (2.) For what was secret between the Father and the Son, Luk 10:22. [1.] The vast confidence that the Father puts in the Son: All things are delivered to me of my Father, all wisdom and knowledge, all power and authority, all the grace and comfort which are intended for the chosen remnant; it is all delivered into the hands of the Lord Jesus; in him all fulness must dwell, and from him it must be derived: he is the great trustee that manages all the concerns of God's kingdom. [2.] The good understanding that there is between the Father and the Son, and their mutual consciousness, such as no creature can be admitted to: No man knows who the Son is, nor what his mind is, but the Father, who possessed him in the beginning of his ways, before his works of old (Pro 8:22), nor who the Father is, and what his counsels are, but the Son, who lay in his bosom from eternity, was by him as one brought up with him, and was daily his delight (Pro 8:30), and he to whom the Son by the Spirit will reveal him. The gospel is the revelation of Jesus Christ, to him we owe all the discoveries made to us of the will of God for our salvation; and here he speaks of being entrusted with it as that which was a great pleasure to himself and for which he was very thankful to his Father. 5. He told his disciples how well it was for them that they had these things revealed to them, Luk 10:23, Luk 10:24. Having addressed himself to his Father, he turned to his disciples, designing to make them sensible how much it was for their happiness, as well as for the glory and honour of God, that they knew the mysteries of the kingdom and were employed to lead others into the knowledge of them, considering, (1.) What a step it is towards something better. Though the bare knowledge of these things is not saving, yet it puts us in the way of salvation: Blessed are the eyes which see the things which we see. God therein blesseth them, and, if it be not their own fault it will be an eternal blessedness to them. (2.) What a step it is above those that went before them, even the greatest saints, and those that were most the favourites of Heaven: "Many prophets and righteous men" (so it is in Mat 13:17), many prophets and kings (so it is here), "have desired to see and hear those things which you are daily and intimately conversant with, and have not seen and heard them." The honour and happiness of the New Testament saints far exceed those even of the prophets and kings of the Old Testament, though they also were highly favoured. The general ideas which the Old Testament saints had, according to the intimations given them, of the graces and glories of the Messiah's kingdom, made them wish a thousand times that their lot had been reserved for those blessed days, and that they might see the substance of those things of which they had faint shadows. Note, The consideration of the great advantages which we have in the New Testament light, above what they had who lived in Old Testament times, should awaken our diligence in the improvement of it; for, if it do not, it will aggravate our condemnation for the non-improvement of it.
Luke 10:17
The Joyful Return
16Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”17The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.”
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
(Forging the Vessel of Recovery) 1- the Success of the First Century Church
By B.H. Clendennen6.9K56:34ApostolicEXO 15:23LUK 10:17ACT 1:8ACT 2:4ACT 2:41ACT 3:7In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of personal witness for Christ. They highlight that while television, radio, and printed materials are valuable tools for spreading the gospel, nothing can replace the impact of a personal testimony. The speaker mentions a survey that found that only one person in a thousand is in the church because of television, while 98% of people come to church because someone personally shared their faith with them. The sermon also emphasizes the need for believers to actively engage in sharing the gospel with others, rather than relying solely on financial contributions or media outreach. The speaker shares examples of the power of the gospel to transform lives and communities, and encourages listeners to have a deep love for Jesus as their motivation for sharing the good news.
The Occult
By Bill McLeod3.2K59:31OccultLUK 10:17In this sermon, the speaker shares two powerful stories of individuals being set free from the occult through the power of prayer and renouncing their involvement in the occult. One story involves a girl whose mother prayed for her and received a message from the Lord that her daughter was free. Shortly after, the girl called her mother to confirm that Jesus had set her free. The other story is about a person who sat silently during a lecture on the occult but suddenly opened up and declared their freedom after renouncing their involvement in the occult. The speaker also mentions their book, "Demonism Among Evangelicals," which delves deeper into the topic. The sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing and renouncing occult practices and highlights the power of God to bring freedom and healing.
The Authority of God's Children
By Zac Poonen1.8K1:05:30AuthorityLUK 10:17In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that the devil is out to deceive people and lead them away from God. However, Jesus came to demonstrate through his life that we don't have to be afraid of the devil or what he can do to us. The devil is the ruler of this world, running various aspects of society such as entertainment, education, medicine, politics, and business, which leads to corruption and evil. Despite this, the preacher encourages believers to have genuine humility and believe that all human beings are equal in God's eyes. The sermon also references Luke 10:17-20, where Jesus tells his disciples that they have authority over the power of the enemy and should rejoice in the fact that their names are recorded in heaven.
