Old Testament Reading: Psalm 89:1-37

“A MASKIL OF ETHAN THE EZRAHITE. I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. For I said, ‘Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.’ You have said, ‘I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: ‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.’’ Selah Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD, a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him? O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you? You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them. You crushed Rahab like a carcass; you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm. The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them. The north and the south, you have created them; Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name. You have a mighty arm; strong is your hand, high your right hand. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face, who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted. For you are the glory of their strength; by your favor our horn is exalted. For our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel. Of old you spoke in a vision to your godly one, and said: ‘I have granted help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people. I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him, so that my hand shall be established with him; my arm also shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not outwit him; the wicked shall not humble him. I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him. My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted. I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers. He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’ And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. My steadfast love I will keep for him forever, and my covenant will stand firm for him. I will establish his offspring forever and his throne as the days of the heavens. If his children forsake my law and do not walk according to my rules, if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments, then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes, but I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness. I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips. Once for all I have sworn by my holiness; I will not lie to David. His offspring shall endure forever, his throne as long as the sun before me. Like the moon it shall be established forever, a faithful witness in the skies.’ Selah” (Psalm 89:1-37, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 10:17-24

“The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!’ And he said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 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. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’ In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’ Then turning to the disciples he said privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it’” (Luke 10:17–24, ESV).

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

The passage of Scripture that is open before us today is very precious, for here we are given a rare glimpse into the prayer life of Jesus. We know that Jesus was a man of prayer. He prayed unceasingly. The Scriptures report that he would, from time to time, retreat to a solitary place to pray.  We know that Jesus also taught his disciples how to pray. But here in Luke 10:21-22, the content of a prayer of Jesus is reported to us. Here we are given a glimpse into the heart of our Lord and of the communion that he enjoyed with the Father.   

This is not the only passage of Scripture that reveals the content of a prayer of Jesus. I think of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before his crucifixion. We know that he spent much time in prayer on that dark night. Matthew reports in his gospel that at one point Jesus, “fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.’” (Matthew 26:39, ESV). That passage is precious too, for there we are given a glimpse into the mind and soul of Christ and his intimate relationship to the Father. 

I think also of when Jesus cried out to the Father on the cross, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34, ESV), and “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46, ESV), and “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46, ESV). These prayers of Jesus are precious because they reveal the desires of his heart, the relationship he enjoyed with the Father, and his thoughts concerning the mission the Father had given him to accomplish. 

There is another passage of Scripture that reveals the content of a prayer of Jesus, and that is John 17.  This passage is often referred to as the High Priestly prayer of Jesus. It begins like this: “When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. ‘I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word…’” (John 17:1–6, ESV), etc. 

The prayer of Jesus that is recorded in John 17 is much longer than the one that is recorded here in Luke 10:21-22, but there are similarities. In both instances, Jesus cried out to the Father a prayed concerning God’s elect. In John 17 we hear Christ pray for those that the Father had given to him in eternity. In verse 9 of John 17, we hear Christ explicitly say, “I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours” (John 17:9, ESV). And in verse 20 of John 17, we hear Christ extend his prayer for his elect to include those who had not yet believed, but who would believe through the word of his disciples. Christ said, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word…” (John 17:20, ESV). If you have faith in Christ Jesus today, you can hear Christ pray for you in John 17:20. As I have said, the prayer of Luke 10:21-22 is similar to the prayer of John 17. Here we find a prayer of Jesus, and it is a prayer about the elect of God, that is to say, those predestined to eternal life, and effectually called.  

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The Doctrine Of Predestination

Where is the doctrine of election or predestination in our passage? It is found in Luke 10:20. Remember, the 70/72 disciples of Jeues returned from their mission and they marveled over the fact that they had the power to cast our demons in Jesus’ name. Jesus encouraged them further by saying, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 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” (Luke 10:18–19, ESV). We considered this text last Sunday. It is a marvelous text. In it, we see that the establishment of Christ’s everlasting kingdom involved the simultaneous overthrow of Satan’s kingdom. Demons were cast out by Christ and his Apostles. Satan himself would be cast down from heaven and bared so that he could no longer accuse God’s people there, as he did in the days before Christ’s victory on the cross (see Job 1 and Revelation 12:7-17). These were very exciting times, marked by incredible events. But Christ spoke to his disciples saying, “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20, ESV). This is the doctrine of election or predestination. To have your name written in heaven is to be chosen by God in eternity, destined for eternal life, by God’s grace alone, through faith in Christ alone. This is what the disciples of Jesus are to rejoice in supremely. 

What is the doctrine of election or predestination? 

It is the Biblical teaching that those who come to faith in Christ – those who willingly and freely turn from their sins to trust Christ and follow after him unto salvation – do so because they were chosen by God in eternity. In eternity, or we might say, before the creation of the world, God determined, decreed, or decided, to set his saving love on some of the fallen children of Adam and to bring them to salvation through a redeemer, Christ the Lord. 

Why did God choose whom he chose? The Scriptures are very clear about this – it was not based on anything in the creature. God did not base his choice on what he foresaw in them, be it faith, good works, intellectual ability, or any such thing. No, his choice was sovereign and free. God has decreed according to his good pleasure and according to the counsel of his will. God did not predestinate on the basis of what he foresaw – no, he foreknew individuals. This means he set individuals apart to be recipients of his saving love, for the purpose of bringing honor to his name, and unto glory. 

Where does the Bible teach the doctrine of predestination or election? It is everywhere. I’ll present you with a few examples this morning. 

First, there are other passages of Scripture like the one open before us today that speak of the doctrine of predestination in terms of the Book of Life. Paul mentions the Book of Life in Philippians 4:3. The Book of Life is also mentioned in Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12&15; 21:27 and 22:19. It is Revelation 13:8 that says this book was “written before the foundation of the world.” There the book is given a longer title. It is called “the book of life of the Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 13:8, ESV). Who wrote this book? God did. When was it written? In eternity, or before the foundation of the world. Whose names are written on it? All who will be saved through faith in Jesus the Messiah. The Book of Life is a metaphorical way of speaking of God’s decree as it pertains to the salvation of God’s elect. It is this book that Christ refers to in Luke 10:20 when he tells his disciples to rejoice supremely over the fact that their names are “written in heaven” (Luke 10:20, ESV). 

These references to the Book of Life are interesting, but other passages speak even more clearly about the doctrine of predestination. For example, listen to Ephesians 1:3-6. Paul wrote to Christians in Ephesus, saying, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:3–6, ESV). This passage is very rich. Notice a few things: 

One, it reveals that those who have faith in Christ were chosen by God. This is another way of speaking of God’s election or predestination (v. 3)

Two, those who come to faith in Christ were chosen in Christ. That is to say, they were predestined to be united to him by faith (v. 4). 

Three, this choice is said to have been made “before the foundation of the world”, that is, before creation, or in eternity (v. 4) 

Four, Paul tells us what the choice was based on. The choice was made, “according to the purpose of [God’s] will” (v. 5). In other words, the choice was not made based upon any merit in the creature. 

Five, this text reveals what the result of God’s choosing will be for those who are chosen. They will be made “holy and blameless” before God (v. 4). They will adopted as sons of God (v. 5). They will be blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (vs. 3, 6).

Six, Paul tells us what the end goal of God’s choosing is. It is “to the praise of [God’s] glorious grace” (v. 6).

Romans 8:28-30 is also a very important text. Their Paul writes, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified” (Romans 8:28–30, ESV). 

Notice a few things about this text. 

