Luke’s Gospel presents Jesus as the itinerant healer and teacher who sends his followers to proclaim the Kingdom. Luke 10 sits at a pivotal point in the story of Jesus’ mission: after appointing seventy-two disciples, he commissions them, warns of opposition, and observes the cost and joy of ministry. The chapter also contains two well-known teachings: the Good Samaritan parable (universal neighbor-love) and the Mary and Martha scene (contemplation and hospitality). In NABRE, Luke 10 emphasizes mission, mercy, and proper listening to the Word, inviting all Christians to participate in the compassionate outreach of the Father.
Text and Context of Lc 10
In Luke 10, Jesus appoints seventy-two disciples and sends them ahead to towns and villages, instructing them to rely on hospitality, preach the Kingdom, and heal the sick. The mission is framed by Jesus’ instruction on prayer, reliance on God, and the joy of successful ministry. The chapter culminates with the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and the scene of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42), all set on Jesus’ journey toward Jerusalem, highlighting the themes of mission, mercy, and attentive discipleship.
Key Verses of Lc 10
Lc 10:1 — After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others… — NABRE
Theological explanation — The mission of a larger number of disciples expands Jesus’ circle, emphasizing communal evangelization and dependence on God. Luke shows that ministry proceeds in pairs and under divine guidance. The passage foreshadows the church’s ongoing mission to go forth into all towns.
Lc 10:2 — He said to them, The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few
He said to them, The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few; so pray— NABRE
Theological explanation — The text highlights urgency and the need for divine assistance in mission. Prayer is presented as the indispensable precondition for effective evangelization. Luke links human effort with God’s initiative, fostering trust in the Holy Spirit.
Lc 10:9 — And heal the sick there
And heal the sick there, and say to them, The kingdom of God has come near to you — NABRE
Theological explanation — Healing signs accompany the proclamation of the Kingdom, showing God’s mercy in action. Luke’s mission discourse presents power healing as a credential of the messenger. The proclamation and the mercy demonstrated invite repentance and faith.
Lc 10:16 — He who listens to you listens to me
He who listens to you listens to me. — NABRE
Theological explanation — The authority of the messenger is linked to Christ himself; reception or rejection of the messenger implies reception or rejection of Jesus. The verse reinforces the communal nature of mission and accountability to God. It also foreshadows Johannine themes of listening to Jesus’ teaching.
Lc 10:27 — You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind — NABRE
Theological explanation — The Great Commandment integrates love of God and love of neighbor as the summation of Scripture. Luke places this response at the center of discipleship, uniting action and interior devotion. It reveals the ethical core that informs mission, mercy, and daily life.
Theological explanation — Mercy is shown in concrete action toward the neighbor; the parable of the Good Samaritan models Christian charity. The verse invites believers to incarnate love beyond borders of culture and religion. It underscores that authentic faith expresses itself in tangible acts of mercy.
Lc 10:42 — There is need of only one thing
There is need of only one thing. — NABRE
Theological explanation — Jesus commends contemplative priority (Mary) while affirming active service (Martha). The tension resolves into a call to align prayerful listening with action rooted in love. Luke invites disciples to seek the better portion that nourishes ongoing mission.
Church Teaching on This Passage
Church Fathers and Magisterium interpret Luke 10 as a programmatic vision for mission, mercy, and devotion. Augustine and Chrysostom highlight the Good Samaritan as the model of neighbor-love, while emphasizing interior conversion and the primacy of mercy. The Magisterium has consistently taught that Luke’s account instructs the Christian to evangelize in dependence on God, to heal, and to live out love of neighbor in tangible acts of mercy, reflecting the Kingdom among all peoples.
This Chapter in the Liturgy
In the Catholic liturgy, passages from Luke 10 appear in Ordinary Time on Sundays and weekdays. The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) is commonly proclaimed to illustrate mercy and neighbor-love in homilies about charity and social action. The Mary and Martha episode (Luke 10:38-42) is used to reflect on modes of discipleship—contemplation and service—within the Church’s life. The commissioned mission of the 72 is read as a reminder of the Church’s ongoing universal mission to announce the Kingdom.
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