Harmony #58: Return of the 70 (Luke 10:13-22; Matthew 11:25-30)

We have to back up a little bit to give us context for some of the things Jesus is going to say in today’s passage. When Jesus sent out the 72, he said this about three cities:

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.

 I mentioned this last week, but remember that “woe” is not pronouncing a curse. It’s an expression of sadness about what is going to happen, not an orchestration of what is going to happen.

It’s interesting to note that it’s about cities. We don’t see elsewhere in Scripture where cities face some kind of eternal judgment anymore than they get an eternal reward, so I suspect this “day of judgment’ has something to do with the trajectory of these cities, how they will “sow and reap” in the world, and how the wages of their arrogance and sin will be the death of their culture. Historically, they all were eventually “judged” out of existence; all that remains is ruins, literally. More on this in a bit.

Then the seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name!” So he said to them, “I was watching The Adversary[1], Satan, fall like lightning from heaven[2]. Look, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and on the full force of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names stand written in heaven.”

There seems to be an almost child-like wonder: ”No way! Even supernatural evil has to submit to us in you name!” I’m not sure if they were excited about the power, amazed at what invoking the power of Jesus’ name could do, or a little of both. And depending on how you read that, you get a couple different ways of understanding what Jesus meant when he said, “I was watching the Satan fall from Heaven like lightning.”

·  If they are amazed at their own power, Jesus is warning them: “Listen, Satan loved power, and I watched him get cast out of heaven. Don’t fall in love with power.”

·  If they are amazed at Jesus’ power, he confirms it: “Yes, I was watching the power of the Prince of the Air[3] - Beelzebub[4], ruler of demons[5] - crumble even as you were at work. You can crush these  these snakes and scorpions through my power, and I will protect you from them.”

·  There is an interesting argument to be made that ‘heaven’ is Olympus, since the word here was sometimes used in antiquity to mean “the seat of the gods, the portion of Zeus.”[6] Zeus was a big deal to the Gentile audience. In Acts 14, Peter and Paul get confused with Zeus and Hermes at one point. In Revelation 2, Pergamum is identified as a place where Satan has this throne – perhaps the massive statue of Zeus, and where the people referred to him as “Zeus the Savior.” Keep in mind that the Gospel accounts were some of the last NT books written, so the authors had plenty of time to “read the room” and see what kind of details from the life of Jesus were important to know.  If so, here’s Luke writing to a predominantly Greek audience, associating the demonic realm with the Greek Pantheon (which even the Greeks had begun to believe at that point), and singling out Zeus with his lightning and all to highlight that Jesus as the Lord over them all.

And here is another interesting thing from this comment. This is the only recorded instance when Jesus told His disciples not to rejoice in something good.[7] Hmmmm. There may be a message here about here about what we are to truly value in the Kingdom. Obviously, freeing someone from demonic possession is a good thing (!), but Jesus is quick to redirect their enthusiasm.

“Jesus implies two sets of contrast: (1) Disciples should focus on their status before Christ instead of on their own power since it is only in the name of Christ that victory can be achieved (vv. 19, 22). (2) Disciples should focus on what happens “in heaven” rather than on their performance on earth.” (NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible)

Following Jesus starts with “being” – in Christ, a child of God, a citizen of the Kingdom, a living stone building the temple. It starts with a new identity. This is the most important thing. From that ‘being’ flows our ‘doing’ with the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. That’s everything from being good parents to stewarding our money wisely to casting out demons.

Jesus takes their eyes of the thing they did that impressed themselves and moves their eyes to the impressive thing God has done for them. This is always meant to be the greatest source of our joy.

At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your gracious will.[8]

This reason for rejoicing may sound odd to us, but it was a common expression among the Jewish people of Jesus time.

