Luke 10 Overview
2x2 (Two by Two)
After this, the Lord appointed seventy other talmudic and sent them on ahead in pairs to every town and place where he himself was about to go...'Get going now, but pay attention! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.'
Luke 10:1, 3, CJB
Jesus sent out 70 disciples to places He was planning on traveling to. They were to tell the people in the town that the Messiah was coming and prepare them for His arrival. They were supposed to teach His teachings and perform healings. Before sending them out, Jesus gave them a list of do's and don't's:
DoDeclare peace over any house you enter (v5-6).
Stay in one house, eating and drinking whatever is provided to you (v7-8). If the town doesn't accept you, shake the dust off your feet and move on (v10-11). |
Don'tCarry a pack or moneybag (v3).
Stop and talk to people on the road (v3). Move around from house to house (v7). |
How does this translate to today?
Pray over a town or area you're going to try to evangelize to. If you're going to a park, pray over the park. Don't bring anything unnecessary. If you don't need a laptop at the park, don't bring one. If you aren't planning on taking someone to lunch to discuss the Bible, don't bring your wallet or purse. Just you yourself. If someone at the park doesn't want to talk to you, don't persist or bug them; just leave.
Do I really have to move into someone's house to tell people about the Gospel?
Not necessarily. If you're evangelizing in your town, you can stay at your house. But if you're going on mission, you'll get an opportunity to observe this "Do" Jesus gave to His followers.
For example, if you're on mission in America, most often, you'll probably be sleeping in a church in the town you're on mission at. But if you're on mission in another country, chances are you'll be staying in someone's house who's willing to house and feed you for the duration of your mission.
For example, if you're on mission in America, most often, you'll probably be sleeping in a church in the town you're on mission at. But if you're on mission in another country, chances are you'll be staying in someone's house who's willing to house and feed you for the duration of your mission.
Why can't I bring money with me?
This idea could work in one of two possible ways:
If Jesus was sending these disciples among other Jewish communities, the idea could've been to test these communities to see if they're hospitable as they're supposed to be. The people of God were supposed to emulate the hospitality of Abraham, their father. If a community's hospitality was Abrahamic, these two strangers would've been accepted, housed and fed by someone in the community. However, if the community's hospitality wasn't Abrahamic, the strangers would move on.
Or
If Jesus was sending these disciples outside of Jewish communities, the idea could've been to rely on the provision of God as the disciples went from town to town.
If Jesus was sending these disciples among other Jewish communities, the idea could've been to test these communities to see if they're hospitable as they're supposed to be. The people of God were supposed to emulate the hospitality of Abraham, their father. If a community's hospitality was Abrahamic, these two strangers would've been accepted, housed and fed by someone in the community. However, if the community's hospitality wasn't Abrahamic, the strangers would move on.
Or
If Jesus was sending these disciples outside of Jewish communities, the idea could've been to rely on the provision of God as the disciples went from town to town.
Am I supposed to be rude to people while I'm on mission?
The idea of not stopping to talk to people while on the road could've been a caution to not let the disciples get distracted from their mission. They could've seen an old friend or someone they knew, who might want to catch up, derailing them from the task at hand.
Of course we're not supposed to be rude to people. The idea wasn't "ignore people" or "act like they don't exist", but most likely, "don't get distracted".
Of course we're not supposed to be rude to people. The idea wasn't "ignore people" or "act like they don't exist", but most likely, "don't get distracted".
Do I have to go with someone else?
Going two by two (or with more people) is a good idea, but not necessarily required. Believers are always supposed to be "on mission", meaning if you're at the grocery store alone and happen to strike up a conversation with the cashier, you don't have to say, "Wait just a minute, I have to get someone else," before talking to them about the Gospel.
But, going two by two can be a benefit in many ways. If one person is nervous, the other can encourage them and help them when things get awkward. If one's being too aggressive, the other can step in and calm things down. If one is being pushy, the other can speak up. Going two by two isn't a requirement, but it's not a bad idea.
But, going two by two can be a benefit in many ways. If one person is nervous, the other can encourage them and help them when things get awkward. If one's being too aggressive, the other can step in and calm things down. If one is being pushy, the other can speak up. Going two by two isn't a requirement, but it's not a bad idea.
10:02
He said to them, 'To be sure, there is a large harvest. But there are few workers. Therefore, plead with the Lord of the Harvest that he speed workers out to gather in his harvest.'
Luke 10:2, CJB
In college, some members of my college ministry and I would get together almost every night at 10:02 p.m. and pray together. Someone would lead us in reading Luke 10:2 and ask the following questions:
Who is the harvest?
The harvest refers to the lost, the nonbelievers, those who don't know or have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Who are the workers?
Us. The believers. Anyone who calls themselves a follower and disciple of Jesus Christ is referred to by "the workers".
Who is the Lord of the Harvest?
Yahweh. El Shaddai. Elohim. Adonai. El Roi. Jehovah Mekadesh. God.
What do we pray for?
We pray that God--the Lord of the Harvest—would send the workers--us—into the harvest field--the world, or wherever nonbelievers are—to gather the harvest--evangelize.
We met at 10:02 p.m. intentionally to remind us of Luke 10:2 and how important evangelism is for believers to take part in. Without evangelism, how would people hear the Gospel? If they don't hear it, how would they accept it? If they don't hear it and accept it, how do they begin and develop a relationship with God?
We would pray for our college campus, the town our college was located, our hometowns, our college ministry, us, people we knew who didn't have a relationship with Jesus; we prayed for our country, our political leaders, our bosses and whatever requests we shared.
You don't have to meet at 10:02 p.m. to do this. You don't even have to do it with a bunch of people. You can pray at home alone if you want to. But praying together is how believers grow together.
We would pray for our college campus, the town our college was located, our hometowns, our college ministry, us, people we knew who didn't have a relationship with Jesus; we prayed for our country, our political leaders, our bosses and whatever requests we shared.
You don't have to meet at 10:02 p.m. to do this. You don't even have to do it with a bunch of people. You can pray at home alone if you want to. But praying together is how believers grow together.