Chapter

Luke 10:10

ESV But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say,
NIV But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say,
NASB But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say,
CSB When you enter any town, and they don't welcome you, go out into its streets and say,
NLT But if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into its streets and say,
KJV But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,

What does Luke 10:10 mean?

Jesus is commissioning seventy-two of His disciples to enter villages and prepare the people for His coming. To validate their claims, Jesus has given them the authority to heal, cast out demons, and preach that the kingdom of God is near (Luke 10:9, 17). If the villagers reject their message, the disciples are to publicly reject the villagers. This is done by wiping the dust from their feet and warning them that God's kingdom will come with judgment (Luke 10:11).

To reject the messengers is to reject Jesus (Luke 10:16). In the eyes of that culture, townspeople would have reasons to reject Jesus. He eats with people their culture deems immoral and traitorous (Luke 5:27–32). He befriends women who are unclean and known to be sinners (Luke 7:36–50; 8:43–48). He does not follow the strict Sabbath laws established by lawyers and enforced by Pharisees (Luke 6:1–11). Even the half-Jewish Samaritans have reason to be offended: Jesus refuses to validate their modified worship of God in their territory; He insists God chose Jerusalem for His center of faith (2 Chronicles 6:6; Luke 9:51–56). The people may want a kingdom that includes healing and freedom from demons, but not all are willing to sacrifice their cultures, traditions, or family (Luke 9:57–62; Matthew 10:34–37).

Jesus instructed the Twelve to do the same thing before their mission (Luke 9:5). James and John had a problem with Jesus' mild response. When a Samaritan town refused to host Jesus, they offered to call down fire from heaven. Jesus rebuked them and led them to another village (Luke 9:51–56). They didn't understand the seriousness of the judgment those cities would face by rejecting Jesus.

"Go into its streets" doesn't mean the disciples have to walk around the entire town. "Street" is from the Greek for a wide road. The disciples need to go to a well-traveled, public area so as many people as possible can hear.
Expand
Expand
Expand
What is the Gospel?
Download the app: