Luke 10:3-8 3Go; watch out, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7And remain in the same house, eating and drinking the things from them, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not move from house to house. 8And whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you.
In this section, Jesus gives specific directions related to hospitality or lack of it. He sent (apostellō) the seventy-two disciples in the same way he sent the twelve apostles. The larger group will further the mission started by the smaller group. The mission of proclamation is not for a small group of select people but is at the heart of being a disciples. Verse 3 begins with a warning that the reception may not always be welcoming. People will act like wolves by rejecting the message of the gospel and will even cause harm to the messengers.
Verse 4 focuses on the journey and challenges the disciples to live by faith by taking nothing extra. Jesus reflects later on this in 22:35. The last statement about greeting no one needs to be interpreted within the ancient context. A greeting like this was not a “hello, how are you?” kind of statement but one that would take many hours or a whole day. The ancient custom was to become engaged in conversation. The purpose of this last statement was to express urgency in getting the message out. The disciples needed to get to where they were going so that people could hear the gospel. They had to be careful they did not get distracted by gabbing with the fellow travelers.
Verses 5-6 gives instructions for once the disciples arrive in the town or village. Peace (shalōm) was the typical Jewish greeting. Pronouncing peace (eirēnē) over someone was a form of blessing and prayer that God would grant wholeness and happiness. In his letters, Paul expanded this greeting to “grace and peace,” and sometimes added “mercy.” The house represented the family and not the building in which they lived. The phrase son of peace is difficult to interpret because of a lack of further specific description. Such a person seems to be someone who welcomes the pair disciples into his home. He is open to the gospel and shows hospitality in good custom. God has prepared the soil of this person’s heart to hear and receive the seed of the word. A person of peace will experience more peace, the peace of Christ, by being open to the message. But not everyone will be as welcoming. The disciples should be prepared for rejection.
Verses 7-8 describe what the disciples should do once they have entered a home. They are to be good guests and eat whatever is given them, without complaining, making faces, or being ungrateful. The hosts will recognized the worth of having the disciples with them and repay the blessing by taking care of their basic needs. In the historical context of the seventy-two, they would not need to worry about non-kosher food since they were traveling in an area (Samaria and into Judea) where people ate food according to the laws of the Torah. As the mission of the church expanded, issues of kosher food could become a challenge for Jewish Christians. Paul gave the answer for this kind of situation in 1 Timothy 4:4: “Everything created by God is good, and nothing is rejected if received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.” Being a good missionary sometimes requires eating things that are not part of one’s typical diet. Just say a prayer of thanksgiving and dedication and trust the meal to God.
The disciples also should not go looking for better accommodation or food by going to another house. They should not go shopping around for a nicer place to stay but be happy with whom God has led them. Behind this passage is the theological assumption of God’s providential leadership on the part of the disciples and his prevenient grace in the lives of the hosts. Following God’s call always requires faith, and this faith may be put to the test in challenging disciples to step out of their comfort and into the unknown. Jesus promised this group that they would be cared for, and we can also trust that where God leads, God will also provide.
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