Rejoicing in God's Authority Over Us
By Zac Poonen1.7K1:00:59AuthorityGEN 1:1MAT 13:44LUK 10:171CO 2:12REV 3:18In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of laying a strong foundation in one's faith before diving into deeper spiritual matters. He warns against focusing solely on external appearances and urges listeners to seek a genuine transformation from within. The sermon draws from Luke 10:17-24, where Jesus sends out seventy disciples to minister and perform miracles. The speaker highlights the danger of pride and hypocrisy, emphasizing the need for humility and a soft heart before God.
Rejoicing in What God Has Done
By Zac Poonen1.3K58:49MAT 7:22MAT 20:12MAT 23:12MAT 25:34LUK 10:171CO 1:291CO 13:5EPH 2:8JAS 4:6This sermon emphasizes the importance of not rejoicing in our own accomplishments or comparing ourselves to others, but rather rejoicing in what God has done for us. It highlights the dangers of pride, boasting in our own works, and the need for humility to receive God's grace for victory over sin. The message stresses the significance of being like the thief on the cross who acknowledged his unworthiness and the need to focus on God's work in our lives rather than our own achievements.
The Epiphanies
By John McGregor86338:39EpiphaniesMAT 6:33LUK 10:1LUK 10:17LUK 18:1LUK 23:34In this sermon, the preacher focuses on Luke chapter 10, specifically the first four verses. Jesus appoints seventy-two others and sends them ahead of Him to every town and place He is about to go. He tells them that the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few, and instructs them to pray for more laborers. Jesus warns them that they will face challenges as they go out as lambs among wolves. The preacher emphasizes the importance of surrendering control to Jesus and allowing Him to lead, as demonstrated by the disciples' obedience and the report of the demons being subject to them in Jesus' name. The sermon also references Luke 24:27, where Jesus interprets the scriptures concerning Himself to two men who were walking in sadness and defeat. The preacher encourages listeners to set aside their own desires and rights and fully surrender to God, acknowledging that only He can fix the issues of the human heart. The sermon concludes with a story about a young preacher seeking more power, and the response he receives from an older preacher.
Rejoice in the Lord Always by James Jennings
By James Malachi Jennings62350:42ISA 61:10LUK 10:17LUK 10:20PHP 1:6PHP 2:12PHP 4:4PHP 4:8PHP 4:101TH 5:18
This sermon emphasizes the importance of rejoicing in the Lord always, highlighting the need to find supreme joy in Christ regardless of circumstances or personal achievements. It warns against finding joy in ministry success or personal works, urging believers to focus on the unchanging source of joy found in Christ and the assurance of salvation. The sermon encourages a deep, continual relationship with the Lord, rooted in gratitude for His salvation and faithfulness.
"Stronger Than he."
By Watchman Nee1Spiritual WarfareVictory in ChristDEU 32:30MAT 18:18LUK 10:17ROM 6:112CO 10:4EPH 6:112TI 2:26HEB 4:121JN 4:4REV 12:11Watchman Nee emphasizes that Christ, the 'Stronger than he,' empowers believers to overcome sin and Satan through the Holy Spirit. He stresses the necessity of maintaining our position as crucified with Christ to experience true victory and warns against the dangers of uncrucified areas in our lives that can be exploited by the enemy. Nee highlights the importance of discerning the workings of Satan and engaging in spiritual warfare through prayer and unity among believers. He encourages a commitment to truth and the power of the blood of Christ in binding the strong man, which is essential for delivering those held captive by darkness. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a deep understanding of spiritual principles to effectively combat the forces of evil.
The Power of the Name
By Smith Wigglesworth1Faith and HealingPower of Jesus' NameMAT 18:20MRK 16:17LUK 10:17JHN 14:13JHN 16:23ACT 3:6ROM 10:13EPH 1:21PHP 2:9JAS 5:14Smith Wigglesworth emphasizes the immense power in the name of Jesus, illustrating through various testimonies how faith in His name can lead to miraculous healings and transformations. He recounts a story of a sick man who, after persistent prayer and the whispering of Jesus' name, was healed and arose from his bed, demonstrating that true faith focuses on Jesus rather than circumstances. Wigglesworth encourages believers to recognize the authority and glory of Jesus' name, asserting that it is through faith in Him that all things are possible. He shares experiences from his ministry, including healings in Scandinavia, highlighting that God can work wonders through those who believe. Ultimately, he calls for a deeper appreciation of the name of Jesus, which holds the key to salvation and healing.
