After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.” – Jesus told them how they were to behave and ended just before we take up the passage again with the words ‘Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near. I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.‘ But then Jesus continues on with a statement which goes against those who think that Jesus is always gentle and almost weak in His loving forgiveness (which is a glorious reality but not only all there is to Him). He is meek but not weak! “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.
“The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” – Comment: Jesus had done wonderful miracles and taught extensively in the 3 Jewish towns which He mentions. They had not repented or become His followers. Jesus says that as He had not performed His Ministry in the Gentile towns of Tyre and Sidon they would be judged less harshly because they had less experience of His working in their midst! It should make those of us who are privileged with knowledge act appropriately! Works don’t save us but are important!
The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Comment: Jesus statement that ‘“I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” should make us remember that we can’t see all of what is as real as we are. The Devil is real and Satan’s devils are real. as real as we are! We can’t see that other world where God, angels and demons live, but we are expected to be aware of them and very much related by faith to our Triune God!
Eph 6: 10-13 – Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day.
Prayer: Open my eyes to reality please, O Father God.
As I read it! 