Luke 10:17 Commentary and Bible Study

(Synoptics: Luke 10:17-20)Probably this mission would have been a few weeks, but that is only speculation. They come back with tremendous joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name,’ as we obey thee and heal the sick and cast out demons. They were rejected by many, but many others listened to them also, though perhaps only a minority. Amazingly, whole cities and towns and villages cast out these messengers, and would not hear them, even though they knew that in the previous town where the messengers were received, they had healed hundreds of people. They would even forgo healing for themselves and their people, because they so detested this message which told them they were sinners and they needed a Saviour and reconciliation with God. So great is the prejudice of human beings! Nevertheless there was victory and there was fruit: the lambs sent out among wolves, for all their gentleness, were sustained and preserved and used by God.And the Lord said, ‘I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.’ They are given victory over the powers of darkness which are far stronger than they are. Without this, what could a puny man do against a single demon? They go in the name of Christ and they speak in his name and they command beings in the spiritual realm, which they understand little about, to submit to an authority that has been lent to them. And the devils are subject to them. The demons respond to their commands, however reluctantly, for they see the authority of Christ behind his disciples, and they know they must obey him as he watches over each one of his disciples, because he has sent them.