Spiritual Warfare - Tape 1
By Richard Sipley0MAT 16:23MRK 1:21LUK 10:17JHN 3:8EPH 6:10Dick Sipley preaches about the reality of spiritual warfare, emphasizing the importance of understanding the authority and power we have in Christ to overcome the forces of darkness. He shares powerful testimonies of demonic manifestations and deliverance, highlighting the need for believers to be vigilant, stand firm in faith, and put on the full armor of God to resist the devil's schemes. Sipley stresses the significance of living in the truth, repentance, and the cleansing blood of Jesus to remove any ground where Satan can work, urging Christians to surrender all areas of their lives to Christ and walk in the Kingdom of light.
An Enrollment of Our Names in Heaven —The Noblest Source of Joy
By Samuel Davies0JOL 2:12MAT 6:19LUK 6:24LUK 10:17PHP 4:4JAS 4:9Samuel Davies preaches about the joy of having our names written in heaven, emphasizing that this surpasses all other sources of joy. He highlights the importance of heavenly citizenship and the distinguishing characteristics of those whose names are written in heaven. Davies urges self-examination and the pursuit of a saving interest in heaven, pointing out that this is the ultimate cause of joy. He contrasts the joy of those with their names in heaven with the lack of true joy for those whose names are not recorded there, emphasizing the futility of finding lasting joy in earthly possessions and circumstances.
The Spirit of Power
By Samuel Chadwick0ISA 40:29ZEC 4:6LUK 9:1LUK 10:17ACT 1:8ACT 2:41CO 2:41CO 4:20EPH 3:202TI 1:7Samuel Chadwick preaches about the two different aspects of power in the New Testament, one representing authority and the other effectiveness, emphasizing the importance of understanding the distinction between the two. He delves into man's instinct for power, highlighting the strong desire for sovereignty and the consequences of seeking power for self-realization rather than through humble trust and obedience. Chadwick discusses the promise of power through the Holy Spirit, explaining how power is essential for fulfilling one's destiny and inheritance, and how the Spirit of God empowers believers for effective witnessing, holiness, and service.
The Return of the Seventy Luke 10:17-24; Matthew 11:25-30
By R.A. Torrey0Finding Rest in JesusAuthority of ChristLUK 10:17R.A. Torrey emphasizes the joy and authority given to the seventy disciples as they return from their mission, highlighting the power of Jesus' name over evil and the assurance of their names being written in heaven. He explains that true wisdom and revelation come from God, not from human understanding, and that Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and earth. Torrey encourages believers to recognize their privileged position in knowing God and to accept Jesus' invitation to find rest for their souls through His easy yoke. The sermon underscores the importance of humility and reliance on Christ for spiritual strength and understanding.
Homily 9
By Clement of Rome0GEN 6:8EXO 20:3MAT 4:10MRK 16:17LUK 10:17ACT 19:131CO 10:20EPH 6:12JAS 4:71JN 4:4Clement of Rome delivers a sermon emphasizing the importance of worshiping one God and refraining from idolatry, highlighting the consequences of forsaking the true God for false gods. He discusses the history of various kingdoms and the rise of false worship, pointing out the deceitful practices of demons who masquerade as gods. Clement stresses the power of faith in expelling demons and the necessity of seeking God's help through prayers and petitions to overcome evil influences. He concludes by demonstrating the authority believers have over demons through their faith and the importance of living a life devoted to God to receive eternal blessings.
The Church’s Marriage to Her Sons, and to Her God
By Jonathan Edwards0ISA 62:4MAT 22:2LUK 10:17JHN 3:29REV 19:6Jonathan Edwards preaches about the deep and profound love relationship between the church and Christ, likening it to a marriage where the church is the bride and Christ is the bridegroom. He emphasizes the great lengths Christ went to in order to obtain his bride, including becoming man and laying down his life for her. Edwards urges ministers to faithfully fulfill their role as stewards and ambassadors of Christ, leading the church in preparation for the glorious union with the bridegroom. He highlights the joy and honor bestowed upon ministers who are called to be part of this divine union and the eternal bliss they will share in the marriage-supper of the Lamb.