One, notice the past tense (aorist indicative in the Greek). Those who love God – those who have been called to faith in Christ – may rest assured that all things will work for their good. Why? For they were foreknown, predestined, called, justified, and glorified. It might seem strange to speak of our glorification in the past tense. Yes, we are eager to enter into the state of glory in the future. But there is a sense in which everyone who has faith in Christ is glorified already. How? Through our union with Christ. Ephesians 2:6 says that we are seated with Christ in the heavenly places even now. So, the Christian may rest assured that all things – yes, even the really hard things – work together for good, because they have been foreknown, predestined, called, justified, and glorified in their Spirit-wrought, faith-bound union with Christ.

Two, notice that God is the active subject. It is God who has foreknown, predestined, called, justified, and glorified his people in Christ Jesus. 

Three, notice that all of the actions are linked together as an unbreakable chain. Listen to the text again: “For those whom [God] foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son… And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” The language is very repetitive. “And those he… he also…” In this way, Paul links these activities of God together into an unbreakable chain, the result being that all who are foreknown and predestined will be glorified in Christ Jesus in the end.  

Four, notice that the first link in this chain is God’s foreknowledge of people not his foreseeing of their actions. The text says that God foreknew the people he predestined for glory. The text does not say, he foresaw their faith, repentance, obedience, or any such thing, and thus predestined them in response. 

I’m sure that many of you are aware that many professing Christians today do not care for this doctrine of predestination. In fact, some who claim to be Christians hate it. And given that many of these also claim to believe the Bible, they must find a way to dismiss the clear and pervasive teaching of Holy Scripture on this subject. How do they do it? Many of them will attempt to turn the whole situation on its head by claiming that it is first man who chooses God, that God foresees this choice of theirs (given his omniscience), and then chooses them in response.

As I have said, this turns the entire situation on its head. The Scriptures describe God as the active subject in predestination, and the human as passive. In other words, God is the one who predestines and we are predestined. Or, to use the language of election and choice, we are called the elect, not the electors! We are called the chosen ones, not the ones who chose. But these professing Christians who deny the doctrine of predestination turn the whole situation upside down. To do so they must ignore the plain teaching of Scripture. They must ignore straightforward statements like this from Jesus. He spoke to his disciples, saying, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide…” (John 15:16, ESV).

One of the favorite passages of those who wish to explain away the doctrine of predestination is Romans 8:29. They especially like the word “foreknew”. They try to use it as an opportunity to read their foreknowledge view into the text, but it doesn’t work for one simple reason. The text does not say that God foresaw the faith that people would have ahead of time. No, it says that he foreknew people. Again, the text does not say that he foresaw their actions (as if this were about his omniscience), but that he foreknew them – this is not about God’s ability to see the future, but God’s eternal decree. When the text says, “those whom he foreknew…” it is a highly personal and relational way of speaking about predestination. If you are in Christ today, God knew you in eternity. This means that he set his love upon you in eternity. He set you apart as a person and determined to show you unmerited favor. He set you apart in Christ Jesus and gave you to him to redeem, in eternity before the world existed. Perhaps it would be good for you to go and read the high priestly prayer of Jesus as recorded in John 17. He spoke openly to the Father about these things in that prayer. He prayed for those people given to him by the Father in eternity. To use the language of Romans 8:29, these were the ones who were foreknown by God, “predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also calls to himself in due time, and those whom he calls, he also justifies, and those whom he justified he also glorifies” (Romans 8:28–30, ESV). 

I have a question for those who interpret the word ”foreknew” in Romans 8:29 to mean that God foresaw the faith that these people would one day have and then responded to their choice by predestinating them. Will you interpret the word in the same way when you encounter it being used to speak of Jesus Christ and his work of redemption in Acts 2:23 and 1 Peter 1:20?  

The same Greek word that is used in Romans 8:29 is used in Acts 2:23 in reference to Christ and his work on the cross. The only difference is that it appears as a verb in Romans 8:29 and as a noun in Acts 2:23. Listen to Acts 2 beginning in verse 22. We hear Peter preaching the gospel, saying, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it” (Acts 2:22–24, ESV). My question is for those who interpret foreknowledge to mean that God foresaw something that happened and then responded to what happened in time by predestinating. Will you say the same thing as it pertains to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ? Did God formulate his “definite plan” for Christ based on what he foresaw Jesus of Nazareth do? What an absurd idea! No, the person of Jesus Christ was foreknown by God (being the person of the eternal Son). And God decreed in eternity that he – the eternal Son – would become incarnate for us and our redemption. The Father did not respond to the man Jesus based on what he saw him do ahead of time. No, the Father decreed that the Son would take to himself a true human nature, live for sinners, die for sinner, and be raised for sinners, to rescue them from Satan’s kingdom, the guilt of sin, and the curse of death. It was the “definite plan” of God to the person of the Son, whom he foreknew. And who did Christ come to save and to keep in Christ Jesus? Those foreknown by God and predestined – that is to say, the elect (again I say, see John 17). These are the ones for whom Christ lived, died, and rose again (Christ laid his life down for the sheep – John 10:15 ). The sheep are God’s elect, his chosen ones. They are his flock. They are the ones who hear his voice and follow him (see John 10:27). They are the bride of Christ, and the Scriptures say that Christ laid down his life for her (see Ephesians 5:25). 

And the very same argument can be made from 1 Peter 1:20, where the verb “foreknown” is used to speak of Christ, his person and work. There Peter reminds Christians that we are “ransomed from the futile ways inherited from [our] forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God” (1 Peter 1:18–21, ESV).

It should be clear to all that in these passages, which have very much to do with God’s eternal decree, to foreknow is not to foresee. To foreknow is to personally predestine. When the Scriptures speak of God’s foreknowledge, they speak of God’s sovereign and free act in eternity to graciously set some people, from amongst the fallen children of Adam, apart unto salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, the only redeemer of God’s elect. Hear it again: “He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God” (1 Peter 1:20–21, ESV).

To then, this view that God chose or predestined based upon what he foresaw is to be rejected for three reasons. One, it turns the biblical teaching about predestination on its head – it makes man the active party and God reactive in predestination, which is absurd. Two, it is a misinterpretation of what it means to be foreknown.  To be foreknown by God is to be known by God lovingly and savinly before the foundation of the world. To be foreknown is to be personally predestined unto salvation in Jesus Christ. Thirdly, this view that God chose or predestined based upon what he foresaw is to be rejected because the Scriptures say otherwise. 

Listen to these verses that provide us with insight into the motive behind God’s act of predestination or decree. 

Romans 9 has a lot to say about the election of individuals. In verses 11-13 the twins, Jacob and Esau are put forward as examples. And God’s word says, “Though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s pur­pose of election might continue, not because of works but because of his call—[Rebekah] was told, ‘The older will serve the younger.’ As it is written, ‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.’” In verse 14 Paul anticipates the objection that sinful men and women who are unaware of the severity of their sin and what their sins truly deserve will often make: “What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part?” His reply is emphatic: “By no means!” (Romans 9:14, ESV). And then in verse 15 Paul quotes Exodus 33:19. That is a very important text. It’s the one where Moses asks God to reveal his name and to show him his glory. “And [God] said, ‘I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy” (Exodus 33:19, ESV). So then, this concept that God is good and that he will show grace and mercy, not to all, but to whomever he wills, is tightly linked with the very name of God, YHWH. An dit is the words, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion”, that Paul sites in Romans 9:15. Finally, in verse 16 of Romans 9, Paul concludes, “So then it depends…” What does “it” refer to? Election or predestination – the predestination that Paul was talking about in chapter 8! I quote verse 16 again,  “So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy” (Romans 9:16, ESV). Here in Romans 9, Paul addresses the question, what was God’s predestination of certain indaviduals based upon? What motivates it? The answer could not be more clear. “It depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy” (Romans 9:16, ESV). In other words, the choice is made by God, according to his good p[pleasure. He is YHWH. He “will be gracious to whom [he] will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom [he] will show mercy” (Exodus 33:19, ESV).

