Luke 10:3-7

Our text this morning, Luke chapter 10, I want to read the first seven verses. Our focus this morning is going to be on verses 3 through 7. Let me read the first seven verses. After these things, the Lord appointed other 70 also and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place whether he himself would come. Therefore, said he unto them, the harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. Go your ways. Behold, I see. send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse nor script nor shoes. And salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever how she enter, first say, peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it. If not, it shall turn to you again. and in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his heart. Go not from house to house. May God bless to us his sacred and holy word this morning. It’s true that ministers carry the burden of proclaiming the gospel of the gospel of of Jesus Christ. However, even as a simple Christian, you two share in the work of spreading the gospel. You know, a family may have a garden which must be watered and you go outside and you see a big water pot and you see the little water pot. And of course the big water part is for the parents and the little water part is for the children. And they both go out and they water the plants. The parents use the larger water pot, and they certainly can pour out more water than the little children can’t. However, the children carry the same water as in the big water part. They just aren’t able to carry as much. And so you may not have the knowledge that the minister has, all the details and ins and outs of many passages of scripture, but you carry the same gospel. and you are spreading it in your witness to others. In our text here, our Lord Jesus Christ is sending out the 70, much as he sent out the 12 apostles earlier. While the passage certainly concerns ministers, and that’s its primary focus. It certainly has a general application to all Christians, which I hope to bring out as we go along. In a sense, ministers are supposed to be examples for the flock. And in some fashion, you two are to follow their lead. They may use a big water pot to spread the water of life, but you use the little one and do the same. I’m going to talk about serving Christ from this passage of scripture this morning. Let me begin by saying this. You can expect. a hostile reception by the world. He says here in verse 3, Go your ways. Behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. The people God are portrayed in scripture as sheep. Christ is the chief shepherd and were sheep. And sheep were harmless, innocent, defenseless creatures when you think about. it. Kind of docile. Wolves, however, who represent the ungodly are savage and malicious and cunning and cruel. This sort of gives us a betrayal, the portrayal of the difference between the Christian and the worldling. Your enemies would rip you to pieces and devire you if the chief shepherd were not protecting you and watching it over you. This passage has special reference when you think about it to the hostility of the Jews toward the gospel of Jesus Christ. The book of Acts is full of this. But it certainly describes the state of things down through the history of the church. The world has never been friendly to believers. And all you have to do is read Fox’s Book of Martyrs. You want to see how the Christians have been treated down through the ages. There’s a good starting point with that book. You should settle in your mind that if you’re going to go out and give the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, you’re going to be hated, persecuted, and ill-treated. Nothing seems to stir up the hostility of the ungodly more. than hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is cutting to the flesh. It seems to be a trigger point for them. You can expect resentment to your witness, anger towards you, and even your godly lifestyle will provoke people to anger. It’s interesting if you go back to the very early chapters of Genesis. Why did Cain kill his people? brother Abel. The scripture tells us in 1. John 312 because his own works were evil and his brother is righteous. That’s all you have to have to have to be blind and harmed in this life. Martin Luther said this. Kane will murder Abel if he can to the very end of the world. So marvel not if the world hate you. McShane. and his writing said this, he said, when a blind man bumps into you in the street, you’re not angry with him. You say, he’s poor, blind man, or he would not have hurt me. So you may say of the poor warblings, when they speak evil of Christians, they’re blind. The reason why you’re mistreated is they don’t understand. They’re blind of the things of God. you can expect the hostile reception. Again, we see here, Christ does not sugarcoat this matter. It tells you this, you know, be prepared. It’s going to be difficult to give out the message of the gospel. Secondly, you must be thoroughly devoted to serving Christ. He says here in verse 4, carry neither purse nor script nor shoes, and salute no man, by the way. Now the first part of this verse here, the first three phrases here, must be, I think, interpreted with some qualification regarding it. And in the end of Christ’s ministry, he did say to the disciples, he that hath a purse, let him take it. Likewise, his script, his knapsack for food or for clothing or something of that nature. 