After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves .Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. But whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house. And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say,The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.' But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.
NKJV
Concerning the number "70"
The number "seventy" was a favorite and prominent number in the lifestyle affairs among the Jews. In the bible, you will find many scriptures that speak concerning this number and the significant role the number has played in the history of the Hebrew culture. Here are a few examples: In Genesis 46:27, The number of people in the family of Jacob that came to Egypt and lived in the land o Goshen after being driven from their homeland in the midst of a 7 year drought that caused famine across the land consisted of 70 people.
In Numbers 11:16, verse 25, the number of elders that Moses appointed to aid him was seventy.. In the book of Jeremiah, God told Jeremiah to tell the people because of their idolatry and out right rebellion they would be captured by the Babylonians and remain in captivity for 70 years. The number of members which composed the great Sanhedrin Council, also known as the Great Council of the Nation was also 70..Jesus, in answering the question of how many times must we forgive our brother (fellow man) said that we must forgive them seventy times seven
Concerning These 70 disciples
Along with the twelve disciples in which eleven of the original after Pentecost ultimately became Apostles, these men help make up 82 men, preachers and healers who Jesus endowed with the Holy Spirit. These 70 disciples were sent out by Jesus for a different reason than he sent out the twelve, even though they virtually did the same type work.. These 70 were sent out into cities and places Jesus had not visited as of yet. Their job along with preaching and healing the sick was to announce that the Kingdom of God was at hand and the Messiah was soon to come to their city.
The apostles did evangelistic work, both with Jesus while they were sitting under His teachings and instructions and after Jesus went to Calvary and after His resurrection and ascended back into glory, these apostles were to carry out the establishing of physical churches all throughout the region through the preaching and teaching of the Gospel.
In chapter 9, Jesus sent out the twelve to evangelize the city. He sent out on two by two equipped with power and authority over all demons and the anointing to cure diseases. He told them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. When Jesus sent them out, He sent them in teams of 2’s in teams of 2. They were told to take nothing extra on their journey and wherever they lodged in the city, stay there until it was time to go to another town. And if they don’t receive you, shake the dust off your feet and go on to the next city. And as they went through each town, there was preaching and healing everywhere they went. . Jesus lets us know here that wherever the Word of God goes forth in power and in the glory of the Lord, truth preaching takes place and healing will follow.
As His original disciples, the twelve heard his instructions. They were eye-witnesses of his miracles; they were privy to his confrontations with the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Scribes, as well as His brutal suffering after praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. By the time Jesus was nailed to the cross to be crucified, Judas had betrayed Him, Peter had denied Him and all went into hiding or went back fishing but John. John the Apostle stayed at the cross and witnessed His death, Jesus appeared to them after his resurrection and before he ascended back to heaven on a cloud gave them their final instructions before He went away on a cloud. Jesus told them to tarry in Jerusalem and wait for the receiving of the Holy Spirit . In Acts 1:8, He said they would receive power after the Holy Ghost come upon them and after this happened, they would be witnesses unto Him in Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the world.
All of this they would do. So after he died, after He was buried in the borrowed tomb, after He rose in 3 days and after He ascended into the clouds, and after they tarried into Jerusalem in the upper room and waited to receive power when the Holy Ghost came upon them some 45 days later…These trained Apostles "then" would go out as a great evangelistic team and do the "greater works" of proclaiming the Gospel , healing the sick and sharing the good news and testifying to everything they saw, all that they heard and experienced while they were with Jesus to a sin-sick dying world being empowered and armed with the whole armor of God. They would be able to say one day this same Jesus that we saw resurrected, alive and went up into the clouds will one day in like manner come bursting through the clouds as King of King and Lord of Lords. What a team…What a great task!
It's in this 10th chapter as I said earlier, Luke, the beloved physician and writer of this biblical book brings before us the formation of a special evangelistic task force, a team of 70 people that Jesus sent out into city after city to pave the way for His arrival in their cities. This event is a continuation of what he did with the 12 original disciples in chapter 9. In that chapter, Jesus made it clear that He was nearing the end o His ministry in person on earth and was already focused on the upcoming trial and crucifixion to take place in and outside Jerusalem on the hill that was called Calvary.
That’s what the Psalmist said in Psalms 107:20 . He tells us God sends His Word and that sent word will heal and a deliver us from destruction. My brothers and sisters, whenever God sends a word of healing and/ or a word of deliverance, they are the kind of Word that makes you wonder in awe and say like the Psalmist said in Psalms 107:21-22 : “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing”.
Well, their evangelistic campaign was so successful, they came back full of joy and tell Jesus all about it.