·  A first century Rabbi named Jochanan said, “From the time in which the temple was destroyed, wisdom was taken away from the prophets, and give a to fools and children.” (Bava Bathra, in the Babyonian Talmud)

·  A second century Rabbi named Shimon bar Yochai, wrote, “In the days of the Messiah, every species of wisdom, even the most profound, shall, be revealed; and this even to children." (Synopsis Sozar)[9]

The cities had every chance to welcome Jesus. They deliberately refused him. When they chose blindness, God granted them their request. Fortunately, God will reveal Himself to humble, open hearts. The contrast is between those who are self-sufficient and deem themselves wise and those who are dependent and love to be taught.[10]

 “Those who pride themselves in understanding divine things are judged, whereas those who understand nothing are taught.” (Expositor’s Bible Commentary)

Why was it good that God hid truths from those cities? They weren’t ready for it. It makes me think of the classic line from A Few Good Men:  “You can’t handle the truth.”

How often in church history have we seen the precious news of the Gospel misused in the hands of those who just don’t understand who Jesus is or what he taught? You don’t give that which is holy to those who will use it for destructive purposes.[11]

You know who was ready?  The common folk, the humble, the ones whose religiosity did not get in the way of seeing Jesus for who he was.

This wasn’t Jesus writing off the people in these towns as if they no longer mattered. Remember, he’s grieving their response. He’s just noting it was God’s will that what will eventually be known as the church – the corporate group of Jesus followers – is not going to begin in the halls of power and fame. It’s not going to trickle down from the  homes of the rich, the halls of academia, the chambers of government. It’s going to start with those who:

· know they are sick and need a doctor

· are willing to become like children (in that society, powerless)

· are there to serve, not be served

· ‘esteem others better than themselves’

· have rejected religiosity in favor of genuine love for God and others

I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but the next event is a religious leader asking how to get into the Kingdom, and Jesus responding with the Parable of the Good Samaritan, which ends with the command to be merciful, not so hung up on a tradition that breeds heartless arrogance.

God never intended to entrust the good news of the Gospel to those who love power, prestige, and arrogance. He entrusted it to the poor and powerless, the rejected, the overlooked. He gave it to those who understood their spiritual poverty (#beatitudes). He gave it to those who could understand that the good news of Jesus was, indeed, good news.

All things have been handed over to me by my Father.[12] No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son decides to reveal him.

Jesus came to earth to reveal who God is. We don’t have time to dive into a theology of the Trinity, but I think Jesus is just clarifying that He is God. God the Father’s power is God the Son’s power. God the Father’s rule and reign is God the Son’s rule and reign. What’s true about God the Father is true about God the Son.

The next verse is an open invitation: “Come unto me, all who are weary…” with a promise that Jesus will reveal who God is even more fully.

 “Come to me, all[13] you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.[14] Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is well-fitted[15]and easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.”

Let’s talk about rest, and yokes.

The yoke is primarily a farming image, In farming, two cattle are yoked together to plow. It was a way that young cattle learned from older, more experienced cattle. It was also a reality for those in poverty, as they would have to move a cart by putting a yoke of sorts on themselves– think of Tevya transporting milk in Fiddler On The Roof.

Jewish teachers spoke of people bearing the yoke of God’s kingdom, which was primarily obeying the Law.

· The Mishna, the first written collection of Jewish oral tradition, says, “Take upon you the yoke of the holy kingdom.”[16]

· A teacher before Jesus’ era said, “Come near me, you who are unlearned … Get wisdom, put your neck under her yoke … Look with your eyes: I have labored only a little and I have found for myself great rest” (Sirach 51:23 – 27).[17]

But what was meant to bring rest had brought burdensome and even oppressive additions of traditions so much that Jesus said the made scribes and Pharisees now ‘bound on heavy burdens’(Matthew 23:4.)[18]Jesus now speaks of his own yolk. Those who turned to God’s ways as revealed through Jesus would find rest for their souls (Jeremiah 6:16).[19]   As Adam Clarke says of this passage (and I am paraphrasing a bit),

·  Sinners, wearied in the ways of sin, are invited to come to Christ and find speedy relief.

·  Penitents, burdened with the guilt of their crimes, may come to the Cross, and find instant pardon.

