Luke 10:16

He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

He that heareth {G191} you {G5216} heareth {G191} me {G1700}; and {G2532} he that despiseth {G114} you {G5209} despiseth {G114} me {G1691}; and {G1161} he that despiseth {G114} me {G1691} despiseth {G114} him that sent {G649} me {G3165}.

“Whoever listens to you listens to me, also whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the One who sent me.”

Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”

He that heareth you heareth me; and he that rejecteth you rejecteth me; and he that rejecteth me rejecteth him that sent me.

Commentary

Luke 10:16 is a profound statement by Jesus to His disciples, specifically given as He sent out the seventy (or seventy-two) disciples on a mission trip. This verse underscores the immense spiritual authority and identification associated with those who carry His message.

Context

Preceding this verse, Jesus had commissioned His disciples to go ahead of Him into every town and place He intended to visit, proclaiming the kingdom of God and healing the sick. He gave them specific instructions on how to behave, what to say, and what to expect, including potential rejection. This particular statement serves as a powerful validation of their ministry, elevating their human words to divine pronouncements and highlighting the serious implications for those who would receive or reject them.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Identification: The core message is that Jesus fully identifies with His messengers. To receive them is to receive Him; to reject them is to reject Him. This concept highlights the sacred nature of the commission given to His followers, mirroring the idea of receiving a prophet in the name of a prophet.
  • The Authority of the Messenger: The disciples were not merely speaking their own opinions but were conduits for God's message. Their words carried the weight of the One who sent them. This is a crucial principle for understanding the authority given to Christ's ambassadors.
  • Ultimate Rejection of God: The chain of rejection extends from the disciples, to Jesus, and ultimately to God the Father Himself. This reveals the grave spiritual consequences of dismissing the Gospel message and those who faithfully deliver it. It's a warning that rejection of God's representatives is a rejection of God.

Linguistic Insights

  • The word "heareth" (Greek: akouō) implies more than just perceiving sound; it suggests to listen attentively, to understand, and to obey. Therefore, "he that heareth you" means "he who listens to and obeys your message."
  • "Despiseth" (Greek: atheteō) is a strong term meaning to reject, to set aside, to annul, or to treat with contempt. It signifies an active and deliberate rejection of the message and the messenger, rather than mere indifference.

Practical Application

For believers today, Luke 10:16 offers both encouragement and a sober warning:

  • For Those Who Share the Gospel: This verse affirms that when you faithfully proclaim Christ's message, you are not speaking on your own authority. Your words, when aligned with God's truth, carry divine weight. This should inspire confidence and humility in Christian ministry and evangelism.
  • For Those Who Hear the Gospel: It serves as a powerful reminder that hearing and responding to the Gospel is not merely a human transaction. Your response to the message of Christ's kingdom is, in essence, your response to Christ Himself and to God the Father. This underscores the urgency and eternal significance of accepting God's invitation. Consider also the warning in 1 Thessalonians 4:8 concerning rejecting God's Spirit.

Reflection

Luke 10:16 profoundly emphasizes the inseparable link between the divine Sender, the divine Son, and the human messenger. It establishes a principle of representation that holds true for all who are genuinely sent by Christ to proclaim His truth and carry out His mission in the world, bearing the authority of heaven.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • John 13:20 (16 votes)

    Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

  • Matthew 10:40 (11 votes)

    He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:8 (10 votes)

    He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

  • John 5:22 (6 votes)

    For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

  • John 5:23 (6 votes)

    That all [men] should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

  • John 12:48 (6 votes)

    He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

  • John 12:44 (6 votes)

    ¶ Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.