Luke 10:8

10:1-16 Christ sent the seventy disciples, two and two, that they might strengthen and encourage one another. The ministry of the gospel calls men to receive Christ as a Prince and a Saviour; and he will surely come in the power of his Spirit to all places whither he sends his faithful servants. But the doom of those who receive the grace of God in vain, will be very fearful Those who despise the faithful ministers of Christ, who think meanly of them, and look scornfully upon them, will be reckoned as despisers of God and Christ.

And into whatsoever city ye enter,.... Into whatsoever house in it ye go, and apply to for lodging and entertainment, and they receive you, readily and cheerfully, eat such things as are set before you; though ever so mean, accept of them, and do not object to them on that account, lest it should be thought you serve your own bellies, and seek to gratify your appetites; nor, on the other hand, do not think anything too good for you, or that you are burdensome and chargeable, but eat as if it were your own; nor ask questions about the cleanness and uncleanness of it, or whether it has been tithed or not; but feed upon it without any scruple.

Luke 10:8-9 . Πόλιν ] It is seen from this that in the direction previously given, Luke 10:5 ff., Jesus had contemplated villages and single dwelling-houses. Thus Luke 10:5 ff. corresponds to the καὶ τόπον , and Luke 10:8 ff. to the πόλιν , Luke 10:1 . καὶ δέχ . ὑμ .] a transition into the demonstrative expression instead of the continuance of the relative form; comp. Bremi, ad Dem. Ol . p. 177; Buttmann, Neut. Gr. p. 328 [E. T. 383]. ἐσθίετε ] as though καὶ ἐὰν κ . τ . λ . had been previously said. An emphatic anacoluthon. See Bornemann, Schol . p. 65 f. αὐτοῖς ] the inhabitants. Comp. δέχωνται . ἤγγικεν ] a promise of participation in the kingdom of Messiah near at hand. On ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς , comp. Matthew 12:28 ; Psalm 27:2 ; 1Ma 5:40 ; 1Ma 5:42 .

(8) Eat such things as are set before you. —The precise form of the precept is peculiar to St. Luke, but the spirit is the same as that of the words which had been spoken to the Twelve. The Evangelist preachers were to accept whatever was provided for them by a willing host, and to avoid even the appearance of caring for outward comforts.

Verse 8. - Eat such things as are set before you . Most commentators have simply seen in this charge (1) an instruction to be content with whatever their host should set before them, avoiding even the appearance of caring or wishing for dainties; (2) that his servants should look upon such maintenance in the light of a fairly earned wage, rather than as an alms bestowed upon a beggar. In other words, his servants, while perfectly content with the most frugal fare, at the same time should preserve their manly independence. The bare austere sustenance, the simple lodging, - these things they had surely earned. But in addition to this meaning, true and appropriate though it be, there seems a quiet recommendation not to be rigid in inquiring as to the cleanness or uncleanness of the viands. One very able commentator (Godet) remarks that of this there is no question, for we are yet in a Jewish world. But remembering only in the last chapter a mission was specially sent to a Samaritan village, such an assertion can scarcely be maintained. It seems probable that extreme rigidness in this particular, now that mission work on a broad scale had commenced, here began to be relaxed; and that in this charge of Jesus we have, at least, the basis of that yet broader commandment set out by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:27 . Luke 10:8

Ver. 8-12. We have met with the same instructions before in Matthew and Mark. See Poole on "Matthew 10:11" , and following verses to Matthew 10:15 . See Poole on "Mark 6:10" , See Poole on "Mark 6:11" . There is some difference in words. Matthew saith, — inquire who in the city is worthy, and, Luke 10:13 , if the house be worthy; Luke saith, if the son of peace be there; they both mean the same thing: if there be any in it, that belong to God’s election of grace, any whom God intends by you to call, and make partakers of the peace of the gospel. For other things relating to the opening of the words, see the notes before mentioned. Only we may from hence observe for our instruction, 1. That it is the will of Christ, that his ministers should not be too solicitous for a livelihood. As the labourer is worthy of his hire, so he that sends them into his harvest will see they shall be fed. Let them look to their calling, and to the fulfilling of their ministry; God will see they shall be fed. 2. That the society of ministers of the gospel, in cities and houses, should not be with debauchees, but with those that are worthy, so far as man can judge; such as are their Master’s friends and servants should be their companions. 3. Those are most worthy in places amongst whom the Son of peace is, men and women that have the most knowledge of and love for Christ. 4. The ministers of Christ ought to carry themselves with all imaginable civility, wishing good to all, and doing good to all. 5

. Christ’s ministers ought not to make their bellies their gods, — eat such things as are set before you. 6. They have a Divine licence to take and use for their necessities such things as men give them. 7. Christ expects that his people should maintain his ministers, not depriving the labourers of their hire, nor muzzling the mouths of the oxen which tread out the corn, 1 Corinthians 9:9,10 , nor preferring their servants for their worldly occasions before such as labour for their souls, and in that work are God’s messengers to them, and his servants in the first place, though employed in watching for people’s souls. 8. The not giving a livelihood to ministers, is a not receiving them, that is, provided the people be able. 9. People by not receiving the gospel of peace brought them by faithful ministers shall do them no hurt, their peace shall return unto them. They shall be a sweet savour unto God, even as to them that perish. Their judgment is with the Lord, and their work with their God, though they labour in vain; though Israel be not gathered, they shall be glorified. Men proportion their rewards according to successes of servants. God more justly proportions his rewards to men’s sincerity and diligence in their labour. 10. If men refuse the gospel, yet they shall know the kingdom of God is come nigh unto them. If they will not be subject to his kingdom of grace, yet they shall be subdued by the kingdom of his power and justice. 11.