There are other passages that reveal the same thing. Romans 10:20 says, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”

2 Timothy 1:9 says that God “saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.”

1 Corinthians 1:27—29 says, “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak, in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” 

Lord will, we will look at Luke 10:21-24 together. In particular, we will focus our attention on the doctrine of effectual calling. But I want you to see that the doctrine of unconditional election is also there. After commanding his disciples to rejoice that their names were written in heaven, “In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” (Luke 10:21–22, ESV)

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Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, it has been some time since I have taught explicitly on the doctrine of predestination or unconditional election. Why have I done so today? Look again at Luke 10:20 and consider the command that Jesus gives to his disciples – “rejoice that your names are written in heaven”, he says. 

Many of you are aware of how hated this doctrine of unconditional election is by some who claim to be Christians. You are probably also aware of the approach taken by many pastors today. Many, even if they themselves are convinced that this doctrine is true, will not preach it or teach it to their people. It’s too controversial, they say. It’s too divisive. It’s too hard to understand. And while I have no issue with ministers being very careful with this doctrine and taking a slow and methodical approach in teaching it to their congregation if it is new to them, I find the decision to withhold this doctrine from God’s people to be very troubling. Pastors are called to preach and teach the word of God – the whole counsel of God’s word. Are we wiser than God? Is it left up to ministers to decide what God should and should not say to his people? I think not. If God’s word says it, pastors must teach it. And I hope you would agree with me that this doctrine of unconditional election is not hidden off in the corner of some obscure place in Scripture. It is everywhere present in the Old Testament and the New.  And Christ has commanded his followers to “rejoice that [their] names are written in heaven.”

This doctrine must be taught for three reasons:

The first reason is the most important, and it has already been stated. It must be taught because it is a Scriptural doctrine. 

Two, the doctrine of unconditional election or presentation must be taught because it is a sanctifying doctrine. How does God use the doctrine of election to sanctify his people? In many ways. First and foremost, it is humbling. The doctrine of eternal and unconditional election – that is, election not conditioned or based upon something worthy or meritorious in the creature, be it faith, repentance, obedience, or any such thing – leaves no room at all for pride or boasting. When someone hears about the doctrine of election for the first time they will sometimes in their ignorance say, what! Do you think you’re better than everyone else because God chose you? That person does not understand the doctrine, do they? To the contrary. We confess that it is “by grace [we] have been saved through faith. And this is not [our] own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9, ESV). In fact, we are very much aware that not many who are wise according to worldly standards, not man powerful, not many of noble birth” have been called. But God “chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Corinthians 1:26–29, ESV). The doctrine of unconditional election is a sanctifying doctrine. Above all, it humbles all who comprehend it.

Thirdly, and finally, the doctrine of unconditional election is a soothing doctrine, one that should cause us to rejoice. How is it soothing? It reveals that if we have faith in Jesus and salvation in him it is not because we have earned it, but because God is determined to set his love upon us in eternity, and God does not change. When do we come to be forgiven? When is it that our sins are washed away? When are we rescued from the kingdom of darkness and brought into the kingdom of Christ? When are we reconciled to God, justified, and adopted? Not until we willingly and freely turn from our sins and place our faith in Jesus Christ. This is a choice that we must make. It will involve everything in us – the mind, the will, even our affections. And it will result in obedience to Christ and perseverance in him until the end. But here I am addressing the question, why? Why have you turned from sin to trust in Christ? Why have these benefits been lavished upon you, the greatest benefit of all being God’s love and reconciliation with him? If we were to burrow down as far as we can go – if we are to push this question as far back as we can take it – we would come to see that it is all rooted in God’s decree. God loves you in Christ Jesus because he has determined to set his love upon you. This is what the Apostle John means when he says, “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19, ESV). 

The doctrine of unconditional election is a soothing doctrine, one that should cause us to rejoice. The Apostle Paul understood this well. And that is why, after teaching the doctrine of foreknowledge and predestination in Romans 8:28-30,  he burst forth with these comforting words of application for the believer in verse 31: 

Minister: “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’” 

Congregation: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31–39, ESV)

Below is an excerpt from the book, The Five Points Of Calvinism, by Steele, Thomas & Quinn, pgs 29-35.

A Chosen People

There are general statements in Scripture that God has an elect people, and that He predestined them to salvation, and thus to eternal life.

Deuteronomy 10:14-15: “Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day.”

Psalm 33:12: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!’’

Psalm 65:4: “Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!’

Psalm 106:5: “, . . that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance.”

Haggai 2:23: “On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.”

Matthew 11:27: “No one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

Matthew 22:14: “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Matthew 24:22, 24, 31: “And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short…. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. . . . And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Luke 18:7: “And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night?”

Romans 8:28-30:’”And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justi­ fied, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Romans 8:33: “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?”

Romans 11:28: “As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.”

Colossians 3:12: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved…”

1 Thessalonians 5:9: “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Titus 1:1: “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness.”

1 Peter 1:1-2: “To those who are elect exiles . . . accord­ing to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanc­tification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood …”

1 Peter 2:8-9: “They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Revelation 17:14: “They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

Election Not Based on Foreseen Responses

Before the foundation of the world, God chose particular individuals for salvation. His selection was not based upon any foreseen response or act performed by those chosen. Faith and good works are the result, not the cause, of God’s choice.

1. God did the choosing.

Mark 13:20: “And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days.”

See also 1 Thessalonians 1:4 and 2 Thessalonians 2:13, quoted below.

2. God’s choice was made before the foundation of the world.

Ephesians 1:4: “. . . even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.”

See 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Timothy 1:9, Revelation 13:8, and Revelation 17:8, quoted below.

3. God chose particular individuals for salvation—their names were written in the book of life before the foundation of the world.

Revelation 13:8: “And all who dwell on earth will wor­ ship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain.”

Revelation 17:8: “And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foun­dation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.”

4. God’s choice was not based upon any foreseen merit resid­ing in those whom He chose, nor was it based on any foreseen good works performed by them.

Romans 9:11-13: “Though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s pur­pose of election might continue, not because of works but because of his call—she was told, ‘The older will serve the younger.’ As it is written, ‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.’”

Romans 9:16: “So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.”

Romans 10:20: “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”

1 Corinthians 1:27—29: “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak, in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” 

2 Timothy 1:9: “. . . who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.”

5. Good works are the result, not the ground, of predestination.

Ephesians 2:10: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before­ hand, that we should walk in them.”

John 15:16: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”

6. God’s choice was not based upon foreseen faith. Faith is the result and therefore the evidence of God’s election, not the cause or ground of His choice.

Acts 13:48: “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.”

Acts 18:27: “He greatly helped those who through grace had believed.”

Philippians 1:29: “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.”

Philippians 2:12-13: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salva­ tion with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

1 Thessalonians 1:4-5: “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.”

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14: “God chose you as the first fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

James 2:5: “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?”

See appendix C, “The Meaning of ‘Foreknew’ in Romans 8:29.” See also those verses quoted below under “The Efficacious Call of the Spirit or Irresistible Grace,” which teach that faith and repentance are the gifts of God and are wrought in the soul by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit.

