Notes on Luke 10:17-24

The 70/72 returned with "joy." Though "joy" may be expressed in different ways by different individuals at various times, it is a characteristic of salvation (Luke 1:14; 2:10; 8:13; 15:7, 10; 24:41, 52).

The demons submit to the name of Jesus. Though Luke does not mention the power to cast out demons in Luke 10:1-16, it is rightly understood from Luke 9:1-2 that the mission of the 70/72 included such power. God's Kingdom (Luke 10:9) and the defeat of Satan/demons (Luke 10:17-18) are brought together in Luke 11:20.

The name of Jesus should not be understood as some magical spell or incantation. It refers to the power of Jesus (Acts 19:13; cf. Col. 2:15).

Jesus says, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven" (Luke 10:18). The tense of the verb here is inceptive aorist, thus it should be understood as "I was seeing." So, Luke understood each exorcism by the 70/72 as demonstrating the defeat of Satan. Hendriksen quoting Godet says, "[Jesus meant] While you were expelling the subordinates [the demons] I was seeing the master [Satan] fall." He goes on and adds:

One important item should be added to this interpretation: in all probability the Master's exalted language, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning," was not only a reference to this one event, namely, the success of the seventy-two, but rather to all similar events that would take place afterward. In other words, Jesus viewed the triumph of these seventy-two as being symptomatic of ever so many other victories over Satan throughout the course of the new dispensation, triumphs accomplished through the work of thousands of other missionaries. He was looking far into the future (cf. Matt. 24:14). He saw the ultimate discomfiture of the ugly dragon and all his minions.

The casting out of demons demonstrated the defeat of Satan. It demonstrates that the Kingdom of God and its King has come (cf. Luke 11:20-22).

As to the phrase "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy," Hendriksen says:

Note the following:

a. Jesus often made use of figurative language, though such language was frequently interpreted literally (Matt. 16:6-12; Luke 8:52, 53; John 2:19-21; 3:3, 4; 4:13-15; 6:51, 52; 11:11-13, etc.).

b. In the immediately preceding passage (verse 18) the Lord had used symbolical language when he spoke of seeing Satan falling from heaven like lightning.

c. If elsewhere Satan is called "dragon" and "serpent" (Rev. 12:9; 20:2), why should it be strange if also here in Luke 10:19 the domain of the prince of evil is called that of snakes and scorpions? Is it not Satans intention to poison the minds of men and to impart the sting of death to all who oppose him?

d. There is no record of any literal fulfilment of this statement.

e. The true interpretation is also supported by the explanatory expression "(I have given you authority over) all the power of the enemy." For explanation see Rom. 16:20, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet."

As to the promise, And nothing will in any way hurt you, see John 10:27, 28; Rom. 8:28-39.

The ability to cast out demons does not mean one is necessarily saved (cf. Acts 19:15, etc.). While it glorifies God and one should be joyful that at the name of Jesus every knee bows (Phil. 2:10, et. al.), Jesus says, "do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." For the elect the casting out of demons is insignificant as compared to the ultimate glory of being saved; that is of having one's name recorded in heaven's book of life (Isa. 4:3; Dan. 12:1; Rev. 3:5; 20:12, 15). Casting out of demons is a temporary affair, while everlasting salvation to God's glory alone, never ends.

seventy returned. The narrative moves forward to when the disciples returned from their mission (vv. 1-12). joy. The disciples rejoiced in the success they saw in ministry.

watching. This could have been an actual vision or simply an explanation of what success in mission means (v. 17; Isa. 14:12). Satan fall. The main idea is the defeat of Satan's reign over the lives of people. Spiritual blindness is removed as the gospel goes forward (11:20-22; Rev. 20:3). Serpents and scorpions . . . power. A picture for the spiritual victory Christ's disciples have over Satan, the ancient serpent (Ps. 91:13; see Gen. 3:1-15; Rom. 16:20; Rev. 12:9). Although, sometimes this protection is also literal (Acts 28:1-6).

Joy in ministry success (v. 17) is second to joy in salvation. engraved. A picture of being known by God. Often this is pictured as believer's names being recorded in a book (Exod. 32:32; Dan. 12:1; Phil. 4:3; Heb. 12:23; Rev 13:8). See WCF 3.8.

See "The Parables of Jesus - Matthew 13:34" below. People can know something of Jesus, but the deep truths about the Son are known only to God. It is one thing to know "about" God, but it is entirely another thing to have the eyes of one's understanding opened to "know" God (John 3:3, 5; 1 Cor. 2:14) and to be "known" by him (1 Cor. 8:3; Gal. 4:9). One may know "of" the President of the United States, but it is an entirely different thing to know him personally.

Saints are not only God's ambassadors (Luke 10:16), with their names written in the book of life (Luke 10:20), but they had been uniquely blessed (Luke 10:23-24) by the gift of the Father's revelation (Luke 10:21-22). The exclusivity of the claim is stressed. Every person born into the Kingdom of God may claim the exclusivity of knowing God and being known of him (cf. John 20:29; 1 Pet. 1:8). They are children of God (Deut. 14:1; John 1:12; Rom. 8:1, 14, 16, 19; Gal. 3:26), personal known subjects of his Kingdom (1 Pet. 2:9).

Even the greatest prophets and kings of days past had not seen the Messiah (Luke 10:23-24), but these disciples had (cf. Luke 7:24-28).

Jesus used the picture of little children to represent the weakness and humility of his disciples (v. 23). They stood in contrast to the wise. God's revelation is surprising to highlight his glory (1:51-52; 1 Cor. 1:20-31).

Son . . . Father. Jesus revealed more about his relationship to the Father in the Trinity. Here the emphasis is on the unique relationship Jesus has with God the Father (John 10:26-30, 37-38; Heb. 1:5). The Father has supreme authority, which he extends to the Son (Matt. 28:18; Eph. 1:20-23; Phil. 2:9-10). chooses to reveal. Jesus rejoiced (v. 21) in God's decision to reveal a saving knowledge of himself to certain people and not others. The Bible calls this doctrine election (Rom. 9:11-13, 16; see John 10:24-25; Acts 13:48; Eph. 1:4-5; 2 Tim. 1:9). Salvation is always because of God's grace, not our works (Rom. 4:16; Eph. 2:8-9).

The Old Testament prophets and kings longed for the Christ and his kingdom (1 Pet. 1:10-12). The disciples were privileged to see these promised in Jesus (Rom. 15:8; 2 Cor. 1:20).