Luke 10:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: “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.”

NIV: Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.'

NASB: The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; but the one who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.'

CSB: Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."

NLT: Then he said to the disciples, 'Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me. And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me. And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God, who sent me.'

KJV: He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

NKJV: He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”

This is the summary statement of the first half of the chapter: it's about God, not us. Jesus is sending seventy-two disciples to preach the kingdom of God and call the people to repentance. They go to prepare cities He will visit. The disciples are to pray God will provide more messengers to reach those ready to listen. As they go, God will provide housing and food and make sure their personal needs are taken care of. If a town accepts their message, the disciples are to provide physical and spiritual restoration commensurate with God's kingdom, as empowered by Jesus, God the Son. If the cities don't accept them, God will judge them (Luke 10:1–15).

The disciples are messengers, just as we are. If we spread the gospel of the Bible under the power and instruction of the Holy Spirit, those we speak to will react to God. If we rely on our own charisma and/or preach a gospel that does not align with what is in Scripture, our audience will follow or reject us. That's the goal of cult leaders, but it doesn't help anyone. We can't save. Only God can.

Many people today claim that they would follow Jesus if only they could see Him personally. His ministry on earth proves otherwise. Few people saw Jesus more than the people of Capernaum. Few witnessed more miracles of healing or saw more demons cast out. And yet, people still refused to accept Him as the Messiah. There is no reason to think the world would be different, today. We know it won't; Jesus will literally, physically reign from the throne in Jerusalem, and yet a great army from around the world will congregate and try to depose Him (Revelation 20:7–10). There is no proof great enough to convince everyone to follow Christ.

Luke 10:13–16 expands on Jesus' comment that rejecting His messengers would result in even harsher judgment than handed down to Sodom (Luke 10:12). Jesus laments that pagan Gentiles would accept the signs of the coming kingdom of God when Jewish cities wouldn't (Luke 10:13–16). Next, Jesus puts the disciples' success in proper context (Luke 10:17–24). Matthew 11:20–24 records a similar judgment but places it after Jesus' affirmation of John the Baptist (Luke 7:18–35).

Jesus commissions seventy-two of His followers for a unique mission. They are sent into towns and villages, preparing people for Jesus' ministry. Those who accept the message will be blessed; those who reject it will be left behind. The disciples return celebrating what they have seen and accomplished. Jesus reminds them that salvation is the real victory. The parable of the good Samaritan explains that the obligation to love extends to anyone and everyone. A visit to the home of Martha and Mary offers a contrast between good things and the best things.

Luke 10 provides the bulk of the first section of what some refer to as Jesus' travelogue (Luke 9:51—19:27). In this extended description of travels and events, Jesus draws away from public ministry and theological debates. His focus is preparing His disciples for what will happen in Jerusalem, by teaching them about the kingdom of God. In Luke 9:51—11:13, the disciples gradually learn how to properly follow Jesus. Next, the Pharisees will reject Jesus (Luke 11:14–54) and Jesus will teach more about the kingdom (Luke 12:1—19:27). After the travelogue, Jesus will enter Jerusalem and face crucifixion.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.