7. It is by faith and good works that one confirms his calling and election.

2 Peter 1:5-11: “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with god­liness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and broth­erly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffec­tive or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so near­ sighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Old Testament Reading: Genesis 10:1-2, 5-6, 20-22, 31-32

“These are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood. The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras… [Verse 5] From these the coastland peoples spread in their lands, each with his own language, by their clans, in their nations. [Verse 6] The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan… [Verse 20] These are the sons of Ham, by their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations. [Verse 21] To Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, children were born. The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram… [Verse 31] These are the sons of Shem, by their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations. [Verse 32] These are the clans of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, in their nations, and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood.” (Genesis 10:31–32, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 10:1-20

“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 laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. 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. ‘Woe to you, Chorazin [Χοραζίν]! Woe to you, Bethsaida [Βηθσαϊδά] ! 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 [Καπερναούμ], 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.’ The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!’ And he said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 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. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’” (Luke 10:1–20, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

Here in Luke 10:1-20, we find a very similar story to the one told in Luke 9:1-6. In Luke 9, we learned about Jesus sending out his 12 Apostles “to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal” (Luke 9:2, ESV). Here in Luke 10, Jesus sends out a larger group of disciples with the authority to heal, cast out demons, and preach the gospel of the kingdom.  

Some manuscripts say the number sent out was 70. Others say the number was 72. The ESV goes with the number 72. If you are reading from the AV, the KJV, NKJV, or NASB, you’ll see that they follow those manuscripts that list the number at 70. I should take this opportunity to remind you that we are reading English translations of copies of the Scriptures originally written in Hebrew and Greek. In the ancient manuscripts, we do find variations like this. Again, some say that 70 disciples were sent out, and some say 72. The reason for the discrepancy probably has something to do with the Genesis 10 passage that I read a moment ago, and the Numbers 11:16-30 passage that I read two Sundays ago as our Old Testament reading. 

In Genesis 10 we find a list of the nations of the earth that descended from Noah and his sons, Shem Ham, and Japhet. The Hebrew texts list 70 nations, but the Septuagint, which is a very old Greek translation of the Old Testament – a translation used widely in the days of Christ – lists 72 nations descended from Noah. 

If you remember, Numbers 11:16-30 tells the story of the appointment of 70 elders to govern Israel alongside Moses. The 70 elders assembled at the Tabernacle and the Spirit fell upon them, enabling them to prophesy temporarily. But the story goes on to tell of two men who did not assemble at the Tabernacle upon whom the Spirit also fell, and they prophesied. This bothered Joshua, remember? He wished to command them to stop, but Moses forbade him. So the question is, were there 70 elders placed over Israel, or 72? 

I will not pretend to have the answers, brothers and sisters. Here I am drawing your attention to the discrepancy in the manuscripts and wish to point to the probable cause. Were there 70 or 72 nations listed in Genesis 10? Were there 70 or 72 elders appointed to rule in support of Moses? I’m not entirely sure. What seems clear to me is that an attempt was made by some scribe living somewhere at some point in time to reconcile these accounts, and I believe this is the important thing to notice. The Biblical accounts of the 70/72 nations that descended from Noah and his sons, the appointment of 70/72 elders to rule over Israel, and Jesus’ sending out of 70/72 disciples with the authority to heal, cast out demons, and preach the gospel of the kingdom, are meant to be connected. Add to this Exodus 1:5 which reveals the number of the descendants of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob that went down into Egypt, saying,  “All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt” (Exodus 1:5, ESV). My gut tells me the number in Luke 10 ought to be 70, but I don’t want to focus on that this morning. In a way, it doesn’t matter. 

The Meaning Of The 70/72

The question is, why did Jesus send 70/72 disciples out? You say, to further Christ’s kingdom! To do the work that Christ commanded them to do! Yes, we will come to that. But here I am asking, what is the significance or meaning of their number?

I suppose it would help us to first remember the significance of the number 12. Christ appointed 12 Apostles and this number corresponds to the number of tribes in Old Covenant Israel. The 12 Apostles functioned as the foundation and source of the New Covenant Isarel of God, therefore. A new, or perhaps we should say, renewed, Israel would be brought into existence through them and established upon their word. 

And there is a similar meaning attached to the number 70/72. 70/72 nations descended from the sons of Noah. 70 descendents of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob entered Egypt. God’s purpose was to multiply them greatly there, to redeem them from bondage, to make them into a great nation, and to give them a land of their own. Why? To bring the Messiah into the world through them, and to save sinners from all nations through him. The 70/72 elders that were appointed to govern Israel alongside Moses (see Exodus 24 and Numbers 11) correspond in number to the nations listed in Genesis 10. This was no accident but was a reminder of the purpose for which God has set Abraham and Israel apart originally, namely, to bless all of the nations of the earth through them, that is to say, through the Messiah, the Son of Abraham, that would be brought into the world through them (see Genesis 12:1-3). When Jesus sent out a group of disciples numbering 70/72, it was to remind us of this history. Furthermore, it was to communicate this message – Christ came to establish the Kingdom of God, a New Covenant, and to bring a new Israel into existence. This kingdom, Covenant, and Israel would include sinners, redeemed by the blood of Christ, from every tongue, tribe, and nation on earth. These will be the members of the new humanity that will one day fill the new heavens and earth that Christ has earned. That is the story told by the number 70/72. It is a number filled with Biblical significance. When Christ sent out the 70/72 it communicated his intention to purify Israel under the New Covenant and to graft people from every tongue, tribe, and nation – the peoples that descended from Noah –  into her. 

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The Mission Of The 70/72

So, we have considered the significance or meaning of the number of disciples sent out. What was their mission? Answer: These were sent out to proclaim that the kingdom of God was at hand. Look at verses 9-11. There the 70/72 are commanded to go from town to town and to “Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near’” (Luke 10:9–11, ESV). These disciples of Jesus were to go forth and proclaim the gospel of the kingdom of God.

We have answered the question, what is the kingdom of God many times now in our study through Luke’s Gospel. I’ll remind you, briefly, that God is King over all things. He is the sovereign one. He is Lord Most High. But ever since Adam sinned, there have been two kingdoms in this world. The kingdom of darkness and death is ruled by Satan, the usurper. The kingdom of light and life is ruled by Christ, the Second Adam, the eternal Son of God incarnate. Christ, his kingdom, and his Covenant were promised even to Adam and Eve. That promise was carried along and advanced in the covenants that God made with Abraham, Israel (in the days of Moses), and King David. But the kingdom of God, over which Christ rules, and the Covenant of Grace that he mediates, did not come into the world until his work of redemption was accomplished. Before Christ died and rose again, the kingdom of God and the Covenant of grace were present in the world in the form of promise. Salvation came to all who trust in the promises of God. But the kingdom of God (of which Christ is King) and the Covenant of Grace (of which Christ is the only mediator) were not inaugurated or formally begun until Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension to the Father’s right hand. This is why we have heard John the Baptist, Jesus, and his disciples proclaiming the nearness of the kingdom of God. In saying that it was “near” or “at hand” they meant that the kingdom was not yet present. Yes, it had been offered to Adam in the Covenant of Works before his fall into sin. The kingdom of God was also promised to Adam in that first articulation of the gospel (see Genesis 3:15). As I have said, this promise was carried along, magnified, and clarified in the covenants made with Abraham, Israel, and David. In fact, the kingdom of God that was to come was beautifully pictured in Old Covenant Israel, especially in the kingship of David, but never was present with power. The kingdom of God was said to be “near” or “at hand” when Jesus walked the earth. Why?

