Bible Commentaries

Whoever listens to you, listens to me. The Lord works by proxy through his people. See note on Matthew 10:40.

The seventy-two men came back in great joy. Luke seems to emphasize the work of these seventy-two. How long they had been out on their mission is not known. Even the demons obeyed us. Jesus gave a promise to the Twelve (Matthew 10:8), and must have repeated it to the seventy-two. They used the power of Christ's name. See note on Mark 9:38-40. I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. It may be that Christ refers to the original fall of Satan. But it may also be prophetic, speaking of the fall of Satan which will take place in the victory of the Cross. See 1 John 3:8 : Revelation 20:1-3. So that you can walk on snakes and scorpions. This sounds a lot like the language of Mark 16:17-18. It is a promise of victory. And over all the power of the Enemy. This shows the snakes and scorpions are symbolic. But don't be glad. Pride causes Satan's original fall, Because your names ate written in heaven. The most important reason to be glad is that we are God's people!

Father . . . I thank you. He said this more than once. See notes on Matthew 11:25-27.

23-24. How fortunate you are. See notes on Matthew 13:16-17. He probably said this more than once.

25-29. A certain teacher of the Law. Only Luke tells the Parable of the Good Samaritan, the Lost John 14:23). Wanted to put himself in the right. He had a "guilty conscience." He does not love his fellow John 4:9). If anyone had an excuse to pass this man by, it was the Samaritan. His heart was filled with pity. Note the contrast between the Samaritan and the others. His "pity" makes him go out of his way to help this man. He gives him "first aid," puts him on his own animal [and perhaps has to walk himself], takes him to an inn, stays the night with him, and pays the bill out of his own pocket. [Inns are described in note on Luke 2:7.] Two silver coins. This was two day's pay at this time. And he promised to pay more. Which one of these three. Clearly, the one who was kind. The teacher of the Law cannot escape this. You go, then, and do the same. The teacher of the Law MUST show this same spirit of help to everyone! All who need help are our "fellow man." Christianity must submit to no barriers of race or sect or political ideology.

He came to a certain village. This is Bethany, home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. We do not know the exact time this happened. It might have been on his last trip to Jerusalem.

Who sat down at the feet of the Lord. We see Martha "rushing around," preparing the meal; while Mary sits at his feet, listening to his teaching. But there is not as much difference between the two women as seems to be.

Lord, don't you care? Martha thinks she has a problem, and she "lets this grow" until she speaks sharply to Jesus. Sometimes we can bear the heaviest sorrows, and then stumble over some little thing. Martha was a good woman.

You are worried and troubled over so many things. The Africans have a proverb: "Don't sell your elephant to buy medicine for your cat. " But just one is needed. The important thing was the "bread of life." Mary has chosen the right thing. Jesus can be with them only a short time, and it is not too important whether he gets a feast or a piece of bread. But his teaching will stay with them all their lives, and so it has the greatest importance! We must learn to classify things according to their importance. If something must go undone, it ought to be of less importance.