How did Jesus respond? Glad you asked! Jesus took them to a desert place. He tried to get them out of town privately, but the word got around that they left town, so the crowd followed Him. Jesus then talked to them about the Kingdom of God and heal them of whatever ailed them. Not only that, Jesus took 2 fish and five loaves o bread and fed five thousand and took up 12 baskets of leftovers.
So in this text, Jesus sends out another group, a much larger group than the 12 This time, He sends a group of 70 to evangelize on a temporary mission to each city. Before they left to their mission, Jesus said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Jesus told them: “Go your way: behold, I send you out as lambs, to an assignment that is among wolves.”
Notice how he sent them out! He sent them out two and two There was much wisdom in sending them out this way. In fact, there were several good reasons they were sent out this way:
A. Jesus sent them out this way so they could help each other when tested, experiencing loneliness, and discouragements (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
Every now and then on the Christian battlefield, we get discouraged along the way. Sometimes, we feel like "Lord, I ain’t but me one". It's here that Solomon weighs in and gives us some wisdom concerning going out in twos, rather than as one: in Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12: Solomon said: “two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. The pervading principle here is: "There is strength in numbers"
B. To lift each other up when the other one falls and to be a balance in success.
Along with Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12, in the twelfth chapter , verses 9 and 10, Solomon in speaking about the wisdom he had accumulated, concluded that when two work together, between the two servants, the right words, words that would be acceptable and would give greater understanding concerning accepting that Jesus was the Messiah the scriptures talked about coming to redeem those who would accept Him as the one who would come for the to convince the hearer that a change must take place in their life and circumstances.
C. To strengthen each other in weakness when burdened.
He sent them two and two, so they might strengthen and encourage one another. If one fall, the other will help to raise him up. The Apostle Paul in Galatians 6:1-3: "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ". (NKJV) Every once in a while a servant can become weak in a particular area and need his team member to help him or her get refocused in life and with the missionary work . Trials and temptation is always looking for a means to take a child of God down. Satan will stop at nothing to hinder the work and weaken your faith.
4. For unifying the team and church in prayer (Matthew 18:19-20)
Jesus said: "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
(NKJV) The care of the church-the power of admitting or excluding members-of organizing and establishing it-is committed to you, the apostles. When two of you agree, or have the same mind, feelings, and opinion, about the arrangement of affairs in the church, or about things desired for its welfare, and shall ask of God, it shall be done for them. See Acts 1:14-26; 15:1-29. The promise here has respect to the apostles in organizing the church.
5.For protection in attack (Ecclesiastes 4:12; Deuteronomy 32:30)
Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 4:12..."Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken". Jesus knew the seventy would face fierce opposition from demonic spirits as these wicked spirits would have influence over many they would encounter and minister to. As they prayed for one another and helped each other become stronger in the faith and encouraged by the power of God working in each of them as a team, Spiritually speaking, the more people praying in a matter, the more divine protection the people have against the opposition they receive as they were to do the evangelistic work assigned to them. They were responsible for protecting one another spiritually and physically. It was incumbent upon them to understand the concept of strength in numbers.
In Deuteronomy 32:30, the Bible teaches: How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the Lord had surrendered them? The point this passage raises is without the Spirit of the Lord protecting them they could not and actually do not cause their opposition to fear. As long as they were on the journey and doing exactly what the Lord instructed them to do, His hands of protection would be a shield to them and keep dangerous situations and people from overtaking them.
6.For confirmation of preaching (Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15; Matthew 18:16)
The team concept Jesus established in sending out the seventy and paring them up in "two's" was needed and necessary because according to these passages of scripture, there had to be a witness present to verify what was said and the results of the people's response to the message and the miracles. they were endowed by the Holy Spirit to do.
“God’s team for God’s task”: "The Importance of Teamwork in the Church and Everybody Fulfilling Their Roles"
Practical Application:
We are sent out as "sheep" doing God's work among the "wolves:. Every day while on the battlefield for The Lord, we face all kinds of "wolves". Jesus said that the wolves are "greedy rulers", "hypocrites" and "false prophets" and "false teachers".
The Apostle Paul identified "other kinds of wolves", "spiritual wolves" that translate into the "works of the flesh". In Galatians 5:16-21 Paul identifies these wolves and tells us how to deal overcome each and every one of them. Paul said this is how you deal with them: "Walk in the Spirit" and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh…What’s the reason? Here it is: the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh. They are contrary to one another. So the things the team should be doing sometimes don’t get done because the war sometimes can get real fierce. But if the team members are led by the Holy Spirit, than the grace laws of God are in full operation in our lives and we are no under the law. Now what kind of spiritual wolves will the team have to deal with while we are doing God’s important task?
