1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them,  “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few.  Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. 3-7 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no money bag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.  Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the labourer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.  8-9 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 

10-11 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive 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, that the kingdom of God has come near.’  12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.  13-15 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable in the judgement for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum,  will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to  Hades. 16 “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.” Luke 10:1-16 English Standard Version

This section shows us that Jesus didn't work haphazardly – he clearly had a plan. That, in itself, is already a good lesson for us to apply. He sent out 36 pairs of disciples to prepare towns and cities for his arrival. In a way, they were doing what Christians do today in urging people to be prepared for the return of Jesus. What did Jesus say was a great need in the world and what did he urge the disciples to do about it? (vs 2)

We are not all preachers and missionaries, but we can all be part of praying for God's kingdom to grow and seek to support those who God sends into the world. And they need our support. Notice the instructions Jesus gave to the disciples in vs 3-7. They were to depend on God's provision for their needs through the kindness of 'sons of peace'. Those would've been people who already obeyed God in showing hospitality to strangers and travellers. Notice too that the disciples were to be content with what God provided and not be picky and choosy about where they stayed. This should apply to ministers of Churches today too.

So we see what was expected from those who take God's message into the world. But what about the responsibility of those who hear God's word? Why do you think Jesus said what we read in vs 12? And why will the day of judgement be more bearable for cities like Sodom, Tyre and Sidon – cities which were known for great wickedness - than for cities like Bethsaida and Capernaum? (vs 13-15) Take a moment to think of your answer as it has a lot to say to people in the world today.

I think part of the answer is a comment Jesus made in a parable to teach people to prepare for his return. He said: “A servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. But someone who doesn't know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.” Luke 12:47-48

It's the principle of what we do with the light God has given to us. Jesus said that the message the 72 disciples went out to preach brought God's kingdom 'near' to the people. And in vs 16 he says that those who reject the message of his disciples reject Jesus himself, and God the Father! That is a serious crime – more serious even than the sins of Sodom. There is a big responsibility for us to share the gospel, but a greater responsibility for everyone who hears the message that brings God's kingdom near to them.