One, because Jesus is the only King of God’s kingdom. He is the son who was promised to King David. He is the King who rules over God’s kingdom forever and ever. 

Two, it was King Jesus who delivered and redeemed God’s elect from every age from bondage to Satan, sin, and the fear of death. This great work of redemption was promised beforehand (see Genesis 3:15, for example). This work of redemption was also pictured beforehand (in the Exodus, for example). But the redemption was not accomplished until Christ died, rose again, and ascended.  

Three, when I say that King Jesus delivered and redeemed God’s elect you should know that he did so by delivering a fatal blow to the head of Satan, the usurper king. In other words, the establishment of God’s kingdom involved the overthrow of Satan’s kingdom. This defeat of Satan and the overthrow of his kingdom was promised beforehand (see Genesis 3:15, for example). It was also pictured beforehand (think again of the Exodus, especially the Ten Plagues). But Satan was not struck upon the head – he was not bound or cast down so that his house might be plundered – until Jesus Christ dropped his wounded heal upon him at the cross. 

The kingdom of God was said to be “near” or “at hand” when Jesus walked the earth because he is the King of this eternal kingdom. He was about to win the victory over Satan through the suffering of the cross. He was about to pay for the sins of all who trusted in him, before, during, and after his life on earth, so that they might be forgiven. When he ascended into heaven he opened up the way to God for his people. When he ascended, he sat down upon his eternal throne. When he ascended, he sent forth the Holy Spirit to enliven, anoint, and empower all of his people – his elect from every tongue, tribe, and nation on earth. 

This was the mission given to these 70/72. They were to go from town to town proclaiming the nearness of the kingdom of God. The mission of the church today is similar. It differs only in perspective. We are to proclaim that the kingdom of God is here, that Christ is King, that he has won the victory, has entered into glory, and will one day return to judge his enemies, to acquit those united to him by faith, and to make all things new.     

Notice that these 70/72 were, like the 12 before them, given the power and authority to heal the sick (v. 9) and to cast out demons (vs. 17-19). They were enabled to perform these miraculous deeds as a sign that the message the proclaimed was true. The presence of the kingdom of God was declared and it was also demonstrated by these special emissaries of Jesus. The writer of Hebrews tells us that this was the purpose of these miracles. Listen to Hebrews 2:3-4: “how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” (Hebrews 2:3–4, ESV)

What was the mission given to the 70/72? They were sent out to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God. They were also to heal and to cast our demons as a demonstration of the fact that their message was true. And so they did. 

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The Method Of The 70/72

We have considered the meaning and mission of the 70/72. Let us now briefly consider their method. How did they go about accomplishing this mission that was given to them?

Firstly, they were to go ahead of Jesus to prepare the way for him. This is what verse 1 says. By the way, this is what we do whenever we proclaim the gospel of the kingdom. We prepare the way for Jesus. The gospel is the power of God for salvation, but no one will ever be saved unless Jesus comes to that person by the working of the Holy Spirit to give them life and the ability to believe. 

Secondly, these disciples of Jesus were sent out two by two. In this way, they functioned as credible witnesses. In this way, they supported and encouraged one another in the work. Brothers and sisters, it is good to go about the work that God has given us to do, not alone, but with other brothers and sisters in Christ. Do not walk alone, friends. The proverb of Ecclesiastes 4:12 is true! “And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12, ESV).

Thirdly, these disciples of Jesus were sent out having been exhorted to pray. Look at verse 2: “And [Jesus] said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2, ESV). The field is the world. The grains ripe for the picking are the elect of God. The laborers are ministers of the word of God. The Lord of the harvest is God. And God’s people are commanded to pray. More than this, we are commanded to pray earnestly, that is, with a sense of urgency and seriousness. Are you praying, dear brothers and sisters? Are you praying earnestly, especially for the success of the gospel in this land through the sending out of laborers into the harvest? 

Fourthly, Jesus sent his disciples out as lambs in the midst of wolves. That is what verse 3 says, “Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves” (Luke 10:3, ESV). The  meaning is that Jesus’ disciples were sent into a situation where they would be very vulnerable, at least from a human perspective – they would need to trust the Lord, therefore. The wolves represent viscous men. Also, we can see that the disciples were to go out with no provisions. Christ instructed them to “Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals…” (Luke 10:4, ESV). They were to rely on the hospitality of strangers.  Brothers and sisters, this was a very unique mission that these disciples were sent on. Not every disciple of Jesus is called to go out like this. In fact, very few are. As you probably know, Jesus would send these same disciples out with different instructions later, saying, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one” (Luke 22:36, ESV). Why did Christ command them to go out in such a vulnerable condition? No doubt, it was to teach them to trust. Dear brothers and sisters, we too must trust the Lord. We must walk by faith. When we feel vulnerable, as if sheep amongst wolves, we must turn to face the fear and anxiety and trust in God and in Christ to preserve us and to provide for our every need.

Fifthly, Jesus commanded that his disciples be undeterred in their work. This principle permeates verses 5 through 16. Look at verse 5: “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you” (Luke 10:5–6, ESV). Look now at verse 10: “But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near’” (Luke 10:10–12, ESV). The disciples of Jesu were not to be discouraged nor detoured by rejection. Some would receive their word; others would not. The disciples were to bless those who received them and their word. When rejected, they were to brush it off and warn of judgment.  

It is the day of judgment that Christ spoke of when he said, “I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town” (Luke 10:12, ESV). He elaborates on this theme of judgment in verses 13 through 15, saying, “Woe to you, Chorazin [Χοραζίν]! Woe to you, Bethsaida [Βηθσαϊδά] ! 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 [Καπερναούμ], will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.” These cities that Christ pronounced woes upon, were cities within Israel. They were cities where Christ and his disciples taught and performed signs and wonders. And yet, so many rejected him. So many from within these towns refused to repent and believe. Tyre and Sidon were Gentile cities known for their sin. Christ said, his mighty works had been done there, “they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.”  So, in this way, Christ rebukes Israel’s unbelief and signals his intention to work mightily amongst the Gentile nations.

In verse 16 we read the words of Christ to his disciples: “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” (Luke 10:16, ESV). I have said that Christ commanded that his disciples be undeterred in their work. By that I mean they were commanded to be faithful in their work. They were to preach the gospel of the kingdom and they were to brush off all rejection. After all, it was not they who were being rejected, but God and Christ. Furthermore, the disciples were to know for certain that some would receive their word, and to receive their word was to receive the word of Christ. All Christians must be undeterred in their proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. You must not be afraid of rejection or discouraged by it when it comes. The saying is true, we must preach the gospel and leave the results to God. But this is an especially important lesson for ministers to learn. Ministers must be faithful to preach and teach Christ. Many will reject the word because they are dead in their sin and destined for judgment. Others will receive the word gladly. This is because God has shown grace to them. He predestined them in eternity to have life in Christ. He sent forth his word and Spirit. He enlightened their minds and made them willing and able to believe in Christ. When these hear the gospel, they hear the voice of Christ. This is God’s work. It is true, we must be resolved to preach and teach the word of God faithfully and leave the results to God.

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The Marvel Of The 70/72

We have considered the meaning, mission, and method of the 70/72. Finally, let us consider their marvel. To marvel is to be filled with wonder and astonishment, and that is what we see in verse 17. There we read, “The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!’” (Luke 10:17, ESV). They were astonished by this, and rightly so. 

