Mental illness, disease, and all kinds of suffering are the consequence of Sin, and the work of Christ is to destroy this. Sin is also endemic in the rulers of the world, and the words of the seventy moved Jesus to look forward to the day when “the adversary (Satan) will fall from heaven”. This is a common figure in the Bible by which rulers are likened to luminaries in the sky, such as the sun, moon and stars, which are to be eclipsed and removed from the political and ecclesiastical heavens. For example, this is how Jesus described the overthrow of the Jewish authorities by the Romans to come in A.D.70 Matthew 24:29.Matthew 24:29XWaiting for response The purpose of God is to abase the high and mighty and to exalt the humble Luke 14:11Luke 14:11XWaiting for response so he declared that cities which exalted themselves to heaven would be brought down to hell [Greek: “Hades”, the grave].
The words of Jesus must be received “as babes” v.21Luke 10:21XWaiting for response but, unfortunately, “the wise and prudent among men” v.21Luke 10:21XWaiting for response often wrest passages out of context, weaving words like heaven, hell, devils, Satan, and spirits, which occur in this chapter, into fantastic stories which distort the teaching of Christ. Accepting the whole teaching of God’s word will place anyone in a very happy position, as Jesus said to his disciples: “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see”.vs.23-24Luke 10:23-24XWaiting for response It is vital to “choose that good part” like Mary v.42Luke 10:42XWaiting for response who “sat at Jesus’ feet and heard his word”.v.39Luke 10:39XWaiting for response
The disciples of Jesus are required to obey God’s commandments which are epitomised in the two greatest of them: to love the LORD with all our being; and to love our neighbour as ourselves, v.27Luke 10:27XWaiting for response for this will bring eternal life. v.25Luke 10:25XWaiting for response We can all love those who love us but, just as the Jews were called upon to love the Samaritans whom they traditionally hated, we are commanded to: “Love our enemies, do good to them which hate us” Luke 6:27.Luke 6:27XWaiting for response The Jews also hated Jesus and sought to kill him and he is represented by the Samaritan in this parable for he is the one who saves the afflicted, binds up our wounds,v.34Luke 10:34XWaiting for response has paid the price of our healing,v.35Luke 10:35XWaiting for response and promises to come again.v.35Luke 10:35XWaiting for response
Jesus' answer shows that our neighbour is someone who loves us, no matter who they are. This is the second most important commandment - to love those who love us. This is quite common, but is still a commandment none the less. It's important to note that this is true love, not feigned love where people may pretend to love these people but never do anything for them. Matthew 25:35Matthew 25:35XWaiting for response
Jesus says that this second most important commandment is like the first Matthew 22:39Matthew 22:39XWaiting for response - the first being to love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind, and the second being to love those who love us, where God has done so much for us.
We read of Mary three times in the scriptures and on each occasion we find her at Jesus’ feet with her actions misunderstood (John 10:3-5,John 10:3-5XWaiting for response John 11:32,John 11:32XWaiting for response and v.39-42).Luke 10:39-42XWaiting for response
Verses 1,9,17
Luke 10:1,9,17XWaiting for responseJesus sent out seventy other disciples in pairs to preach the gospel, and they too proclaimed the kingdom of God. These disciples also were given power to heal the sick and on their return expressed amazement at the healing of the mentally ill (the demoniacs, translated “devils”).