Metaphorically speaking.....
You’ll have to deal with adulterous wolves, fornicating wolves, unclean wolves, lascivious wolves, Idolatry wolves, witchcraft wolves, wolves of wrath, strife, seditions and heresies. Then there are envying wolves, murdering wolves drunken wolves, and reveling kinds of wolves . Paul said, I told you in the past that those who exhibit a wolf like behavior and do these things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Like Jesus said, I’m sending you out as sheep among wolves, just make sure that you’re not a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
III. How are we as Team members on God Holy Team carry out the fellowship of the Covenant and principles of God’s Word and evangelistic mandate
We must set out with prayer (v. 2); and, in prayer, We must be duly affected with the necessities of the souls of men, which called for their help. We must look about, and see how great the harvest was and is.
We must see what abundance of people there were that wanted to have the gospel preached to them and were willing to receive it, nay, that had at this time their expectations raised of the coming of the Messiah and of his kingdom. When we look around and see the hatred and the malice and godless agendas that are openly displayed even in some of our own homes, we must remember we still have a charge to keep and a God to glorify.
We must remember that God never intended for any man to go to hell and we must do our due diligence to share the good news of the Gospel to every one , whether in the long run they choose to accept it or reject it. This world is ripe for a great harvest for the Lord, and it’s going to take a team effort to accomplish that harvest. The songwriter put it all in perspective: How to reach the masses, men of every birth…For the answer Jesus gave us the key….He said and I, if I be lifted from the earth, I’ll draw all men unto me. You see, the world is hungry for the living bread….lift the Savior up for them to see…He said if I be lifted up from the earth…I’ll draw all men unto me. Lift Him up…I said lift HIM up….still He speaks from eternity..
On a personal note: If you are on God’s team, every Ministers, deacons, and everybody else in the Body of Christ should apply themselves to their mission work with a deep concern for precious souls. We must see them as the riches of this world, which ought to be secured for Christ. Secondly, those of us who say we’re standing on the promises of God but when it comes to evangelism, we are sitting on the premises. That’s why the laborers are so few. In Jesus’ earthly day, the Jewish teachers were many, but they were not labors; they did not gather in souls to God's kingdom, but were more concerned about their personal interests and political affiliation. Those of us that are good ministers , good soldiers in the army of the Lord do wish that there were more good ministers, and more good soldiers, for there is a lot more work to do and plenty work for more. It is common for tradesmen not to care how few there are of their own trade; but Christ would have the laborers in his vineyard reckon it a matter of complaint when the laborers are few. In other words it’s not enough to to just care about it we need to complain about it.
They must earnestly desire to receive their mission from God, that he would send them forth as laborers into his harvest who is the Lord of the harvest, and that he would send others forth; for, if God send them forth, they may hope he will go along with them and give them success. Let them therefore say, as the prophet (Isa 6:8), Here I am, send me. It is desirable to receive our commission from God, and then we may go on boldly.
We must set out with an expectation of trouble and persecution: "Behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves; but go your ways, and resolve to make the best of it. Your enemies will be as wolves, bloody and cruel, and ready to pull you to pieces; in their threatening and reviling, they will be as howling wolves to terrify you; in their persecutions of you, they will be as ravening wolves to tear you. But you must be as lambs, peaceable and patient, though made an easy prey of." It would have been very hard thus to be sent forth as sheep among wolves, if he had not endued them with his spirit and courage.
Personal Provisions
We must not encumber ourselves with a load of provisions, as if we were going a long voyage, but depend upon God and our friends to provide what was convenient for them: "Carry neither a purse for money, nor a scrip or knapsack for clothes or victuals, nor new shoes and salute no man by the way.". Not that Christ would have his ministers to be rude, morose, and unmannerly; but, have an urgency about the Lord’s business. We must go as men in haste, that had their particular places assigned them, where they must deliver their message, and in their way directly to those places must not hinder or retard themselves with needless ceremonies or compliments. We must go as men of business, business that relates to another world, which they must be intent in, and intent upon, and therefore must not entangle themselves with conversation about secular affairs.
We all ministers of the word; and ambassadors for Jesus Christ attend to your office. We must go as serious men, and men in sorrow. It was the custom of mourners, during the first seven days of their mourning, not to salute any, Job 2:13. Christ was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and it was fit that by this and other signs his messengers should resemble him, and likewise show themselves affected with the calamities of mankind which they came to relieve, and touched with a feeling of them.
Finally, we must show, not only their goodwill, but God's good-will, to all to whom they came, and leave the issue and success to him that knows the heart, v. 5,6.
Dr. William Edward Boddie