·  Believers, sorely tempted, and oppressed by the remains of the carnal mind, may come to the blood that cleanses from all unrighteousness; and, purified from sin and strengthened in every temptation, they shall find rest in the Savior.

Songs for Contemplation

·      “O Come To the Altar.”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6oFT53Lrho

·      “Jesus, Strong and Kind.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5Y8s-Sz_ac

___________________________________________________________________________________

[1] “Satan” is a title; it would be more accurate to say “the Satan.”

[2] “It is not clear whether Jesus is speaking of a vision by which he saw something in the spiritual realm or if this is simply a declaration of what has been happening. In either case, Satan’s authority and power over people has been broken. Serpents and scorpions are physical dangers that the disciples will face in their preaching, and also symbols of demonic opposition.  (The ESV Global Study Bible)

“Jewish tradition spoke of Satan’s primeval fall in sin (though the Greek verb tense here might mean that Jesus watched Satan fleeing before them). The language… could also be used figuratively (see v. 15 ; La 2:1). (NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible)

“A second possible interpretation of Jesus’ words is as a warning against pride. It is as if He were saying: ‘Yes, you are quite heady because even the demons have been subject to you. But just remember… it was pride that resulted in Lucifer… being cast out of heaven. See that you avoid this peril.’”  (Believers Bible Commentary)

“This verse falls back on the taunt-song describing the fall of the king of Babylon (Isa 14:4-11).” (Expositor’s Bible Commentary)

“Similar imagery related to Satan’s defeat appears in John 12:31; Revelation 12:7–17; 20:1–3, 10.”  (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds of the New Testament)

[3] Ephesians 2:2

[4] Matthew 12:24

[5] Matthew 9:34

[6] According to the BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich, a Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature.

[7] Believers Bible Commentary

[8] “Jesus is not suggesting that God has chosen certain individuals for salvation and others for condemnation. Rather, God has decided that those who choose to place their trust in the wisdom of this world will be blinded to the reality of his kingdom, while those who reject such reliance on worldly wisdom (and depend on God) will receive understanding (vv.25-27).” (Asbury Bible Commentary)

[9] As noted by Adam Clarke in his commentary

[10]  Believer’s Bible Commentary

[11] “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” Matthew 7:6

[12] As in Dan. 7, the Son of Man has received all power and dominion.

[13] “When we read that the Father is revealed only to those whom the Son chooses, we might be tempted to think of an arbitrary selection of a favored few. The following verse guards against such an interpretation. The Lord Jesus issues a universal invitation to all who are weary and heavy laden to come to Him for rest. In other words, the ones to whom He chooses to reveal the Father are those who trust Him as Lord and Savior.” (Believer’s Bible Commentary) 

[14] Remember: he didn’t come to call the healthy, but the sick.

[15] The word Xrestos, transliterated chrestos. It was given as a name to slaves who were ‘useful’ or ‘kindly. A variant spelling is…. Christus J (HELPS Word Studies)

[16] Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

[17] NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible

[18] Adam Clarke Commentary

[19] “This is what the LORD says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls…’” 

Harmony #57: The Sending Of the 70/72[1] (Luke 10:1-16)

In the last installment, we read about the response of three potential followers of Jesus, all of whom had something that got in the way. Today, we will see the obedient response of 70 of Jesus’ followers (Luke 9:57-62).This is not the first time Jesus sent a group of his disciples on a focused mission. 

In the chapter just before this one, Luke records Jesus sending out 12 disciples, the number of tribes in Israel, to Jewish towns. Most commentators see this as symbolically reaching all of Israel with the good news of God’s coming Kingdom.

Today, Jesus sends out 70 disciples to Gentile towns. Why 70? Genesis 10 gives a list of the descendants of Noah’s children: "from these the nations spread out over the earth after the flood.” Guess how many nations? J[2]  This, then, is an inauguration of what will be a call to all of us to spread the Gospel to all the nations of the earth.[3]

* * * * *

After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him two by two into every town and place where he himself was about to go. He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest. Go! I am sending you out like lambs surrounded by wolves.