236. Paul constantly used salutations. In fact, Romans 16, he has a whole, almost a whole chapter full of salutations. And he commands you as a believer to salute every saint in Christ Jesus in Philippians 421, to salute all then that have the rule over you, and all saints, Hebrews 13, 24. Peter expressly commands us to be courteousous to all 1 p. p.3a. So we have to give some qualification to these words. Now you should realize these words primarily speak regarding those who are preaching the gospel. The message is very similar to what he told the 12 when he sent the mount. And Luke 9, those who are called to preach should be provided for by those who hear the message. So he’s saying you don’t need to be taking all these things with you. And I think he’s saying here that ministers here should not aim at enriching themselves or making money in their labors. Christ assures ministers they shall not suffer want. Now these words teach ministers of the gospel to beware. of allowing the things of the world to eat up their time and their attention and hinder their work. The Christ would have his ministers avoid covetousness, love of money, and luxury. Now, by way of general application, these words certainly we could apply to Christians in general. Listen to Christ’s words to every belief. believer in Matthew chapter 6 this is from his sermon on the mouth I’ll pick up with verse 24 and no man can serve two masters for either he will hate the one and love the other or else he will hold to the one and despise the other he cannot serve God and manmish now think about that and not certainly that that applies to the minister but it applies to us is even normal ordinary Christians as well. We have to keep that in mind. Therefore, I say in you, take no thought for your life what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor yet for your body what you shall put on. Is not life more than meat in the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly father feedeth them. Are you not much better than they? which of you, by taking thought, can add one cubit unto his statue? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field. How they grow, they toil not. Neither do they spin. And I say unto you that even Solomon, and all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothed the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye a little faith? Therefore, take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or what shall we drink? or wherewithal shall we be clothed? for all these things do the Gentiles seek, for your Heavenly Father, knoweth that ye have need of these things? But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Take, therefore, no thought for tomorrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient under the day is the evil thereof. Not exactly the same, but very similar in saying, look, even when it comes to the food and clothing and shelter and things like this, trust that the Lord will take care of and put forward. first the kingdom of God, even as the average everyday Christian. Particularly, as ministers are supposed to be examples of the flock, let them show the same thing. Paul commands, and having food and raiment, let us be content. 1 Timothy 6.8. The basic teaching of the Christian, for the Christian in Scripture is this. That we’re supposed to travel light. this world were not to be weighed down by all the cares and all the, you know, seeking after the things of this world, keeping up with the Joneses and things of this nature. In other words, we have to be content with things that we have. Travel light, don’t be covetous, don’t be consumed with the accumulation things. For instance, for instance, for instance, it’s interesting that he uses the word shoes in this passage. You might say, why can’t they have shoes? When he’s talking to the 12 apostles, he talks about them wearing sandals, which is a different word here. When sent out by Christ to preach, he said, but be shodd with sandals, he tells them in Mark 6’9. Now in Christ’s time, sandals and shoes were different. Sandals, of course, you had a flat bottom to it and you had straps that just held it on your foot. So that your feet could get pretty dusty as you walked along the roads and things of this nature. Shoes, however, were a more luxurious footwear, covered the whole foot. The prohibition here is a prohibition here is a more luxurious footwear. only against shoes and not against sandals. In other words, shoes were not as suitable to the preacher of the gospel. Keep things simple as sandals. The point is, not the footwear itself, but luxury, extravagance, should not be exhibited by the minister of the gospel. Sandals will do just fine. I’ll update it for you. Buy your shoes at You don’t payless shoes. You don’t have to have imported Italian leather shoes that are $500. Get what you need, live with that. Let me modernize it a little bit more. Maybe make it more vivid for you. Suppose you saw me driving around in an expensive sports car, a red jaguar, rather than just a common tan shit. Chevy Zadane. Wouldn’t that be kind of a showy excess for a minister who is focusing your attention on spiritual things, and then heavenly matters, and yet he’s got to have this expensive sports car? If we put things in that light, it sort of makes more sense to us, doesn’t it? As a believer, here’s what God says. If he be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ sit if on the right hand of God, set your affection on the things above and not on the things of the earth. Look with me at First Peter. Here’s a few words for women also in Scripture in the same vein. Let me read verses 1 to 6 from 1st Peter, excuse me, 1 Peter chapter 3, 1 to 6. Likewise you wise be in subjection to your own husbands, that if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation, or behavior of their wives, while they behold your chase conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning a plating of the hair, and wearing of gold or putting on of a pair. Let it be the hidden man of the heart, and that which is not corruptible. Even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is a the sight of God a great price. For after this manner in old time, the holy women also who trusted in God adorn themselves being in subjection under their own husbands. Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him Lord, whose daughters ye are, as long as you do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. Here we read about the adorning of the women that are in the church. Paul here, excuse me, Peter is urging a cultivation of true beauty, and that’s inward. That’s spiritual, a meek and quiet spirit. Peter’s not saying you shouldn’t try to appear outward, you know, beautiful. I mean, he’s not saying you can’t try to make yourself look good, nor do I believe there’s a complete prohibition of all the things that he mentions here. otherwise you wouldn’t be able to wear clothes. Well, there is no mention of Sarah wearing jewelry. Remember Abraham’s servant seeking a bride for Isaac, took gold bracelets and earrings, and put them on Rebecca in the book of Genesis. The idea here is it forbids what is costly, extravagant, showy, what feeds pride and vanity. The place. of hair, the inner weaving of the hair braids with ornaments of jewels and gold and silver and so forth. The wearing of gold, the Jewish women wore a crown-like hairpiece called the Golden City, shaped like the city of Jerusalem, according to Gild. The focus here is on true beauty, not on outward show, and that’s the thing that we should keep in mind. we don’t need a $10,000 designer dress. We don’t need jewel-encrusted hair or expensive gold ornaments. Dress modestly, cultivate a weak, a quiet spirit. That’s what he said. So you must not be encumbered by the things of the world. You are to redeem the time also. Notice he says here in the fourth verse, the last part of it, He says here, salute no man, by the way. He’ll excuse me, I’m having a little bit of trouble. Ministers, Christians in general, must not be delayed and hindered by all the conventional things that take place in this life, like the tedious inquiries into the health of persons or friends and friends. and long-drawn-out things because the idea here is that it would keep you from your duty. The Pharisees love salutations in the marketplaces, and the believer must not waste time on conventional courtesies that are time-consumed. Jesus told us that they, The Jews saluted everyone they met, which took up much of their time. This doesn’t mean you should be courteous, but you also should be about your father’s business. There is an urgency about Christ’s work. Ministers must not be distracted in doing the work. Remember what Nehemiah said when the bias and others wanted him to meet with them. I’m doing a great work so that I cannot come down. I’m not going to meet with you. I got work to do. When the woman of Shunum went to Elisha for help because her son had died, you remember what happened? How he sent his servant Gahazi out with his staff to lay it by the son’s body until we got there. and he told God you this, gird up thy loins, take my staff in thine hand and go thy way. Thou meet anyone on the way, salute him not. If any man salute thee, answer him not again, second king’s fourth one. Don’t even bother the salute. Now why do you say that to him? Because at that time it would be a long, drawn-out conversation. Keep him from his. errand his business. He must not be stopped in his duty. He’s to go directly to the Shunamite son and take that rod and lay his staff and lay it next to him. Now if I could apply this to the regular business of the church and believers in general, I would direct you to the command that Paul gave in Ephesians 516, redeeming the time for the days or evil. What does he mean by that? Utilize your time wisely so that it does not detract from your witness for Christ. You live in an evil time where men are perishing in their sins and therefore purchase time. Buy it back from all the things you engage in in this world. to give place to the witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Find time to witness to people. Make that a priority for your life. Expound the gospel to them, and that would be time that’s well used. Find the time to study the Word of God so that you may give a wise answer to those who ask a reason of the hope that is with you. Now, with Anna and Keith, just recently, they met Amad and Rene. And basically, they’re asking about the reason of the hope that they have. And here they are able to give up the gospel of Jesus Christ. That’s what we’re talking about. But taking the time to do those things as a priority for your life. I think we all have much to learn about redeeming the time. But in this regard, when it comes to the gospel, make that a priority for your life. It shouldn’t take second place. Seek you first, the kingdom of God. And let that be a priority that we have. So you must be thoroughly devoted to serving Christ. My third message is this. The third thought is this. Let’s talk about your message and your conscience. conduct, verses five to seven. And into whatsoever house you enter, first say peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it. If not, it shall return to you again. In the same house, remain eating and drinking such things as