Notice that Christ did not discourage them or seek to quench their enthusiasm. To the contrary, he encouraged them further, saying in verse 18, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 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. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:18–20, ESV).

There are three things to note about these verses. 

Firstly, Christ confirmed what these disciples had experienced. Satan and his kingdom were indeed being overthrown. The disciples had great success in casting out demons, but here Jesus opened their eyes to the reality of the much greater work he was doing. He did not only come to cast individual demons out of individual persons but to cast Satan himself out of heaven. This he was doing, and this he would do in his life, death, resurrection, and ascension. 

What does it mean that Satan was cast out of heaven? We should remember that before Christ accomplished our redemption, Satan was permitted to accuse God’s people in heaven. The book of Job makes this clear. Job 1:6 says, “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them…” (Job 1:6, ESV). And what did Satan do, except accuse Job? When Christ finished his work of redemption, Satan was cast down from heaven. The Son of God came down in the incarnation so that he might be exulted to the glory. And it was then that Satan, who had exulted himself in sinful pride and rebellion, was cast down, having been defeated by Christ the Lord. 

This casting down of Satan of which Christ speaks is depicted in the Book of Revelation 12:7-17. If you are accustomed to reading the Book of Revelation as if it were chronologically organized, you will not be able to appreciate this. But if you have learned to read the Book of Revelation as a serries of seven recapitulations, then you will be able to connect what is said by Jesus in Luke 10 with the picture of Revelation 12. It was at Christ’s first coming that Satan was cast from heaven. Listen to Revelation 12:10 where John says, “And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come…’” May I pause and ask you the question, when did that happen? Yes, at Christ’s first coming. I’ll start again in Revelation 12:10: “‘Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!’” (Revelation 12:10–12, ESV).

Friends, Christ defeated Satan and his kingdom of darkness at his first coming. When Christ was exulted to his legitimate throne, Satan was cast down from his illegitimate throne, and he was bound so that he could not deceive the (70/72) nations any longer. This does not mean that he is not active. It means that he is cast down from heaven so that he can no longer accuse God’s people.  Why could he accuse before? Because Christ had not yet paid for the sins of those who trusted in him. By the way, this is why those who had faith prior to the accomplishment of our redemption resided in Abraham’s bosom, that upper portion of Sheol or Hades (Luke 16:23). It was a place of comfort but it was not heaven. It was because our salvation had not yet been accomplished – our sins not yet paid for – that the way to heaven was not yet opened up for them. And what did Satan say about God’s people alive on earth and those who were comforted in Sheol at the side of Abraham? They are guilty! This is unjust! You cannot comfort them! You cannot pass over their sins (see Romans 3:21-26)! They are mine! You must condemn them forever! But when Christ accomplished our salvation by his death, burial, and resurrection, he ascended. When he ascended, he cast Satan down. When he ascended, he set the captives of Sheol free and led them in the very presence of the glory of God Almighty. Do you remember the song that Mary the mother of Jesus sang when she visited Elizabeth? She gave praise to God saying, among other things, “he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate…” (Luke 1:52, ESV). May I suggest to you that this bringing down of some and exulting of others is true in the angelic and spiritual world before it is true of us.  

The second observation I would like to make about Luke 10:17-20 is that he confirmed his disciples have authority over the enemy. Look at verse 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” (Luke 10:19, ESV). 

When Christ spoke of giving his followers the “authority to tread on serpents and scorpions” it should be clear to all that these creatures – serpents and scorpions – symbolize Satan and his demons. The end of verse 19 makes this clear, where Christ mentioned their authority “over all the power of the enemy.” Verse 20 also makes it clear that Christ is speaking of spiritual beings when he says, “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you…” In other words, Jesus is not here teaching that Christians cannot be hurt by litteral scorpions and snakes. You say, well what about the ending of Mark? And what about that story in  Acts 28 about the viper came out of the fire and bit Paul on the hand but he was not harmed? Yes, in that instant Paul was miraculously spared from a snake bite that would have typically resulted in death. it was a sign that his word was true. It was a miracle that demonstrated the power of the gospel that Paul proclaimed. And there was much symbolism in the miracle –  the viper that struck Paul from the hellish flames did him no harm to make it clear to all that Satan and the fires of hell would do no harm to Paul. Why? Because of Christ’s victory and Paul’s faith in him.   

When you read Jesus’ words to his disciples found at the very end of verse 19, “and nothing shall hurt you”, what do you think? Do you think to yourself, but many of these men were hurt badly? Some were even killed because they were followers of Jesus. Again, I’m afraid your thinking is too earthly. The truth is, nothing can hurt a true disciple of Jesus – not even death. Will the disciples of Jesus suffer and even die? Yes. But the sting has been removed. Satan and his demons – even death itself – cannot hurt the true follower of Christ because Christ has won the victory over sin, Satan, and death and has secured life eternal for all who are united to him by faith.   

Why would Christ need to say all of this all of this?  Why would he need to confirm the disciple’s authority over the evil one? Did Christ not just say that he saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven? Where did he fall to, except the earth? This is why Peter says, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8, ESV). This is why, after describing the casting down of Satan, Revelation 12:12 says, “Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” (Revelation 12:12, ESV). Indeed, it is true, that Satan is defeated, bound, and cast down, but he is very active. We must fight against him with the word of God and with much prayer. We must fight against him knowing that he can do us no harm. 

The third and final observation that I have about verses 17-20 is that Christ directs his disciple’s attention to what they should really be marveling and rejoicing over. Verse 20: “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20, ESV). It is wonderful to have authority over evil spirits. It is much better to know that you are destined for heaven. To have your name written in heaven means that you are already there on the basis of God’s decree. In heaven, there is a book of life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5, 13:8, 17:8, 20:12, 20:15, 21:27). It is a book written before the foundation of the world. Those whose names are in this book are the ones who will have faith in Christ. It will be these who will enjoy life in the glorious presence of God in new heavens and earth, by God’s grace. Of all of the things we might marvel and rejoice over, this is the greatest. 

Old Testament Reading: 1 Kings 19:9-21

“There [Elijah] came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.’ And he said, ‘Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.’ And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He said, ‘I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.’ And the LORD said to him, ‘Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.’ So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, ‘Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.’ And he said to him, ‘Go back again, for what have I done to you?’ And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.” (1 Kings 19:9–21, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 9:57-62

“As they were going along the road, someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Yet another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’” (Luke 9:57–62, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

What does it cost to have Jesus as your Savior? On the one hand, we could say, nothing. It costs us nothing to have Jesus as Lord and Savior. His love is freely given. The salvation he provides is a gift that cannot be earned – it can only be received. He cleanses us from sin and clothes us with his righteousness by God’s grace received through faith in Christ alone. This is true, but there is more to say.

And so I ask the question again: What does it cost to have Jesus as your Savior? On the other hand, we could say, everything. To have Jesus as our Savior – to follow after him and to be a disciple of his – will cost us everything. 

May I remind you of the words of Christ found in Luke 9:23-24. “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Luke 9:23–24, ESV). To follow Jesus, one must deny himself. To be a disciple of Jesus, one must take up his own cross and die to self. To follow after Jesus one must first lose his life. And the great paradox is that in losing your life for Christ’s sake, you will truly find it. 

So then, I suppose that brings us back to the first answer, doesnt it? What does it cost to have Jesus as Savior? Nothing… in the end. For in Christ, we gain life – life abundant – life eternal. 

When I say that it will cost a person everything to have Jesus as Savior, I am in no way denying that salvation is a gift from God. We are saved by God’s grace alone, through faith in Christ alone. Or to quote Paul, “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:16, ESV). I am in no way denying that salvation is a pure gift – a gift that can only be received by trusting in Jesus. It costs us nothing. 

