Luke 10:17 - 20
17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Questions:
ReplyDelete1. Why were the demons subject to them?
2. What did Jesus mean that He saw Satan falling from heaven?
3. Has Jesus given us blanket authority to tread on the enemy?
4. Can nothing hurt us?
5. What is Jesus point that we shouldn't rejoice that the spirits are subject to us, but instead that are names are written in heaven?
https://www.preceptaustin.org/luke-10-commentary says:
ReplyDeleteBarclay adds that "It is not the joy that comes from earthly things, still less from triumphing over someone else in competition. It is a joy whose foundation is God."
John MacArthur explains I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning - Commentators have offered various interpretations of what the Lord meant by this saying. Some argue that it refers to Satan’s original fall (Isa. 14:12), but that incident has nothing to do with the immediate context. Others have suggested several other possibilities: that Christ had in mind His vanquishing of Satan at His temptation; or that He referred to Satan’s subjection to Him by virtue of His own ministry of casting out demons; or the crushing of Satan’s head at the cross, or Satan’s future sentencing to the lake of fire. But the imperfect tense of the verb translated I was watching suggests a continual process rather than a one-time event such as those offerings. Although they were truly triumphs of Christ over Satan, the vivid imagery of lightning, which repeatedly flashes brilliantly and then is gone, suggests a different explanation. The picture here is of Jesus rejoicing as He observed Satan’s kingdom being destroyed one rescued soul at a time through the seventy’s evangelistic ministry. That would continue to be true throughout all the history of the church as God and the holy angels rejoice every time one lost and damned soul is recovered from Satan’s domain (cf. Luke 15:7, 10).
https://www.preceptaustin.org/luke-10-commentary continued:
ReplyDeleteIf we are truly engaged in the Lord's missionary work, we will from time to time see and/or experience remarkable supernatural works. It would be easy to focus on those things (and fall prey to a dangerous, deceptive sense of spiritual pride or superiority! Memorize and live in the truth of 2 Cor 3:5-6-note!). In so doing we might forget the most incredible miracle of all, that our "names are recorded in heaven!"
He bids them consider themselves as debtors to divine grace, which reveals unto babes the mysteries of God; for He would not allow their new position as workers to make them forget that they were the chosen of God, and therefore debtors.
Criswell on do not rejoice - The conclusion of the Lord's instructions is a caution to the disciples not to become enamored with sensational spiritual events, however significant. Rather, attention should be focused on salvation, the central theme of all prophecy and Scripture as well as the chief concern of Christ's life. The presence of one's name in heaven is of greater significance than any individual spiritual prowess about which one might boast.
Questions and findings:
ReplyDelete1. Why were the demons subject to them?
Because Jesus empowered them and gave them a specific commission that involved cleansing people of demons. When Jesus/God wants something done, He commissions someone to do it - and it will get done, period.
2. What did Jesus mean that He saw Satan falling from heaven?
I think He meant that Satan fell from a position of power that he had over specific people. He may also have been referring to Satan's original fall from heaven. Or, He may also have been foreshadowing Satan's fall from power when Jesus died for us.
3. Has Jesus given us blanket authority to tread on the enemy?
I think the answer is "Yes and No". Yes, we always have the ability and power (given to us by Jesus / the Holy Spirit) to resist the enemy in our own lives. No, we don't always have the power to remove Satan's influence over other people. That power comes with specific missions and commissions from Jesus. I would add that if we are walking in the Spirit, we will probably always be on a mission, and those missions will always be damaging to Satan's domain.
4. Can nothing hurt us?
Assuming that we are in Christ, all "hurt" will be sent and/or allowed by God. It's serious when we are not walking in step with the Holy Spirit - so serious that God will get our attention - and that will many times involve pain. But nothing outside of God can hurt us. I hasten to add that pain also comes when we are walking in step with the Spirit. God allows it as part of His grand plan.
5. What is Jesus point that we shouldn't rejoice that the spirits are subject to us, but instead that are names are written in heaven?
Sometimes our mission is very exciting and we can see the success. At these times, our natural human reaction is to get puffed up. You can see this in any petty bureaucrat who has let what very little power they have go to their head. It's human nature.
Instead of placing our joy in the success of a particular mission, we need to rejoice in being in Christ, being with Christ and our future with Christ. Sometimes we see how successful missions are, and sometimes they look like abject failures. There are people who have served their whole life and didn't experience any success, until after their lives were over.
We need to put our focus on where it belongs - on Jesus. The results of missions are many times hidden from us. If we put our joy in results, we are only going to be disappointed (or filled with pride when we see success).