“The Just Shall Live By Faith”

New King James Version                          Written by: David Hicks

 

Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."

Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."

“Articles of Faith"

An Orderly Account Of The Greatest Story Ever Told

(A Study in Luke)

Chapter 10:1-16:

We begin this chapter remembering that the Lord is traveling towards Jerusalem for the Feast of Weeks and as His end in nearing (still some 5 or 6 months off). Before He arrives, He is going to send out seventy disciples out to the cities He will be going to Himself, in advance. They were going to go ahead of the Lord and announce that the kingdom of God has come near to them.

Some points to keep in mind as we get into the text:

1)  The miracles that Jesus performed were shown to confirm Him and His words. Likewise, those whom He sent in His name were performing these signs and wonders to confirm Him and the message they were sent to deliver.

2)  The words He preached and the words of those whom He sent were designed to prompt repentance in preparation for the coming of the kingdom of God .

3)  Since these were sent and because of the ministry of the Lord Himself, all the cities of both the region of Galilee and Judea would be without excuse if they failed to heed the words of preparation.

4)  God will hold all men accountable for opportunity!

Text #1:

Luke 10:1-12 “After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. 5 But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.' 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10 But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.' 12 But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.”

Also see: Matthew 9:35-38.

First, in this passage there are many similarities to when the Lord sent out the twelve before this; see: http://www.plvcc.org/Luke91-9.htm to review.

Second, we should take notice of the compassion of the Lord towards those in need of the good news of the coming of the kingdom (Vs.2), which corresponds with Matthew 9:35-38.

Third, is that these disciples have been sent in a hurry to achieve their mission before the Lord Himself would arrive. It was a common practice as far back as the prophet Elisha and his servant Gehazi, to send emissaries without provision, when sent in haste (see: II Kings 4:29).

Fourth, like the first twelve sent out by the Lord, these were to be content with what ever hospitality was offered them. This would set them apart from the servants of the religious leaders of the day that did everything for profit.

Text #2:

Luke 10:13-16 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon , they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum , who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. 16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”

Also see: Matthew 11:20-24.

The use of woes to describe the sad state of the wicked and ungodly is a practice that the children of Israel were very familiar with in the work of the prophets (see: Isaiah 5:8, 11, 18, 20-22; Micah 2:1; for a few examples).

Here the Lord commands the seventy to use these cities as an illustration, as having received the good news of the kingdom and rejected it, and for the cities they come to now not to do the same thing.

Chorazin: Modern ‘Khirbet Kerazeh', about two miles north of Capernaum .

Bethsaida: A city on the N.E. side of the Sea of Galilee , in the land of Gennesaret .

Capernaum: The main city on the N.W. side of the Sea of Galilee , where Jesus made home during His ministry in Galilee .

These were important cities in this region and reflected the majority that heard the words of the Lord and rejected them. Tyre and Sidon were neighboring Phoenician cities on the Mediterranean coast noted for luxury and impiety.

Here the Lord uses the language of mourning and grief to describe that these Gentile cities known for sinfulness would have repented had they been blessed with the same message of hope these important cities of Galilee received and rejected. They are used for the purpose of shaming all who will reject the word of Jesus.

In sending out the seventy, we learn that:

1)  Every hearer of the words of the Lord, personally or by those sent, are left either much more blessed or much more wretched.

2)  The miracles that Jesus and His disciples were performing were designed by the proof text they displayed, to lead men to repentance. For they demonstrated His authority to demand that men repent.

3)  That the Lord is going to hold men accountable for opportunity.

Matthew 10:14-15 “And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”

He who hears you hears Me: Whoever honors a prophet, a righteous man, or a disciple, as such honors Him whom sent them. The seventy were to go out with this knowledge and authority and woe to those who rejected their message.

Next: “They Return and the Lord Rejoices”