“Do not carry a money bag, a traveler’s bag filled with extra coats, or extra sandals,[4] and don’t get distracted by lengthy, time-consuming greeting with people you meet on the road.[5]

Whenever you enter a house, first say, ‘May peace be on this house!’ And if a peace-loving person is there, your peace will remain on him, but if not, it will return to you.  Stay in that same house, eating and drinking what they give you, for the worker deserves his pay. Do not move around from house to house.

“Whenever you enter a town and the people welcome you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in that town and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come upon you!’  But whenever you enter a town and the people do not welcome 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: The kingdom of God has come.’

 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say,1 ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: 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/alas[6] to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida![7] For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you[8].  And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades[9].

“The one who listens to you listens to me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

Today, we have a smorgasbord of points. Fill up your plates as you wish.

1. The 70 R US.  Some commentators point out that in Exodus 24, Moses chose 70 elders who went up Mt. Sinai with Moses and were filled with Spirit such that they prophesied (think ‘spoke inspired truth’). They became leaders of God’s people pointing them toward truth. Jesus now sets up the priestly/prophetic role of those who will bring the good news to all the nations – which will be all of us, not just those 70.  

“You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation… that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:5,9)

2. We should ‘pray’ and ‘go’ into the field.[10] Notice we pray and go. Prayer is not the equivalent of washing our hands of responsibility or engagement. ”Thoughts and prayers” for a harvest is not enough. We must go.

Where is the harvest field? Everywhere. All the time. Even the smallest moments are opportunities.[11] Just remember: We don’t save people. Free yourself from that pressure. But we do introduce people to the one who does. We plant truth; then we nurture the environment into which truth has been planted.

3. Dear sheep: expect the wolves. There should be no expectation that conditions will be safer or easier for us than it was for them.  They, like us, ought not expect to be liked, admired, or supported; rather, we should expect to be ignored, mocked, persecuted and even killed. We have to embrace the reality that in this world, there will be trouble, and some of it is because we are faithful witnesses.

This is not all the time, of course. The early church exploded because so many people liked the message and the messengers of Christianity. But that was always mixed in with trials and persecution.

I read too many news stories where Christians in the United States are shocked and scared when something happens that makes life hard because they are Christian.

· My Bible Study club at school got cancelled.

· That social media platform is censoring me.

· My workplace won’t let me put up Christian symbols.

· When I post Bible verses people mock me.

· I’m called all kinds of phobic just because I want to be faithful to biblical teaching.”

What did we expect?

Outrage is not the righteous response. Remember, the disciples wanted to call down fire on a Samaritan town that rejected them. Now Jesus is sending them to that town (among others). The response to trials is meant to be outreach. We are meant to invite even the wolves to meet the transformational power of Jesus so the sheep multiply.

4. Jesus deliberately ensured community. The 70 didn’t have money, extra clothes to keep them warm at night, or food. They could not live in isolation. This forced them into community.There may be an added element here of letting go of the need to be comfortable (or avoiding the appearance of displaying wealth), but I’m leaning toward the idea it was primarily to make community inescapable.

I wonder what it looks like to organize our lives and priorities such that we make life in Christian community such a priority that we can’t  imagine doing life without it. I’m not entirely sure what that looks like in our setting, but it seems important. If we take nothing else away from this, just remember that we are designed to rely on each other.

5. Kingdom-minded people have generous hospitality of mind, heart, and resources.[12]  We see clearly how this looked in the early church. The first followers of Jesus took this very seriously – and literally.

All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all.  There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. (Acts 4:32-34)

This ties back in to the community focus. Clearly, they lived in a rhythm of asking for help and giving help. This isn’t some woke Marxist utopia; this is Kingdom generosity. “They shared everything they had…there were no needy people among them”!  

6. We are to prioritize the mission. The Middle Eastern custom of greeting honored others, but prophets on mission were given an exemption in the Old Testament. he 70 had a narrow window of time for their particular mission, so they were laser focused.