they give. For the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. Now, you’ll notice here he’s indicating. to them to utilize houses in order to preach. Not being admitted into the synagogues, they were to go to individual houses. Use that as their staging point to give out the gospel of Christ in private homes. This is a common New Testament practice. For example, you read in Acts chapter 20 and verse 20 in Paul’s word to the Ephesians, I taught you publicly from house to house. Or we read it in Romans 16, 5. Greet the churches that in there Aquila and Priscilla’s house. Or the letter to Philemon, to the church in thy house. Grace to you in peace. Like Christ, whatever house they visited, they should proclaim the gospel to it. Preaching in private homes is still like good. and useful practice. And I’m very thankful for the home we have here and how we can do that here. And it’s here we have the biblical example. You are to preach the gospel of peace. This phrase, he says, peace be to this house, is not just a common greeting that you would give anybody, but one of the divine blessings, the appraisings, the approach, would receive who embraces the gospel of Jesus Christ. A son of peace is a Hebrew expression. You’re a son of whatever characterizes you. You’re a sons, we read about sons of death in scripture. What does that mean to us? These people were appointed to death. So a son of peace here is a person chosen by God to partake of the peace of the blood of Christ found in the gospel. So they’re granted spiritual peace. Your peace shall rest upon it. If one embraces the gospel, then the peace proclaimed in the gospel of peace is granted to them by the Lord and will reside in that house. If not, he says, it shall return to you. Again, if they don’t receive the gospel, then any blessing that they could have received, they’re not going to receive it. You proclaim the gospel of peace and may not have any good effect there if they reject it. Let every Christian know carefully that while you speak to others a gospel of peace through the Lord Jesus Christ, there are going to be those who are rejected. If so, you go on to somebody else and give them the gospel. gospel peace. And Lord will have somebody that will receive the message. So your duty is to present the gospel. You can’t control the response. God controls that. So you’re proclaimed the gospel of peace. And you are to carefully avoid the spirit of the world. As he says here in verse 7, and in the same house, remain eating and drinking such things as they give for the laborer is worthy of his heart. Go not from house to house. house. Now, if you find a son of peace there, stay there. If they receive the gospel, stay there and keep working from that house. Let them provide for your needs. The food, the clothing, the shelter that you might have to have, let them provide it for you. Don’t be hesitated. Don’t hesitate. Don’t hesitate them, let them do it. Look upon it as a return or reward for bringing them the blessing of the gospel of peace. The laborer is worthy of his hire. This tells us it’s only proper for a minister who labors in the work of the minister to be provided for those who hear the message. Now, go not from house to house is the same thing as we talked about in Luke 9. You’d be content with what they provide for you and don’t try to up your income or your provision by seeking. different house out of you don’t hop to well I’ll keep moving up till I get to the rich man’s house or something like that it’s only improper and right for a minister to be paid for his labors. Paul writes to Timothy and he says this, but the scripture saith the laborer is worthy of his reward. 1 Timothy 518 he quotes this very passage of scripture from Luke. By the way, I won’t charge you for this. This is free. Okay. It comes in free with the There’s a clear indication here that Luke’s gospel is scripture. Because he says the scripture says it and he quotes this passage from Luke. Another indication to us that Luke’s gospel is inspired by the Lord God. Suitable maintenance as the ministers do, how that is furnished is left up to the congregation’s ability. I would also suggest this. That ministers shouldn’t jump from church to church to church just to improve their financial condition. Well, I’ll just move up to the bigger church. I can get more money. I can get a more prestigious situation. I think that goes against the spirit of what he’s saying here. That we should labor where God has placed us unless he moves us. We shouldn’t be eager to seek out an improvement, step up constantly as we go along. Well, let me close by saying this. A family may have a large water pot for the parent, a small one for the child. It’s the same water. The minister may carry a larger water pot for the water of life. You carry the small one with the water of life. It’s the same water of life. And give it out. Since ministers would be examples of the flock, what God says to them usually has some application to you. also as a Christian today. So study the text here with that in mind. Don’t just read this as well, that’s just for ministers. Indeed, there is some things that would apply to you as well and should be applied to you. So you can expect a hostile reception by the world. Be thoroughly devoted, though, to serving Christ. And your message is you preach a gospel of peace through the Lord Jesus Christ. And your conduct is such. Let’s not have a mercenary spirit. Let not have a seeking of luxury in this world and extravagance in this world. Don’t have a covetous spirit. Let’s close with a word of prayer this morning.