Amillennialism
By Anthony Hoekema0MAT 12:29LUK 10:17JHN 12:31REV 20:1REV 20:4Anthony Hoekema delves into the amillennial understanding of the millennium, focusing on the interpretation of the book of Revelation, Revelation 20:1-6, Old Testament passages, amillennial eschatology, and the implications of this view. He explains the concept of realized millennialism, emphasizing that the millennium of Revelation 20 is currently in process of realization, not exclusively a future event. Hoekema presents a system of interpretation called progressive parallelism, detailing the seven sections of Revelation that run parallel to each other, depicting the church and the world from Christ's first coming to His second.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
The seventy returned again with joy - Bishop Pearce thinks they returned while our Lord was on his slow journey to Jerusalem, and that they had been absent only a few days.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
returned--evidently not long away. Lord, &c.--"Thou hast exceeded Thy promise, for 'even the devils,'" &c. The possession of such power, not being expressly in their commission, as in that to the Twelve (Luk 9:1), filled them with more astonishment and joy than all else. through thy name--taking no credit to themselves, but feeling lifted into a region of unimagined superiority to the powers of evil simply through their connection with Christ.
John Gill Bible Commentary
And the seventy returned again,.... The Syriac version adds, "whom he had sent": these disciples having received orders and instructions from Christ, went as he directed them; and when they had finished their embassy, they returned again to him, and gave him an account of their journey and success. The Vulgate Latin and Persic versions read here, "the seventy two", as they do in Luk 10:1 with joy; with great joy, as read the Syriac and Persic versions; notwithstanding the difficulties that had attended them, reproaches cast upon them, the ill treatment they might have met with in some places, and the labours and fatigues of their journey, and the dangers they had been exposed to: saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name: they found the miraculous power conferred on them was greater than they at first imagined, or could collect from what Christ said to them, who only bid them heal the sick, Luk 10:9, but when they came to make use of it they found they had a power of casting out devils; not in their own name and strength, but in the name, and through the power, and by the authority of Christ; and this had thrown them into an ecstasy of joy, and in a sort of a rapture: they express themselves as men astonished at the powers bestowed on them.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
Christ sent forth the seventy disciples as he was going up to Jerusalem to the feast of tabernacles, when he went up, not openly, but as it were in secret (Joh 7:10), having sent abroad so great a part of his ordinary retinue; and Dr. Lightfoot thinks it was before his return from that feast, and while he was yet at Jerusalem, or Bethany, which was hard by (for there he was, Luk 10:38), that they, or at least some of them, returned to him. Now here we are told, 1. What account they gave him of the success of their expedition: They returned again with joy (Luk 10:17); not complaining of the fatigue of their journeys, nor of the opposition and discouragement they met with, but rejoicing in their success, especially in casting out unclean spirits: Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. Though only the healing of the sick was mentioned in their commission (Luk 10:19), yet no doubt the casting out of devils was included, and in this they had wonderful success. 1. They give Christ the glory of this: It is through thy name. Note, all our victories over Satan are obtained by power derived from Jesus Christ. We must in his name enter the lists with our spiritual enemies, and, whatever advantages we gain, he must have all the praise; if the work be done in his name, the honour is due to his name. 2. They entertain themselves with the comfort of it; they speak of it with an air of exultation: Even the devils, those potent enemies, are subject to us. Note, the saints have no greater joy or satisfaction in any of their triumphs than in those over Satan. If devils are subject to us, what can stand before us? II. What acceptance they found with him, and how he received this account. 1. He confirmed what they said, as agreeing with his own observation (Luk 10:18): "My heart and eye went along with you; I took notice of the success you had, and I saw Satan fall as lightning from heaven." Note, Satan and his kingdom fell before the preaching of the gospel. "I see how it is," saith Christ, "as you get ground the devil loseth ground." He falls as lightning falls from heaven, so suddenly, so irrecoverably, so visibly, that all may perceive it, and say, "See how Satan's kingdom totters, see how it tumbles." They triumphed in casting devils out of the bodies of people; but Christ sees and rejoices in the fall of the devil from the interest he has in the souls of men, which is called his power in high places, Eph 6:12. He foresees this to be but an earnest of what should now be shortly done and was already begun - the destroying of Satan's kingdom in the world by the extirpating of idolatry and the turning of the nations to the faith of Christ. Satan falls from heaven when he falls from the throne in men's hearts, Act 26:18. And Christ foresaw that the preaching of the gospel, which would fly like lightning through the world, would wherever it went pull down Satan's kingdom. Now is the prince of this world cast out. Some have given another sense of this, as looking back to the fall of the angels, and designed for a caution to these disciples, lest their success should puff them up with pride: "I saw angels turned into devils by pride: that was the sin for which Satan was cast down from heaven, where he had been an angel of light I saw it, and give you an intimation of it lest you, being lifted up with pride should fall into that condemnation of the devil, who fell by pride," Ti1 3:6. 