Here I am simply observing that to have Jesus as Savior we must have him as Lord. No one has ever had Jesus as Savior who does not also have him as Lord. I’ll quote Paul again: “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9, ESV). To confess Jesus as Lord is to confess that he is the Lord God Almighty incarnate. And as Lord, he is to be worshiped and obeyed. 

You must see that having Jesus as Lord will cost you everything, for if Jesus is your Lord, that means you are not. As Christ himself has said, “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Luke 16:13, ESV). And neither can you serve Christ and yourself. 

To have Christ as Lord and Savior requires us to turn from sin, to deny ourselves, to take up our cross, and to follow after him. To have Christ as Lord and Savior will involve surrendering ourselves to him, entrusting ourselves to him, submitting ourselves to his will for us, and striving to obey his commandments. This act of faith, surrender, and submission to Christ will cost us everything now. But in this way, we gain everything – life abundant now and life for all eternity. 

What does it cost to have Jesus as Lord and Savior? In a sense, nothing. But in another very important sense, it will cost us everything.  

Here in the passage that is open before us today, we are exhorted to count the cost of being a disciple of Jesus. Here in this passage, Jesus tells the truth about what being a disciple of his requires. Luke briefly reports on three encounters that Jesus had with potential disciples. In each instance, Christ pressed them to count the cost. One general observation we can make is that Jesus was no salesman. In no way did he attempt to sugarcoat things. Jesus did not behave like a recruiter, speaking only of the benefits of being a disciple of his while concealing the true costs. Jesus told the truth. And of course, he told the truth knowing that his elect would certainly hear his voice and respond to his call in due time. What is this passage about? It is a warning to all who would consider following after Jesus to count the cost and to fully surrender themselves to the Lord Jesus Christ.  

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To Follow Jesus We Must Be Willing To Suffer With Him

In verses 57-58, we learn, that to follow Jesus we must be willing to suffer with him. 

In verse 57 we read, “As they were going along the road…” This phrase reminds us of what was said back in verse 51: “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” The road that Jesus was on was the road to Jerusalem, and that is very important to keep in mind as we interpret this text. Jesus had ministered in the region of Galilee. He was opposed by scribes and Pharisees, but he had kept his distance from Jerusalem and from the powerful people who were centered there. But now it was time for him to go up to Jerusalem. And he had spoken clearly about what would happen to him there, saying in 9:21-22, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Luke 9:21–22, ESV). This road that Jesus was on was the road to Jerusalem. It was the road to suffering. It was the road that led to the accomplishment of our redemption, the defeat of Satan, and the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom. It was the road to the cross.

Look again at verse 57: “As they were going along the road, someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go’” (Luke 9:57, ESV). We do not know who this “someone” was – his name is not given. Notice how bold he was. Some commentators interpret his boldness as an attempt to secure a place amongst the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples, perhaps amongst the twelve or the seventy. These same commentators will warn against such presumption. It is Christ who calls his disciples to himself. It is Christ who appoints men to hold office. It is better to wait to be called by Christ than to be so forward. And perhaps they are correct in their assessment of this situation. Christ teaches this principle in the parable of the wedding feast found in Luke 14:7-11. He concludes that parable with these words: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11, ESV).

Luke does not explicitly say what this man was thinking or what his motives were, but we can discern a lot from Jesus’ reply. Verse 58: “And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head’” (Luke 9:58, ESV). It’s as if Jesus looked at this man and said, are you sure you want to follow me? Look at my situation. There is no place for me in this world. The foxes and the birds have homes and beds.* I have nothing. And I go to Jerusalem to suffer. You had better count the cost. 

Do not forget the theme that runs through all of these passages. Men and women were having a very difficult time understanding that Jesus would suffer. They had beheld his glory. Their hopes for him were very high. Many followed after him because they were eager to share in his glory. But they could not comprehend his suffering, though he spoke so clearly about it. It seems that this man wanted glory. Jesus reminded him of the suffering he would endure and the suffering that his disciples would be called to endure. Would there be glory? Yes! But Christ and his disciples would enter glory by taking up the cross. Christ would bear his, and he calls his disciples to bear theirs. First the cross, then the glory. If you wish to be a disciple of Jesus, you had better count the cost.   

Listen to what Paul says about this in Romans 8:16-17. “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Romans 8:16–17, ESV). To follow after Jesus we must be willing to suffer with him. 

Jesus challenged this man – whoever he was – to count the cost. And Luke, by recounting this story, is challenging us to do the same. J.C. Ryle comments on this passage saying, “Let us never forget this lesson. It need not make us afraid to begin serving Christ, but it ought to make us begin carefully, humbly, and with much prayer for grace. If we are not ready to take part in the afflictions of Christ, we must never expect to share his glory.” (J.C. Ryle, Luke Commentary, Vol 1, pg 259)

And so I ask you, are you ready to share in the afflictions of Christ? Will God call you to suffer persecution or even martyrdom for the sake of Christ? Only God knows. But we should examine our hearts and count the cost. Certainly, Christ has called you to “deny [yourself] and take up [your] cross daily and follow [him]” (Luke 9:23, ESV). Have you counted the cost? 

Perhaps you thinking, but what cost is there, really? We do not live in a time or place of persecution.

No, but persecution could quickly come. It was not long ago that we saw how quickly a government could begin to overstep its bounds and act in a tyrannical way. In the year 2020, the tyranny was not focused on the Christan exclusively, but it could be. Have you counted the cost?

And I think you would agree that it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain Biblical values and perspectives and to live as a Christian in this increasingly pagan culture. Opportunities for employment or career advancement may be somewhat limited for the Christian who is resolved to live according to their convictions. Have you counted the cost?

The thought occurred to me that Christians are to marry in the Lord. And as our culture grows more Godless, and true church and true Christians become more rarer, finding a godly spouse becomes more difficult. Have you counted the cost? 

I could go on to talk about the obligation that disciples of Jesus have to obey God’s law. If you are a disciple of Christ, you are a slave of Christ. He is your Lord or Master, and you are his bondservant. He has set you free from bondage to sin, Satan, and the terrors of his dark kingdom. And you have been set free to obey the Lord.  Have you counted the cost?

For example, the Christian is bound to “Flee from sexual immorality.” This is what Paul commands. And listen to the reason he gives. “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:18–20, ESV). Have you counted the cost?

Furthermore, the Christian is bound to honor the Lord’s Day Sabbath and to keep it holy. It is a day to rest from worldly or common employments and recreation and to worship the Lord corporately and in private. Of all of the Ten Commandments, this one marks God’s people and sets them apart as distinct in this world the most, for it affects how we spend our time and order our lives. “What do you mean you will not allow your kids to play on the club team because we play on Sundays?” “What do you mean you are not available to come in to work on Sunday?” “What do you mean you will not be able to make it to mom’s Mother’s Day breakfast because you will be assembled with the church for worship?” Have you counted the cost?

The Christian does not keep God’s law to be justified by it. No, we keep God’s law because we love God and Christ. As Christ has said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15, ESV), and Christ’s commandments do certainly include the Ten Commandments, which is an ever-abiding summary of God’s moral law. Have you counted the cost?

I can preach this way and not fear losing any of God’s people because those who have been called by God and renewed by his Word and Spirit will say, yes, I have counted the cost, and it is all worth it. “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—” (Philippians 3:8–9, ESV). 

