Unrepentant Towns and the Return of the Seventy-Two (Lk. 10:13-20)

Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.’ 16 Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” 17 The seventy[-two] returned rejoicing, and said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” 18 Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. 19 Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

 

Jesus rebuked the Galilean towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum because they received the Word of God and had powerful miracles and signs performed there (Lk. 4:31-41), but they did not repent.  He compares them unfavorably to Tyre and Sidon, ancient cities known for their wickedness, suggesting that those Gentile cities would have repented had they witnessed the same miracles.  Judgment on Tyre and Sidon will be more lenient than on Chorazin and Bethsaida.  Whoever hears and accepts the word of those sent by Jesus hears the words of Jesus and ultimately the words of God.  Whoever rejects the teaching of the disciples also rejects Jesus and God who sent him.  

 

The seventy-two disciples return with joy, reporting their success in their mission, particularly their authority over demons.  Jesus had power over the demons (Lk. 8:26-39) and had given the disciples the power to cast out demons in his name.  Jesus responded to the disciples by describing a vision of Satan's fall, symbolizing the defeat of evil.  He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and cure diseases (Lk. 9:1-12).  Jesus shared in their joy because the reign of God had begun and Satan’s power over men was broken.  The disciples were granted divine protection against the spiritual dangers and adversity they would encounter.  Nothing would be able to stop them from accomplishing their mission.  Serpents and Scorpions were symbols and sources of physical evil in OT times (Gen. 3:1).  Jesus warned the disciples not to rejoice because they were granted the authority and power to cast out demons in his name but to rejoice because they would receive eternal life with God in heaven. 

 

Almighty God, grant us the grace to live a life of service pleasing to you so that we may rejoice when we are granted eternal life in Your kingdom.  This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen!

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Sources:

• Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
• Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
• Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
• Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.