2. He repeated, ratified, and enlarged their commission: Behold I give you power to tread on serpents, Luk 10:19. Note, To him that hath, and useth well what he hath, more shall be given. They had employed their power vigorously against Satan, and now Christ entrusts them with greater power. (1.) An offensive power, power to tread on serpents and scorpions, devils and malignant spirits, the old serpent: "You shall bruise their heads in my name," according to the first promise, Gen 3:15. Come, set your feet on the necks of these enemies; you shall tread upon these lions and adders wherever you meet with them; you shall trample them under foot, Psa 91:13. You shall tread upon all the power of the enemy, and the kingdom of the Messiah shall be every where set up upon the ruins of the devil's kingdom. As the devils have now been subject to you, so they shall still be. (2.) A defensive power: "Nothing shall by any means hurt you; not serpents nor scorpions, if you should be chastised with them or thrown into prisons and dungeons among them; you shall be unhurt by the most venomous creatures," as St. Paul was (Act 28:5), and as is promised in Mar 16:18. "If wicked men be as serpents to you, and you dwell among those scorpions (as Eze 2:6), you may despise their rage, and tread upon it; it need not disturb you, for they have no power against you but what is given them from above; they may hiss, but they cannot hurt." You may play upon the hole of the asp, for death itself shall not hurt nor destroy, Isa 11:8, Isa 11:9; Isa 25:8. 3. He directed them to turn their joy into the right channel (Luk 10:20): "Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you, that they have been so, and shall be still so. Do not rejoice in this merely as it is your honour, and a confirmation of your mission, and as it sets you a degree above other good people; do not rejoice in this only, or in this chiefly, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven, because you are chosen of God to eternal life, and are the children of God through faith." Christ, who knew the counsels of God, could tell them that their names were written in heaven, for it is the Lamb's book of life that they are written in. All believers are through grace, entitled to the inheritance of sons, and have received the adoption of sons, and the Spirit of adoption, which is the earnest of that inheritance and so are enrolled among his family; now this is matter of joy, greater joy than casting out devils. Note, Power to become the children of God is to be valued more than a power to work miracles; for we read of those who did in Christ's name cast out devils, as Judas did, and yet will be disowned by Christ in the great day. But they whose names are written in heaven shall never perish; they are Christ's sheep, to whom he will give eternal life. Saving graces are more to be rejoiced in than spiritual gifts; holy love is a more excellent way than speaking with tongues. 4. He offered up a solemn thanksgiving to his Father, for employing such mean people as his disciples were in such high and honourable service, Luk 10:21, Luk 10:22. This we had before (Mat 11:25-27), only here it is prefixed that in that hour Jesus rejoiced. It was fit that particular notice should be taken of that hour, because there were so few such, for he was a man of sorrows. In that hour in which he saw Satan fall, and heard of the good success of his ministers, in that hour he rejoiced. Note, Nothing rejoices the heart of the Lord Jesus so much as the progress of the gospel, and its getting ground of Satan, by the conversion of souls to Christ. Christ's joy was a solid substantial joy, an inward joy: he rejoiced in spirit; but his joy, like deep waters, made no noise; it was a joy that a stranger did not intermeddle with. Before he applied himself to thank his Father, he stirred up himself to rejoice; for, as thankful praise is the genuine language of holy joy, so holy joy is the root and spring of thankful praise. Two things he gives thanks for: - (1.) For what was revealed by the Father through the Son: I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, Luk 10:21. In all our adorations of God, we must have an eye to him, both as the Maker of heaven and earth and as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in him our Father. Now that which he gives thanks for is, [1.] That the counsels of God concerning man's reconciliation to himself were revealed to some of the children of men, who might be fit also to teach others, and it is God that by his Son has spoken these things to us and by his Spirit has revealed them in us; he has revealed that which had been kept secret from the beginning of the world. [2.] That they were revealed to babes, to those