Luke 10:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Our Lord mourns over these cities for our example, because shedding tears and bitter lamentations over those who are insensible to grief, is no slight antidote, tending both to the correction of the insensible, and to the remedy and consolation of those who mourn over them. Again, He draws them over to what is good, not only by lamenting over them, but also by alarming them. Hence it follows, But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon, &c. This we ought also to listen to. For not upon them alone, but upon us also, He hath passed sentence, if we receive not the guests who come to us, since He commanded them to shake off the very dust from their feet.

In addressing those commissioned to proclaim the Gospel, he cautions them against discouragement should some towns refuse to accept their message. He reassures them by stating, “Do not be troubled; the one who rejects you is essentially rejecting me and my Father; thus, the offense does not merely fall upon you, but reaches God himself. Let this serve as a source of comfort, as the reproach lies with God. Conversely, do not take pride in the fact that some choose to hear you; for this is not a result of your efforts, but rather, it is by My grace.

Whereby He teaches, that whatever is said by the holy Apostles must be received, since he who heareth them heareth Christ, and an inevitable punishment therefore hangs over heretics who neglect the words of the Apostles; for it follows, and he who despises you despises me.

But if the word of God reaches to us also, and appoints us in the Apostles place, beware of despising us, lest that reach unto Him which you have done unto us.

Our Lord warns us that they will meet with a heavier punishment who have refused to follow the Gospel than those who have chosen to break the law; saying, Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida!

He refers to rejection as disobedience and contempt. To prevent sorrow for those who face rejection, He affirms that the transgression committed against you ascends through you to Me, who sent you, and from Me to the Father who sent Me.

Christ conferred upon His apostles the power of the gospel, and through their teachings, we have come to understand the truth, which is the message of the Son of God. The Lord also declared to them, “He who hears you hears Me, and he who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me” (Lk 10:16).

But at the same time He herein consoles His disciples, as if He said, Say not why are we about to suffer reproach. Let your speech be with moderation. I give you grace, upon Me your reproaches fall.

Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, Tiberias also which John mentions, are cities of Galilee situated on the shore of the lake of Gennesaret, which is called by the Evangelists the sea of Galilee or Tiberias. Our Lord thus mourns over these cities which after such great miracles and wonders repented not, and are worse than the Gentiles who break through the law of nature only, seeing that after despising the written law, they feared not to despise also the Son of God and His glory. Hence it follows, For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented sitting in sackcloth and ashes, &c. By sackcloth, which is woven together from the hairs of goats, he signifies a sharp remembrance of previous sin.

To once again engage the people of Judaea with the message of the imminent kingdom of God, the Lord selected an additional 70 disciples—reflecting the elders appointed under Moses, just as the number of the 12 apostles corresponds to the leaders of the 12 tribes—and sent them ahead to all the towns He intended to visit. Those chosen for this new fellowship were to be uninhibited in fulfilling the mission assigned to them. One individual requested to bury his father first, while another wished to say goodbye to his family; however, the Lord denied these requests.

At the end of His teachings to the seventy apostles regarding their conduct in spreading the Gospel, the Lord reinforced their authority by issuing a solemn warning—a foretelling of a grave, punitive judgment on those who would dismiss their message: ‘I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom in that day than for that city’ (Luke 10:12). Sodom and its neighboring towns, which indulged in various sins, have already faced the judgment of destruction by fire. However, this fiery demise is merely a prelude to the torment of eternal flames (Jude 1:7). On that final day, they will confront the ultimate judgment of God. A stringent verdict looms for the sinful residents of these cities.

In the passages of Matthew 10 and Matthew 11, when instructing the seventy to brush off the dust of towns that rejected them, Jesus urged them to humbly declare to those who would not accept their message, "Know that the kingdom of God has come near to you." They were to refrain from scolding or expressing anger, but rather to caution them that through repentance, salvation is possible, as the kingdom of God is accessible to all. However, should they continue to reject this message, the people of Sodom will stand in a more favorable position on the final day than those who resist.

In His words of comfort, He instructed them to emulate His presence in the world. He assured them that those who welcomed them would also be welcoming Him. He emphasized that sacrificing one's life for His sake held greater value than merely preserving it. He also noted that even a simple act of kindness, such as offering a cup of cold water to the least of His followers, would not go unnoticed and would be rewarded in the kingdom of heaven.

"Those who hear you": those who accept your proclamation regarding the reign of the Messiah and have faith in it. - "He listens to Me": for you convey the same message that I deliver, My teachings. - Cf. note on Matthew 10:40.

Christ the Redeemer completed His teachings to the seventy disciples by emphasizing that their proclamation would carry on the mission entrusted to Him by the Father in heaven (John 17:4): the one who hears you hears Me, and the one who disregards you disregards Me; and the one who disregards Me disregards the One who sent Me.