Meaning of Luke 10:7

This verse from Luke 10:7 instructs Jesus' disciples, sent out to preach the Gospel, to remain in the first hospitable house they find, accepting the provisions offered, and not to be itinerant in their ministry within a specific locality. The rationale provided is that "the worker deserves his wages," highlighting the principle of reciprocal sustenance for labor, and the directive "Do not move around from house to house" emphasizes stability and focus in their mission. This instruction is practical, designed to prevent the appearance of opportunism or superficiality, and to ensure the disciples could concentrate on their spiritual task without being distracted by constant relocation and the need to seek new lodging and sustenance daily.

Context and Background

Jesus is sending out the seventy-two (or seventy, depending on the manuscript tradition) disciples in pairs to prepare the way for Him in the towns He was about to visit. This mission is a precursor to His own ministry in those areas. They are to go with a specific message of peace and a warning of judgment. The instructions regarding lodging and sustenance are part of a broader set of directives that include carrying no purse, no bag, no sandals, and greeting no one on the road (Luke 10:4). These instructions underscore the urgency and focus of their mission, emphasizing dependence on divine providence and the hospitality of those who receive them. The directive to stay in one house is particularly important in the context of the disciples being sent into potentially unreceptive or even hostile territory.

Key Themes and Messages

• Dependence on God's Provision: The disciples are to rely on the hospitality of those who receive them, illustrating their dependence on God working through others.
• The Dignity of Labor: The justification, "the worker deserves his wages," establishes a fundamental principle of fairness and equity. Those who labor in God's service have a right to be supported by the community they serve.
• Focus and Stability in Ministry: The instruction not to move from house to house emphasizes the importance of settling in, building relationships, and dedicating oneself to the task at hand rather than engaging in superficial or transient ministry.
• The Message of Peace: This instruction is intertwined with the preceding command to "enter into any house, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’" The disciples are to bring a message of peace and be received by a community that offers peace and provision in return.

Spiritual Significance and Application

Spiritually, this verse speaks to the importance of commitment and dedication in Christian service. When believers are called to a particular ministry or task, whether vocational or lay, they are exhorted to remain steadfast, to invest their energies fully, and to trust that God will provide for their needs through the community of faith or those who benefit from their service. It also highlights the reciprocal relationship between those who minister and those who are ministered to. The community has a spiritual responsibility to support those who labor among them in the Gospel, and conversely, ministers have a responsibility to be focused and dedicated to their calling.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This principle of support for those who serve is a recurring theme in Scripture. In the Old Testament, the Levitical priesthood was supported by tithes from the Israelites (Numbers 18:21-24). In the New Testament, Paul frequently emphasizes the right of apostles and elders to receive financial support for their ministry (1 Corinthians 9:7-14; Galatians 6:6; 1 Timothy 5:18). Jesus' own ministry was supported by the generosity of His followers (Luke 8:1-3). This verse in Luke is a foundational instruction that sets a precedent for how God’s messengers are to be sustained and how communities are to respond to the Gospel.

Analogies

One analogy for staying in one house is like a farmer who settles on a piece of land to cultivate it thoroughly, rather than moving from field to field each day, achieving little lasting impact. Another is a doctor who establishes a practice in a community, becoming known and trusted, and providing consistent care, rather than making brief, fleeting visits to various households. The disciples were to be like a gardener tending a specific plot, not a nomadic wanderer.

Relation to Other Verses

• 1 Corinthians 9:14: "In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel." This directly echoes the principle of the worker deserving his wages.
• 1 Timothy 5:17-18: "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,' and, 'The laborer deserves his wages.'" This passage explicitly links the instruction of Jesus with Old Testament wisdom and the principle of support for church leadership.
• Matthew 10:10: A parallel passage in Matthew's Gospel also instructs the disciples not to take a money bag, or a second tunic, or sandals or a staff, emphasizing a similar reliance on providence and hospitality.
• Acts 20:33-35: Paul's defense of his own ministry, where he states, "I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’" This demonstrates the practical outworking of the principle of self-sufficiency and the generosity that should characterize those who serve.