ho would surely reject his messengers reminded Jesus
of the cities which had already rejected him, and he paused for a moment
to speak solemnly of their guilty unbelief. He referred to Chorazin and
Bethsaida, declaring that in the Day of Judgment it would be more
tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for these cities, for even the heathen
world would have repented in the face of such evidence of his divine
mission as Jesus had given to the cities of Israel. He referred
particularly to Capernaum, to its peculiar privileges and to its
consequently greater condemnation. Jesus was stating the abiding principle
that unusual opportunities involve unusual responsibilities. He emphasized
the seriousness of rejecting his messengers by stating that in despising
them men are really despising himself and that those who reject Jesus are
rejecting his Father who sent him., vs. 13-16.

In order to complete the story of the Seventy, Luke proceeds at once to
describe their return. They came back elated, with the report that even
the demons were subject to them. Our Lord replied by a statement that in
the overthrow of these messengers of Satan he saw the ultimate defeat of
the Prince of darkness and of all the forces of evil, and he declared that
he was giving to his messengers power over all that might oppose or might
threaten to destroy them. Yet, he added, their chief joy should not be in
their ability to perform these works of wonder, but rather in their having
a part in his triumphant cause and in receiving his salvation. Vs. 17-20.

At this time our Lord himself shared in the exultation of his followers
and returned thanks to the Father for what he was accomplishing through
the humble messengers whom Jesus had chosen, so that the results were a
manifestation of divine power. He added a striking claim which indicates
that the ideal Man is likewise the true Son of God who alone can reveal
the Father to men. Then lastly, as he turned to his disciples, he
congratulated them upon their great privilege, assuring them that "many
prophets and kings" desired to see the things which they were seeing as
his servants and as the instruments of his power. He intimated something
of the exalted joy which through all the coming years his followers would
feel as they realized their privilege of serving such a Master, and of
revealing him to men. Vs. 21-24.

4. The Good Samaritan. Ch. 10:25-37

25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and mad