Luke 10:1-20: God's plan for Cities
Two powerful events take place in the first half of Luke 10,
Jesus sends out seventy disciples and warns those cities against rejecting their
message.
Modern cities reflect
ancient ones. Both are often run by wicked officials; both are subject to God's judgement. Authority is given to disciples to show people a better way to live.
The Commission
Jesus gives His followers a commission for the lost. “The
harvest truly is great but the laborers are few: therefore, pray the Lord of
the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”(verse 2) He then gives
instructions about how to behave in a foreign city “Carry neither money, bag
nor knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. But whatever house
you enter say ‘Peace to this house.’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace
will rest on it; if not it will return to you.” (verse 4-6)
From there He tells them to “heal the sick” in every city
and proclaim the kingdom of God. This isn’t just instruction for disciples, it’s
also a warning to those who choose to ignore the goodness of God.
Jesus warns 3 cities
Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. Those cities are contrasted with 2 others,
Tyre and Sidon. We don’t have details about those ancient cities except that
the first 3 are coastal and Jewish and the other two are inland and Gentile.
The Gentiles didn’t get the benefit of Christ’s ministry while he was alive. The
Jewish leaders thought they knew better than God and rejected calls to change.
God gives cities a choice the same way he does for
individuals, accept my Son or face judgement.
Authority of Leaders
We know that the Jewish cities saw signs and wonders there
but refused to repent and turn away from sin. It’s also interesting that none
of them is around today. Every one shows evidence of homes and vibrant life,
but all disappeared leaving nothing but ruins for archeologists to find.
So what? After all cities rise and fall throughout history,
what’s the big deal with these particular places?
It’s really the leadership and institutions that Jesus condemns. It’s their decisions that either permit or reject morality. Looting and theft are legally permissible in a few cities in California. Drug abuse and sex trafficking are routinely ignored, as is prostitution in countless others. Abortion is permissible in New York beyond 24 weeks.
In a spiritual sense city officials are
responsible for the judgement of an area. Cities elect (or appoint) leaders
that will choose their spiritual direction. Think of all the problems modern
cities have. From sanitation and taxes to crime and homelessness, these aren’t
different from ancient problems. But responsible leaders either tackle problems
for those who live there, or take advantage of their position and benefit themselves.
Rejection of Goodness
People are sinful. We are slaves to selfishness and our
decisions lead to disease, homelessness, crime and death. But the gospel is a
reprieve for a dying world, a city in throes of darkness. It’s redemption for
both leaders and citizens. When it’s allowed to spread it brings justice and
peace even in the darkest of places.
The entire city doesn’t need to be transformed overnight,
but when it specifically rejects the work of God it brings judgement on itself.
Samaritan’s Purse set up a field hospital in New York City in 2020. They
responded to the spreading Corona virus that was supposed to cripple the nation. New York with its massive population did see high numbers of
hospitalizations. But the city kicked them out after a month. Samaritan’s
Purse, led by Franklin Graham, believes in a biblical view of marriage so they
had to go. City officials that have their authority from God decided the mere presence
of a Christian organization was an offence.
The scriptures talk about choices, the fool and wise, the
straight and the narrow path. But choosing to honor God or reject His goodness
isn’t like picking the wrong door in a game show. We don’t
accidentally choose to reject the things of God as if our decision were a roll
of the dice. Since God is good than everything from Him is also good. Our lives
reflect the image of our maker and we produce fruit. We decide how to live with
every choice we make.
Selfish leaders will permit crime and even encourage it.
They’ll continue in their recklessness to ignore the voice of God and make it
difficult for goodness to exist. They are slaves to sin and they care nothing
for their constituents. It explains Andrew Cuomo (New York’s former governor)
decision to pack the nursing homes full of Covid positive patients. It led to
countless deaths he later tried to cover up. It explains why Seattle and
Portland both denied worship leader Sean Feucht a permit to hold worship
services outdoors. Both cities permitted Black Lives Matter marches earlier in
the year.
“Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come
near you. But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom
than for that city.” (verses 11-12)
Good News
Grace and forgiveness are for everyone, including those in
authority who’ve acted selfishly. But continual rejection of God’s goodness for
those under your authority brings a promise of judgement. It’s easy to see sin
and corruption in cities and shake our heads in disgust. Real maturity forces
us to evaluate our own authority and clean up our sin. The Christian should
always ask “Where have I permitted callousness toward God’s judgement? Have I
closed a door to forgiveness, or repentance?”
But there is good news for those who submit to the Father
and become disciples. He gives us the “…authority to trample on serpents and
scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means
hurt you.” (verse 19)
We become like the seventy sent out when we recognize that
our authority is under heaven. Our responsibility is for our own lives first
and then to those around us.
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