Luke 10:13-18

Luke 10:13 (KJB)
Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

Chorazin was situated at the northern tip of the Sea of Galilee. Bethsaida was a fishing village located east of the Jordan but on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Peter, Andrew, and Philip were from Bethsaida. (John 1:44 KJV) Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Jesus is not pronouncing a curse upon these cities but He is stating an expression of sadness over their unbelief in the face of the many mighty works done in their presence. Tyre and Sidon were two cities of Phoenicia and were centers of pagan worship. Jesus was stating that if the works He did in Northern Galilee was done in these two cities, they would have repented of their sins and turned to Him. The pagans had accepted the Gospel faster than those who had the Hebrew Scriptures and even the Samaritan Pentateuch. When the Gospel was preached in Gentile lands, it was more accepted than those who had the Scriptures and were waiting for the Messiah.

Luke 10:14 (KJB)
But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.

The inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon would be punished for their sins but their punishment will be much milder in comparison to the fact that Bethsaida and Chorazin and the surrounding communities had rejected the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. The mighty miracles and works that Jesus did in Galilee was done right in front of them yet there was opposition and rejection to the ministry of Jesus. The Gospel was preached to them and they rejected it in favor of the law and this will have led to their eternal doom. (Luke 12:47-48 KJV) And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. {48} But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. The more a person has, the more he is responsible for and Northern Galilee saw the miracles of Christ and heard Him teach the Gospel and yet rejected Him.

Luke 10:15 (KJB)
And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.

Capernaum was possibly the town of Nahum and was 80 miles (129 KM) north of Jerusalem northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was a flourishing community and was a prosperous commercial center plus it was a toll station on the important caravan routes. There was a Roman military post commanded by a centurion who built the people a synagogue. It was also one of the most privileged cities in the world since Jesus had made it His home during the year of the Galilean ministry. He had performed many miracles and did much teaching there. Jesus states that as big and important as this city was, it was destined to be destroyed. He then compares it to Sodom. He states that if the mighty works which were done here would have been performed in Sodom, then Sodom would have repented and it would still be a thriving city at that time. Jesus is also saying that the acceptance of the Gospel is like a preserver of life. When the Gospel flourishes, it brings the blessings of God. The destruction of Capernaum would happen in the rule of Vespasian (69-79 A.D.) during the war between the Jews and Rome. It was in 70 A.D. when Jerusalem was destroyed and the Temple razed.

Luke 10:16 (KJB)
He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

Despiseth - Reject, ignore, or disregard

There is a chain of reception in the Gospel. It is one that Christ and Christian rejecting cults need to seriously look at. If you are bringing the true Gospel and you are rejected, then you are not the only one being rejected, they are also rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ, and if they are rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ, then they are rejecting God the Father. (1 John 2:23 KJV) Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. On the other hand, if you are bringing the true Gospel and a person becomes saved, then they are not only receiving you, but the Lord Jesus Christ, and God the Father. It is one spiritual package. If they reject the true Christian, then they are rejecting God the Son and God the Father. Too many false religions believe they can have the Father without the Son and that is a false teaching.

Luke 10:17 (KJB)
And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

Then the seventy disciples which Jesus had dispatched had returned after they had gone to the villages where Jesus and His entourage were going to pass through. These disciples were beaming with joy because they had done something no other human had done. They reported to Jesus that the devils were subject unto them, that is, the devils had to obey them through the name of Jesus. They had been amazed at the authority the name of Jesus had. The devils had no alternative because they knew that Jesus was the Christ. (James 2:19 KJV) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Luke 10:18 (KJB)
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

Jesus then tells them that He had observed when Satan fell from Heaven. When Satan rebelled against God, he was cast out of Heaven and his fall was very swift. When one rebels against God, God can make their punishment very swift. (Isa 14:12 KJV) How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! Since Isaiah has recorded the fall of Satan, then what is in view in Luke 10:18 was the original fall from Heaven by Lucifer who became Satan. The believers can rejoice that Jesus saw the beginning of the end of Satan and his kingdom. The only satanic opposition that the believer will face is here on earth.

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