I think it is a reminder to never forget that we are on a mission, and it needs to be prioritized. We just saw potential disciples give excuses about why they had to postpone the mission (“I have to bury my father; I need to say goodbye.”) As Dr. Seuss would say, “The time has come, the time is now, Marvin K. Mooney will you please go now!”

For the 70, this was a short window of time. Almost certainly they went back to long greetings when appropriate. It’s not that the greetings were bad. It’s about having the wisdom to prioritize the rhythm of the Kingdom in favor of the mission of the Kingdom.

7. The response to inhospitality is loving witness. Jesus told the 70 that if they go into a town and are welcomed, they should a) take care of their practical needs on God’s behalf (cure the sick miraculously) and b) tell them the Kingdom has come near. It’s not either/or; it’s both/and. 

But if they were not welcomed, they were to wipe the dust off your feet and leave - but still tell those who were hostile that the Kingdom has come near.  How were the 70 to respond to rejection and hostility? With witness!

If you experience rejection or hostility for being a follower of Jesus, don’t pray that God rains down fire. The door to the Kingdom is still open for all, and we should remind people of that no matter what they think of us or our message, God invites them into His Kingdom.

8. Honor people. They were not to move. This might characterize them as those who are shopping for the most luxurious accommodations when they should live simply and gratefully. This levels the socio-economic playing field. The disciples aren’t jockeying for the tastiest food and softest beds or wittiest company. They aren’t going to curry favor while in a town so they become upwardly mobile in society. They might get bread and water when they could be getting caviar and Verners somewhere else, but they will be content.

This seems really relevant. We are not called to continue to seek the bigger stage, the brighter lights, the trendier audience, the cooler venues, the more powerful and beautiful peers. It’s a trap. It’s a distraction. It’s also turns the people with whom we started into stepping stones on our way to “something greater,” which is almost always greater by Empire standards, not Kingdom standards.  

Sometimes, ministries grow organically. I’m not talking about that. I mean, if the disciples were staying in a house with someone who was just about to move into a much nicer place, it’s not like they couldn’t move with them J Sometimes, there are righteous reasons for moving to a different place of ministry. I don’t mean to imply that moving on is inherently wrong. But there is a difference between chasing bigger and better from a bad heart vs. stewarding what God gives us to steward.

Jesus is clear in this instruction: don’t chase comfort or status. As a picture on our wall said when I was a kid, “Bloom where you are planted.”

9. Accept what you are given. A joyful acceptance of hospitality, no matter how small or bland or unusual, goes a long way toward building relational bridges - especially if what someone offered was modest. The disciples’ response really mattered. Likely, the humble host is already self-conscious that Billy and Sarah up the street could give them smoked brisket instead of spam. How the disciples responded to their hospitality mattered a ton for the sake of the Kingdom.

10. Do the work of a missionary: heal and proclaim. In Luke 9, Jesus sent the twelve out to “proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal.”  In Luke 10, he sent the seventy out to “cure the sick…and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” At this stage of his ministry,  Jesus’ disciples do the same things they have seen Jesus doing: healing people and telling them about the Kingdom.  

“And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people” (Matt. 4:23)

Later on, after his death and resurrection, he will give them further instructions, but for now this was enough: heal people; do it as a sign that God’s kingdom is on its way into the world.[13]

For us, I think that bringing healing to people is a both/and: both prayers for supernatural healing (which shows the care and power of God in a supernatural way) and doing the work of bringing medical, emotional, relational and financial healing to all places of sickness in the world (which shows the care of God and the power of the church’s presence).

Friends oversees have told me that their church planting in new towns started with a year of establishing things like drug rehab clinics and orphanages. They healed the sick. When they proclaimed “The Kingdom of heaven is here,” the people had already seen what it would look like in a very practical sense.

