The Mission of the Seventy - Rev. Victor Prabhakar

Jesus sent seventy disciples, two and two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He sent them two and two that they might strengthen and encourage one another. If one falls, the other will help to raise him up.

The twelve wells of water and the seventy palm-trees that were at Elim were a figure of the twelve apostles and the seventy disciples, Ex 15:27. They were seventy elders of the Jews that were employed by Ptolemy king of Egypt in turning the Old Testament into Greek, whose translation is thence called the Septuagint.

The great Sanhedrin consisted of this number. These seventy are those of whom Peter speaks as “the men who companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,” and were part of the one hundred and twenty there spoken of, Acts 1:15, 21.

Many of those that were the companions of the apostles, whom we read of in the Acts and the Epistles, we may suppose, were of these seventy disciples They were sent to heal the sick and tell others about the Kingdom of God. Here are the instructions given to them: Ask the Lord of the Harvest (Lk. 10:2): They must set out with prayer and in prayer. Prayer is the corner stone on your life. Send our workers into his harvest field (Lk. 10:2): They must go forth as labourers who are willing to labour or work hard.

They must earnestly desire to receive their mission from God, that he would send them forth as labourers 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 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals (Lk. 10:4): They must not encumber themselves with a load of provisions, as if they were going a long voyage, but depend upon God and their friends to provide what was convenient for them.

Do not greet anyone on the road (Lk. 10:4): It was the custom of mourners, during the first seven days of their mourning, not to salute any, Job 2:13. They 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.

When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house’ (Lk. 10:5): They are supposed to enter into private houses; for, being not admitted into the synagogues. Like their Master, wherever they visited, they preached from house to house, Acts 5:42; 20:20. Christ’s church was at first very much a church in the house.

Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you (Lk. 10:7): Be thankful for plain food, and do not find fault, though it be not dressed according to art. Probably, Christ here refers to the traditions of the elders about their meat which were so many that those who observed them were extremely critical, you could hardly set a dish of meat before them, but there was some scruple or other concerning it; but Christ would not have them to regard those things, but eat what was given them, asking no question for conscience’ sake. Just as the seventy, Jesus has also commissioned us to preach the Good News.

We have to embark on your journey with prayer and in prayer depending upon God to provide everything needed. We must go forth as mere labourers willing to work hard. We must be happy of the hospitality of the homes we visit and should not demand anything. We must be people of haste in reaching the Good News and not be caught up in the way loosing time exchanging pleasantries.