who were of mean parts and capacities, whose extraction and education had nothing in them promising, who were but children in understanding, till God by his Spirit elevated their faculties, and furnished them with this knowledge, and an ability to communicate it. We have reason to thank God, not so much for the honour he has hereby put upon babes, as for the honour he has hereby done himself in perfecting strength out of weakness. [3.] That, at the same time when he revealed them unto babes, he hid them from the wise and prudent, the Gentile philosophers, the Jewish rabbin. He did not reveal the things of the gospel to them, nor employ them in preaching up his kingdom. Thanks be to God that the apostles were not fetched from their schools; for, First, they would have been apt to mingle their notions with the doctrine of Christ, which would have corrupted it, as afterwards it proved. For Christianity was much corrupted by the Platonic philosophy in the first ages of it, by the Peripatetic in its latter ages, and by the Judaizing teachers at the first planting of it. Secondly, If rabbin and philosophers had been made apostles, the success of the gospel would have been ascribed to their learning and wit and the force of their reasonings and eloquence; and therefore they must not be employed, lest they should have taken too much to themselves, and others should have attributed too much to them. They were passed by for the same reason that Gideon's army was reduced: The people are yet too many, Jdg 7:4. Paul indeed was bred a scholar among the wise and prudent; but he became a babe when he became an apostle, and laid aside the enticing words of man's wisdom, forgot them all, and made neither show nor use of any other knowledge than that of Christ and him crucified, Co1 2:2, Co1 2:4. [4.] That God herein acted by way of sovereignty: Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight. If God gives his grace and the knowledge of his son to some that are less likely, and does not give it to others whom we should think better able to deliver it with advantage, this must satisfy: so it pleases God, whose thoughts are infinitely above ours. He chooses to entrust the dispensing of his gospel in the hands of those who with a divine energy will give it the setting on, rather than in theirs who with human art will give it the setting off. (2.) For what was secret between the Father and the Son, Luk 10:22. [1.] The vast confidence that the Father puts in the Son: All things are delivered to me of my Father, all wisdom and knowledge, all power and authority, all the grace and comfort which are intended for the chosen remnant; it is all delivered into the hands of the Lord Jesus; in him all fulness must dwell, and from him it must be derived: he is the great trustee that manages all the concerns of God's kingdom. [2.] The good understanding that there is between the Father and the Son, and their mutual consciousness, such as no creature can be admitted to: No man knows who the Son is, nor what his mind is, but the Father, who possessed him in the beginning of his ways, before his works of old (Pro 8:22), nor who the Father is, and what his counsels are, but the Son, who lay in his bosom from eternity, was by him as one brought up with him, and was daily his delight (Pro 8:30), and he to whom the Son by the Spirit will reveal him. The gospel is the revelation of Jesus Christ, to him we owe all the discoveries made to us of the will of God for our salvation; and here he speaks of being entrusted with it as that which was a great pleasure to himself and for which he was very thankful to his Father. 5. He told his disciples how well it was for them that they had these things revealed to them, Luk 10:23, Luk 10:24. Having addressed himself to his Father, he turned to his disciples, designing to make them sensible how much it was for their happiness, as well as for the glory and honour of God, that they knew the mysteries of the kingdom and were employed to lead others into the knowledge of them, considering, (1.) What a step it is towards something better. Though the bare knowledge of these things is not saving, yet it puts us in the way of salvation: Blessed are the eyes which see the things which we see. God therein blesseth them, and, if it be not their own fault it will be an eternal blessedness to them. (2.) What a step it is above those that went before them, even the greatest saints, and those that were most the favourites of Heaven: "Many prophets and righteous men" (so it is in Mat 13:17), many prophets and kings (so it is here), "have desired to see and hear those things which you are daily and intimately conversant with, and have not seen and heard them." The honour and happiness of the New Testament saints far exceed those even of the prophets and kings of the Old Testament, though they also were highly favoured. The general ideas which the Old Testament saints had, according to the intimations given them, of the graces and glories of the Messiah's kingdom, made them wish a thousand times that their lot had been reserved for those blessed days, and that they might see the substance of those things of which they had faint shadows. Note, The consideration of the great advantages which we have in the New Testament light, above what they had who lived in Old Testament times, should awaken our diligence in the improvement of it; for, if it do not, it will aggravate our condemnation for the non-improvement of it.