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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Ver. 8-12. We have met with the same instructions before in Matthew and Mark. See Poole on "Mat_10:11", and following verses to Mat_10:15. See Poole on "Mar_6:10", See Poole on "Mar_6:11". There is some difference in words. Matthew saith, —inquire who in the city is worthy, and, Luk_10:13,
if the house be worthy; Luke saith,
if the son of peace be there; they both mean the same thing: if there be any in it, that belong to God’s election of grace, any whom God intends by you to call, and make partakers of the peace of the gospel. For other things relating to the opening of the words, see the notes before mentioned. Only we may from hence observe for our instruction,
1. That it is the will of Christ, that his ministers should not be too solicitous for a livelihood. As the labourer is worthy of his hire, so he that sends them into his harvest will see they shall be fed. Let them look to their calling, and to the fulfilling of their ministry; God will see they shall be fed.
2. That the society of ministers of the gospel, in cities and houses, should not be with debauchees, but with those that are worthy, so far as man can judge; such as are their Master’s friends and servants should be their companions.
3. Those are most worthy in places amongst whom the Son of peace is, men and women that have the most knowledge of and love for Christ.
4. The ministers of Christ ought to carry themselves with all imaginable civility, wishing good to all, and doing good to all.
5. Christ’s ministers ought not to make their bellies their gods, —eat such things as are set before you.
6. They have a Divine licence to take and use for their necessities such things as men give them.
7. Christ expects that his people should maintain his ministers, not depriving the labourers of their hire, nor muzzling the mouths of the oxen which tread out the corn, 1Co_9:9,10, nor preferring their servants for their worldly occasions before such as labour for their souls, and in that work are God’s messengers to them, and his servants in the first place, though employed in watching for people’s souls.
8. The not giving a livelihood to ministers, is a not receiving them, that is, provided the people be able.
9. People by not receiving the gospel of peace brought them by faithful ministers shall do them no hurt, their peace shall return unto them. They shall be a sweet savour unto God, even as to them that perish. Their judgment is with the Lord, and their work with their God, though they labour in vain; though Israel be not gathered, they shall be glorified. Men proportion their rewards according to successes of servants. God more justly proportions his rewards to men’s sincerity and diligence in their labour.
10. If men refuse the gospel, yet they shall know the kingdom of God is come nigh unto them. If they will not be subject to his kingdom of grace, yet they shall be subdued by the kingdom of his power and justice.
11. There will come a day when men that have the offers of the gospel of peace, and refuse them, slighting and despising his ministers and their message, will find that they had better have lived in Sodom when it was burnt with fire and brimstone; their portion of wrath in the day of judgment will be larger and bitterer than the portion of the men of Sodom. Let all who live in our days hear and fear, and in time break off their sins by a true repentance, lest they go to hell at the highest disadvantage.