I worry that we can overlook the importance of practical care as a sign of God’s love and provision. Helping the needy/sick/poor is not wokeness or a distracting social gospel; it’s a lifestyle that ought to be embedded in the DNA of the Christian.[14]

We can learn a lot from the “show and tell” we did in school. We don’t just show; we don’t just tell. It’s both J

11. Remember the message: The kingdom of God has come.   The “kingdom of God” in this present age is the rule and reign of God in people’s hearts and lives. In Luke 17:20-21 Jesus said,

“The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed (like Rome), nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”[15]

In other words, God is here. Now. Meanwhile, the Jewish people were expecting the Kingdom of God to do the following:

· bring peace by ruling the world (through the Zealot’s warrior/political messiah)

· bring righteousness by restoring the glory of the Temple (the Sadducees’ Torah/Temple Messiah)

· bring about socio-economic justice by ‘turning stones into bread’ (the Pharisee’s People’s Messiah)

Jesus addressed peace, righteousness and justice, but not like they expected.

· The Kingdom brings peace between us and God (through salvation and reconciliation) and peace with others (#newhumanity #nobarriers[16]) through Jesus.

· The Kingdom brings righteousness by cleansing our hearts, renewing our minds, and healing our souls.

· The Kingdom brings justice (just living) as God’s people bring a full range of provision and healing to the world as a demonstration of God’s care for “the least of these.”

This is the Kingdom, and it is here. Let’s ‘show and tell’ everybody.

____________________________________________________________________________________

[1] It’s a Hebrew/Greek thing, like 666 vs. 606 in Revelation. When the Hebrew was translated into Greek, 70 was translated as 72.  In both cases, Jesus sent out as many disciples as there were nations in the ancient world.

[2] Some commentators point out that in Exodus 24, Moses chose 70 elders who went up Mt. Sinai with Moses and were filled with Spirit such that they prophesied (think ‘spoke inspired truth’). The Numbers 11 account notes two additional men besides the 70 were with Moses, Eldad and Medad, who also received the spirit and prophesied as the other elders did. So were there 70 (on the basis of being on Mt. Sinai with Moses), or 72?

[3] “The 12 and the 70,” biblehub.com

[4] Extras denoted wealth. Also, this meant they had to stay at a house, because they would be too cold to sleep outside. It forced relationship and community.

[5] “Greetings were socially mandatory, except on an urgent prophetic errand or mission as in 2Ki 4:29.”  (NIV Cultural Background Study Bible)

[6] A “woe” is an exclamation of grief, similar to what is expressed by the word alas. 

[7] “The condemnation of these towns would be based on the revelation they’d received. Capernaum, in particular, had witnessed many of Jesus’s miraculous works (see 4:31-41; 7:1-10), yet the majority of the city’s inhabitants rejected him.” (“Ministry on the way to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51–19:27)”, biblestudytools.com)

[8] “Chorazin and Bethsaida have been so thoroughly destroyed that their exact location is not definitely known today.” (Believer’s Bible Commentary)

[9] An allusion to the fall of Babylon noted in Isa 14:13, 15.

[10] Bonus point: Governments/institutions/systems take a position either for or against the Kingdom. This is what we mean when we talk about “systemic” problems. Sometimes, it’s more than individuals who oppose God’s Kingdom. It’s entire structures of society. We talk about corporations that we support (or don’t support, perhaps) because they have corporate policies that we believe promote virtue or vice. It happens in countries where religious freedom is more or less allowed. I offer this to note that “all of creation groans” as it awaits redemption. The fallenness of individuals will manifest in the things those individuals build. It’s important to “pray and go” to both individuals and the cities/countries/industries/businesses in which they live. Everything needs Jesus.

[11] “My (Paul’s) job was to plant the seed, and Apollos was called to water it. Any growth comes from God, so the ones who water and plant have nothing to brag about. God, who causes the growth, is the only One who matters.” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7)

[12] You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. ”For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, He will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God. 2 Corinthians 9:7-12 NLT 

[13] This list is a combination of lists found at “On The Road With Jesus: The Mission Of The Seventy,” goodfaithmedia.org. and a list at Believer’s Bible Commentary.

[14] I think that’s what the foot-washing ad during the Superbowl was trying to convey.

[15] I believe that’s the best translation.

[16] Ephesians 2:14-15