Lambs Among Wolves
- circulargrace
- Oct 6
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 8
This post accompanies my video reading of Luke's Gospel Chapter 10 published on the Circular Grace YouTube channel.
This chapter begins with Jesus giving power to seventy of His disciples to take the Kingdom messages out to neighbouring cities and towns. A few things jumped out for me, firstly the numbers involved. I thought that seventy seemed a huge number but Jesus made the point that there were not enough labourers.
2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. (Luke 10:2 (KJV))
I remembered that Jesus had very recently provided manner from heaven to an extraordinary number of men, 5000! This was one of a few similar almighty and miraculous feedings. It really is remarkable to consider that the great many of those blessed on those days, walked away unchanged and empty. Whilst 70 disciples sounds like a lot, it is unfortunately, just a few compared to the many.
My second thought pondered what the consequences will be for those who reject Jesus's invitation to be part of God's Kingdom? This chapter certainly provides some food for thought. In the next verse Jesus warns the seventy that He is sending them out as lambs among wolves. (Luke 20:3) I'm wondering just how many of those who partook of that Holy meal were wolves or destined to become them? At church today we shared communion together and as is customary, our minister warned us that we should not partake unless we were truly part of the body of Christ. Very sadly, sometimes wolves have been known to hide amongst lambs, even in the church. We were warned at church that God judges. This chapter teaches us about great blessings but Jesus also offers up dire warnings of judgement.
I noted how Jesus contrasted the great blessings bestowed upon Capernaum, Chorazin and Bethsaida (Luke 10:13-15) with the dire warning to them if they were to reject the merciful invitation to repent and enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus warned that they would face judgement.
14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.
My final thought fell upon the unfortunate truth that all too often we are tempted to overlook a blessing from God. We often value the wrong things, like the excited disciples who were in awe of having power over Satan. Was it the power they were most excited about or the great blessing that their names were written in the Lambs book of life? I thought about this verse which talks of the day of judgment in the Book of Revelation (20:12 (ESV))
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
Here in Luke chapter 10, Jesus makes reference to the Heavenly reward that citizenship of God's Kingdom brings.
20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
It's quite a sobering revelation to understand the consequences that face all who reject Jesus. I'll leave my thoughts there and jump into the published commentaries to learn more.
Enduring Word Commentary
You'll find some interesting information that may explain why Jesus selected 70 disciples from His wider group of followers. The point that interested me however was a quote from Spurgeon, who I often enjoy. It talks of the great miraculous power involved in equipping men for ministry. It's an important point to ponder because true ministry is a given blessing rather than something someone decides to do unilaterally.
i. We are to pray that the Lord would send out laborers: “Now the Greek is much more forcible, it is that he would push them forward, and thrust them out; it is the same word which is used for the expulsion of a devil from a man possessed. It takes great power to drive a devil out, it will need equal power from God to drive a minister out to his work.” (Spurgeon)
Later on in the commentary, I picked up on something interesting that related to individual accountability. It seems there is some difference between those who are ignorant or who have not had the opportunity to witness the truth and those who have been given greater revelation and blessings.
i. The more we hear God’s truth and the more we see Him move, the more we are accountable for. Since the people of Chorazin and Bethsaida and Capernaum had received such convincing signs, they were held to greater account for what they have seen.
The commentator gives an example relating to the town Jesus used as the base for His earthly ministry.
iii. Capernaum especially was exalted to heaven, because it was the adopted home of Jesus during the days of His Galilean ministry, hearing much of His teaching and seeing many of His miracles.
There is a lot of fantastic information in this very full, verse by verse commentary. Here's the link
I'll leave it here for this week as time is unfortunately against me but I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Ok, let me have another go at this and hope for the best that my comment doesn’t vanish into thin air. I know I’m not Houdini.🤣
What I had previously written was with regard to the 70 who were sent to proclaim the Kingdom of God was near. Scripture doesn’t name who they were nor does it say the 70 were all men. I have a hunch women were included among the 70. Jesus was revolutionary, unlike other rabbis, Jesus included women to participate in active and visible discipleship. Women financially supported His ministry, something that was uncommon at the time. He broke from traditional expectations. He went against societal biases and barriers. He challenged culture and religious norms.
You have a nice way with words. I would like to read again when I'm not so sleepy. I didn't sleep well last night so I didn't have as much energy as usual today.