This is how the true disciple of Jesus will respond to the question, have you counted the cost? But false professors will quickly fall away. Was this man who came to Jesus when he was on the road to Jerusalem a true disciple of Christ or a false professor? The text does not say. But we know that Christ did warn him to count the cost. 

To follow after Jesus we must be willing to suffer with him. That is what we learn in verses 57-58. 

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To Follow Jesus We Must Give Priority To Him

To follow Jesus we must be willing to suffer with him. That is what we learn in verses 57-58. In verses 59-60, we learn that to follow Jesus we must give priority to him. 

Look with me at verse 59: “To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’” (Luke 9:59–60, ESV)

This passage has puzzled some. After all, isn’t the request a reasonable one? I’ll follow you, Lord, “but let me first go and bury my father.” And don’t the Scriptures command us to show honor to Father and Mother? Yes, that is the fifth of the Ten Commandments. So what is going on here?

A few things need to be noted:

One, the words, “but let me first go and bury my father” could very well mean that the man’s father was still alive but near the end of his life. If this was the case, this disciple of Jesus (whoever he was) was requesting a furlow of an indeterminate length of time. 

Two, Matthew refers to this man as a “disciple” of Jesus in his Gospel. In other words, this man was already a part of Jesus’ band of disciples. Perhaps he was one of the 70. 

Three, though the request might have been reasonable at another time, the time was not right for this disciple to return home. We must remember that Jesus was now on the way to Jerusalem. This was a vital period of time. 

Four, it is possible that this was a lame excuse – a way out – for this disciple. When Jesus began to speak of suffering and to journey towards Jerusalem, this man wanted to go home. 

Five, when all things are considered it is clear that this disciple was tempted to give priority to family over Christ. He was tempted to honor his earthly father over his Father in Heaven. Typically, there is no conflict between these two duties. Ordinarily, we are able to honor God the Father and our earthly fathers simultaneously. But when the two duties do conflict – when there is a clash between the first commandment, which is, you shall have no other gods before me, and the fifth commandment, which is, honor your father and mother – it is the worship of God and obedience to Christ that is to be prioritized. 

This is why Jesus replied to his disciples, saying, “And Jesus said to him, ‘Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God’” (Luke 9:60, ESV). In other words, let those who are spiritually dead deal with the task of burring the physically dead. At this time, you must devote yourself to the proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom. It is my interpretation that the request of this man was denied, in part, because the timing was so bad. Just as a soldier would not be granted leave in the heat of a battle, neither was this man granted leave in this most crucial of times. Furthermore, we should remember the promise of Christ found in Matthew 19:29: “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29, ESV).

To honor your father and mother, to love and care for your spouse or children, is a very good and important thing. Most of the time there is no difficulty at all in honoring God and Christ and honoring these. But if there is a dilemma, God and Christ must always be given priority. 

Truth be told, disciples of Jesus find themselves in perplexing situations like this quite often. 

The father of a Christian woman does not approve of her faith and commands her not to assemble with the church for worship. What then? God and Christ must be honored supremely. 

The wife of a Christian husband does not approve of his faith and promises trouble in the marriage he follows Christ, worships and serves him. What then? God and Christ must be honored supremely. 

The parents of a young Christian man do not want to see their son go to the mission field in obedience to the call of God on his life, or to enter the ministry given the opportunities for a lucrative career elsewhere. What then? God and Christ must be honored supremely. 

Or the unbelieving children in the home of believing parents do not wish to be in church on the Lord’s Day. They are driven to play sports on the Lord’s Day and are adamant that their future depends upon it. What then? God and Christ must be honored supremely. 

Do not be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, when some of the strongest opposition to your devotion to Christ arises within your own home or from within your extended family. The Evil One will often use good things – like the desire to show honor to father and mother, or the desire to marry or to have a peaceful marriage, or the desire to give good gifts to our children – to tempt men and women to fall back from their wholehearted devotion to God and Christ. 

To follow after Jesus, he must be honored as Lord and King. And King’s must always be given priority. 

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To Follow Jesus We Must Persevere With Him

Finally, we come to the third encounter between Jesus and a would-be disciple. It is in this encounter, as recorded in Luke 9:61-62, that we learn, to follow Jesus we must persevere with him. 

Look at verse 61. “Yet another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:61–62, ESV).

This text is meant to remind us of the story about Elijah and his calling of Elisha to follow him and to be his successor as recorded in 1 Kings 19, which we read earlier. Rember, Elisha was found plowing a field. And Jesus plays off of that, saying, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” And the request of Elisha and this would-be disciple of Jesus was the same – let me first go say goodbye to my family. Where do the two stories differ? Elijah granted the request but Jesus denied it. 

Why? Perhaps to highlight that the work Jesus was doing was far superior to the work Elijah was doing. Elijah was zealous to purify Israel under the Old Covenant. Christ came to purify and expand Israel by inaugurating the New Covenant. Perhaps the timing was bad. Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, remember? This was no time for a return trip home. Or perhaps it was because the man’s request was insincere – he was not so concerned to say goodbye to his family as he was to find a way to avoid the trouble that was ahead. I suspect the reason for the denial of the request was a combination of these things. Jesus’ reply strongly suggests that the man was wavering in his commitment. “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Those who follow after Jesus must persevere. 

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Conclusion

Have you considered what it will cost you to follow Jesus? 

Salvation is a gift given by God through Christ and by the Spirit. It costs nothing to receive. So come to Christ. “Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price”, says  Revelation 22:17.

But to have Christ as Savior, one must bow before him as Lord, and that will cost you everything. This is why Christ calls his disciples with these words: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23, ESV).

But do not forget the great mystery:  “Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for [Christ’s] sake will save it.” (Luke 9:24, ESV)

*God’s Word is truly amazing. One of the things I love about God’s Word is how interconnected it is. With time I grow more and more amazed to see the interconnectedness of the Old Testament with the New. I love to see how the Old Testament pointed forward to Christ and how the New Testament shows Jesus to be the fulfillment. There are examples of this everywhere in Luke’s gospel. Sometimes I don’t even mention them because our time and capacities are limited. All of these references to the Old Testament, in the form of either direct quotations or subtle allusions, will reach their climax at the end of Luke’s gospel where we are told of Christ appearing to his disciples in his resurrection and teaching them, saying, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44, ESV).

Here in Luke 9:58 we have what I think is a rather subtle allusion to Psalm 8. Psalm 8, written long before Christ was born, speaks of the promised Messiah, saying in verse 4, “what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:4–9, ESV). Two things about Luke 9:58 should remind of Psalm 8. First, the title that Jesus uses for himself. He calls himself the Son of Man. Psalm 8 is a prophecy concerning the Son of Man who was to come. Two, the mention of the birds of the air. In Luke 9, Jesus says, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Luke 9:58, ESV). But in Psalm 8 we are told that the Son of Man, having been made “a little lower than the heavenly beings” has been “crowned” with “glory and honor.” God has given him “dominion over the works of [his] hands”; God has “put all things under his feet” including the birds of the heavens…” (Psalm 8:5–8, ESV). 

I draw your attention to this subtle allusion to Psalm 8 in Luke 9:58 because I think it tells a story. The Son of Man would indeed be crowned with glory and honor. All authority in heaven and on earth would be given to him. But first, he would be made a little lower than the heavenly beings. First, he would have to suffer. Before the birds of the heavens would be subjected to him, he would have to come in a low condition — one in which even the birds of heaven could be said to live in luxury compared to him. Through this suffering, the Son of Man would enter into glory. We must identify with Christ in his suffering. Through suffering we will enter glory – the glory that Christ has secured for his people.