The Seventy - Luke 10:1-16

Luke is the only gospel that records the calling and sending out of the Seventy by the Savior. Much of what Jesus says in the calling of the Seventy on missions in Luke 10:1-16, is similar to what He says when he called the Twelve on their missions in Matthew, but there are a few points that are interesting to consider. First, the Seventy are sent out “two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.” We all know that no one can be in two places at once, so there has to be a delegation of the work. The IM quotes Elder Boyd K. Packer as teaching, “Each of the Seventy has had conferred upon him the apostolic authority. … The Seventy go where the Twelve, limited by their number, cannot. Seventies are scattered across the world, as they were in the early days of the Church.” The IM continues, “The Seventy today are called to be ‘traveling ministers,’ while deacons and teachers and elders are appointed to be ‘standing ministers unto the church.’” I thought that it was interesting that the other priesthood offices were referenced as being in charge of the people where they live, caring for and teaching their neighbors, friends, and families.

Jesus calls them because “the harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few.” The IM quotes President Monson as asking every worthy, able young man to prepare to serve a mission and reminds the young women that while there is no priesthood obligation for them to serve that they are welcome to do so and that their contributions to the work are great. The Seventy are instructed to “carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes.” They are told to give peace to any house they enter, and stay in the same house, “eating and drinking such things as they give… Go not from house to house.” I thought that this was a strange instruction, but let’s think it through. If these two men go from house to house, they will be obligated to eat or drink whatever is offered, so they will probably be consuming more than they need and using up that family’s valuable resources, which people won’t appreciate. They also might eat at one house but not another, and even if it is because at one point they were hungry and at one point they weren’t, it could cause offence. The people might interpret it as them looking for the best accommodations, and not them preaching the gospel to many. It opens them up to accusations from more people for misconduct in their homes.

As far as the work goes, the Seventy are commanded “ into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you… heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” But as for the cities that don’t receive them, “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.” We have learned previously the seriousness of casting off the dust from your feet to a city. Interestingly, we are given some perspective on faith and understanding between supposed Jew and gentile peoples. Jesus says, “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. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. And thou Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.”

Sometimes we think about people who are either members of the church or non-members or atheists or something else, and it’s so easy to adopt the attitude of “I have the truth and you don’t so I’m better than you” or “I’m more righteous than you, “ or “I’m more chosen or precious to God because I have the truth.” And we have to remember that with great blessings comes great responsibility. Just because we “know” something, doesn’t mean that we are better than anyone else, or that we are more entitled to anything or excused in our poor behavior. In fact the opposite is true, when we are trusted with knowledge, then we are expected to help others and serve them. And it’s also important to remember that someone’s circumstances or lack of knowledge isn’t an indictment of them, but of an opportunity for us to serve them.

Finally, Jesus reminds them that they are on His errand and that those who accept their message are actually accepting the Savior, and those who accept the Savior are accepting the Father.