Sermon for St Edward’s, 6 July 2025. Reading: Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
So having had a few weeks of themes – Trinity Sunday, Pride, and last week communion, today we are back to the lectionary and good old fashioned exegesis! We are going to delve into the passage and get stuck in!
Now to put us in context, this passage, the sending out, happens after Jesus gave authority to the disciples to go out and share his message the feeding of the 5000, the disciples messing up numerous times, and a range of encounters with different people, including the transfiguration.
So for a moment let’s just turn back to the disciples. In the previous chapter we see them being sent out with authority from Jesus. We read vs 1-5
Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, ‘Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic.
Luke 9:1-5
And they went out and they told people about Jesus and came back to Jesus reporting what had happened. And it wasn’t all plan sailing… In ch 9 we read that they were worried about feeding the crowd, they didn’t consider Jesus’ miraculous nature – but Jesus provided; Jesus was transfigured and Moses and Elijah appeared and Peter wanted to build a shelter – perhaps from a place of fear? or just not knowing what to do – unable to discern what was going in. They couldn’t cast out a demon, Jesus almost with an almost audible deep sigh…‘You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? And they argue about who was the greatest among them!
So, not exactly a full on success. You’d think maybe the model needed tweaking? but no, here in Ch 10 Jesus now sends out another 70! 70 new converts, being sent off to share about Jesus. and in almost exactly the same way. In ch 9 we read: he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, ‘Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there.
Here in ch 10 it’s the same model – ‘Go on your way…’ – they get sent out, and told: Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road.
With the disciples he told them: 9:4-5: whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.
Here to the 70:
4 Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. 5 Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.’
It is the same model of evangelism as the disciples. On the job training, a PGCE year, or perhaps more like an internship, the pay and conditions weren’t great – take nothing with you, eat what you’re given…
The model of sharing the gospel, was simply: go and hang out with people who don’t know me. If they want to listen tell them all you know, pray for them.
If they aren’t bothered, leave them alone – don’t pick a fight or enter debate, just head off and don’t look back.
in vs 2 here Jesus likens the work of the 70 in sharing the gospel to a harvest: The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
I don’t know if any of you have ever worked on farms, or perhaps at least you’ve grown some veg? When you are ready to harvest your crop or your vegetables there is so much to take into account. when things ripen will depend on the weather, the conditions of the ground for example. Are you harvesting the right thing? Is it edible? what do you do with it before eating?
In our community garden some large leaves were growing up and we couldn’t quite remember what was planted. It was only in picking some, taking it home and cooking it I could be sure it was Chard! And a few days ago, I opened a fresh pea pod ready to scoff some raw peas – always best fresh off the plant, only to find a tiny little maggot inside the pod, eating its way though them. Likewise some of our Mange Tous was left a little too long and was a little past its best for eating as a result. Farmers at this time of year have to time it exactly right to harvest their crop. The crop needs to be fully grown and dry but if it is left too long it will go bad.
I think Jesus used this phrase about the harvest and labourers deliberately. It invokes a sense of needing discernment, of knowing the right time, knowing the signs to look for in the right season. They needed a sensitivity when sharing the gospel. There is a sense of urgency of not wanting to miss the right timing, not to miss out, but at the same time, knowing exactly when is right, when people will be open to hearing his message?
And you know I love that he tells them to go and hang out in people’s homes, it actually seems very low key, go hang out with people, have a chat, eat together. It’s not pressured. and I love this line v16
Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.
Its like they are off the hook, look if people dont want to listen, it’s not about you it’s about me, they reject me.So just shake the dust off your feet and move on.
So, the 70 are sent out, presumably they are newish believers who’ve hung around with Jesus or the disciples for a little while. And they are sent out in pairs we read in v1. I think that’s so they can encourage one another, they can support each other, they can protect one another – we know not everyone was open to the message. Jesus even says, v3, See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.
This is probably more of a spiritual thought rather than literal, there will be spiritual opposition to his message. and it is reminiscent of Isaiah 11, talking of the promised future land where the wolf will lie down with the lamb. This may be literal, but probably metaphorical, pointing to a sense of unity and harmony in the time to come. But we’re not there yet and so here Jesus is warning the 70 that there may be opposition to their, or rather his, message.
So the 70, are sent out, in the same way the disciples went. We read in v1 – he sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go.
So they were preparing the ground, the warm up act for Jesus if you like. You know when you go to a gig or a TV show they always have a warm up act – literally to warm the crowd up, to get them ready to see whoever they have booked to see. They get them in the mood to hear great music, or get them chanting or laughing or engaging so that by the time the band or the stars come on, the crowd is like, right yes, lets’ do this!!
Jesus sent them to the places he wanted to visit, so that when he arrived, the people would be expecting him, intrigued perhaps, asking for prayer even. They were ready.
I think we are a bit like that. You know there was some research done about how people come to faith and it talks of 3 hearings and 7 touch points. The research showed that it takes on average 3 visits to a church or hearing the gospel for someone to make a commitment and at least 7 further touch points (ie: with Christians) to make that a lasting commitment. Other research suggests it can be up to 18 touch points!
Jesus sends us out too, to be part of that process, every time we share about our faith or mention church, or offer to pray for someone, we become one of those touch points, a point on their journey.
When I first became a Christian I felt such pressure to be converting people. It felt so awkward and unnatural. But you know I think that kind of approach puts too much pressure on ourselves. It’s the HS that does the work, we just have to be willing participants in the process, and be who God has made us to be.
So how should we share our faith? what does Jesus teach the 70?
Firstly trust God:
Jesus said to the 70, carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road (v5)
ie: trust God for the journey. We have to trust that God will be at work through us and our words and our interactions with others maybe even leading us to the right people. and then he goes on
Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!” 6 And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. 7
So secondly, offer peace
it’s not an aggressive approach, it is one of peace. And it’s an opening, a push on the door as it were. If they are open to what you have to say then great. If not don’t sweat it. And if they are, well then he says:
Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide… Do not move about from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you;
So if someone is interested in hearing the message of Christ, hang out with them, stay there and share some of what you know. There’s a sense of the 70 taking time to teach the people they meet, to prepare them before Jesus himself comes, not a quick word and on to the next one – relationship is key.
And then know your own worth –
He goes on – for the labourer deserves to be paid.
There is something important here about the work of the kingdom of God, we are all at work for the kingdom in different ways, and it is important work and you are worthy of being recognised for it. So know your worth!
And finally, it’s not just about talk and teaching, it’s about showing – he told the 70 – 9 cure the sick who are there, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.”
If we say one thing and do another, we are not good ambassadors for the kingdom. Put your faith into action.
So, in sharing the gospel we need to remember:
trust God, be a touch point, be filled with peace, just hang out with people, share your faith from a place of relationship, know your own worth, and let your faith be one of action and word.
Amen
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