What does Luke 10:9 mean?

Jesus is preparing seventy-two of His disciples to visit towns and prepare them for His arrival. To do so, they will heal the sick, cast out demons (Luke 10:17), and explain the approach of the kingdom of God (Luke 10:1, 9). The Greek verb tense used here implies God's kingdom "has" come near; the text indicates that it will continue and build in strength.

"The kingdom of God" is any environment or situation in which God's power and sovereignty are shown. It is specifically reflected in the saving power of Jesus. Jesus says it is "near," meaning it did not come fully at the point He sent out these seventy-two followers. In fact, the beginning of the kingdom of God, called its inauguration, arrived at the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Another significant marker was when Jesus saw Satan fall from heaven (Luke 10:18) and yet another was Pentecost, the birth of the church wherein the Holy Spirit indwelt Jesus' followers (Acts 2). The kingdom will not be completely manifest until Jesus returns to earth to rule (Revelation 20—22).

This view of the kingdom is called "now and not yet." The kingdom has been inaugurated but has not come to fulfillment. The blessing of the kingdom in the "now" in this text is healing, to include both physical ailments and those caused by demons (Luke 10:9, 17).