Luke 10 8

Luke 10:8 kjv

And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:

Luke 10:8 nkjv

Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.

Luke 10:8 niv

"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you.

Luke 10:8 esv

Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you.

Luke 10:8 nlt

"If you enter a town and it welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you.

Luke 10 verses

Luke 10 8 Meaning

Luke 10:8 instructs the disciples sent by Jesus to accept the hospitality offered to them in any city that welcomes their message. It commands them to eat whatever is served before them without question or complaint. This directive underscores their dependence on God's provision through the hosts, promotes humility, removes potential dietary barriers, and emphasizes that their mission of proclaiming the Kingdom should take precedence over personal preferences or cultural/ritualistic food scruples.

Luke 10 8 Context

Luke 10:8 is part of Jesus' detailed instructions to the seventy (or seventy-two) disciples whom He sent out two by two into every town and place He Himself was about to go (Luke 10:1). This mission, occurring prior to His final journey to Jerusalem, aimed to proclaim the nearness of the Kingdom of God and prepare the way for Jesus' own arrival. The instructions in Luke 10:3-12 emphasize reliance on divine provision, immediate proclamation of the Gospel, non-reliance on worldly resources (no purse, bag, or sandals for the journey beyond their initial attire, 10:4), and simple, direct interaction with potential hosts. Verse 8, specifically, highlights how they are to engage once welcomed, instructing them to fully accept the hospitality provided without hesitation or a picky attitude. This was critical for a swift and focused mission, ensuring the disciples would not be diverted by material concerns or cause offense through overly scrupulous dietary habits that could hinder the Gospel's reception, especially when dealing with non-Jewish households.

Luke 10 8 Word analysis

• And (καὶ - kai): A conjunction connecting this instruction directly to the previous ones about entering cities. It shows this command is an integral part of their mission protocol.
• into whatsoever (εἰς ἣν ἂν - eis hēn an): Meaning "into whichever" or "wherever." Emphasizes the generality of the instruction – it applies to any city they might enter.
• city (πόλιν - polin): Refers to a town or populated area. The mission scope covers all types of settled communities.
• ye enter (εἰσέλθητε - eiselthēte): Second person plural aorist active subjunctive of eiserchomai (to come in, go in, enter). Implies their active decision to go into a community as missionaries.
• and they receive (καὶ δέχωνται - kai dechōntai): Second person plural present middle subjunctive of dechomai (to receive, welcome, accept kindly, admit, entertain). This is crucial. The instruction about eating only applies if they are welcomed and received. It implies acceptance of their presence and, implicitly, their message.
• you (ὑμᾶς - hymas): The disciples themselves, representing Christ and His message.
• eat (ἐσθίετε - esthiete): Second person plural present active imperative of esthiō (to eat). This is a direct command. It indicates that accepting food is a necessary part of their reliance and humility.
• such things as are set before (τὰ παρατιθέμενα - ta paratithemena): Literally "the things being placed beside/before." This is a key phrase. Paratithēmi (to place beside, set before, present, commend) indicates the act of a host providing food. The instruction implies a passive reception of whatever the host provides.
• you (ὑμῖν - hymin): Dative case, indicating "for you" or "to you." The food prepared for them.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you": This clause sets the condition. The instruction about food only applies when a city (or its inhabitants) demonstrates openness and hospitality by receiving the disciples. Their reception signifies an openness to the Kingdom message.
• "eat such things as are set before you": This phrase encapsulates the core command: complete reliance, humility, and the shedding of fastidiousness. It means to accept without question, without asking about its origin or nature, and without making specific demands. For Jewish disciples, this instruction was profoundly significant as it potentially bypassed traditional Jewish dietary laws (kashrut) when ministering in Gentile homes, or even just avoided becoming a burden or judgmental in Jewish homes by expecting specific meals. The emphasis is on not causing offence and prioritizing the mission over personal or cultural food preferences, demonstrating trust in the host and ultimately in God's provision through them.

Luke 10 8 Bonus section

The instruction in Luke 10:8, particularly "eat such things as are set before you," can be viewed as more than just a directive about food. It extends to an attitude of total acceptance and gratitude for any provision, symbolizing the wider principle that a messenger of the Kingdom must not be entangled by worldly cares, demands, or particularities. This freedom from concern over trivial matters liberates them to fully focus on their spiritual task. It challenges a mindset of entitlement or critical judgment. In a broader sense, it teaches the early missionaries to embody flexibility and adaptability, understanding that the message transcends cultural or dietary differences. This sets a precedent for how the early church would navigate inter-cultural evangelism, particularly the Jewish-Gentile divide, by emphasizing the unity in Christ above secondary issues.

Luke 10 8 Commentary

Luke 10:8 is a profound directive encapsulating principles of radical trust, humility, and missionary focus. By commanding the disciples to eat "such things as are set before you," Jesus eliminates several potential obstacles to their mission. Firstly, it fosters complete dependence on the host and, by extension, on God's provision. The disciples were not to choose, demand, or complain, which reinforces their vulnerability and need for hospitality. This is a practical extension of the earlier instruction to take no purse or bag, meaning they carried no resources to purchase their own food. Secondly, it promoted humility and non-offensiveness. Being particular about food, especially in a foreign or unfamiliar setting, can be seen as arrogant or judgmental, potentially alienating hosts. Accepting whatever is offered is an act of respectful reciprocation to hospitality. Thirdly, and critically for early Christian missions, this instruction implicitly, or even explicitly, addressed potential dietary scruples. For Jewish disciples, strict adherence to kosher laws could be a major barrier when interacting with non-Jewish households. By commanding them to eat whatever is set before them, Jesus either instructed them to bypass these concerns for the sake of the Kingdom or simply highlighted not being particular in a Jewish context. This prefigures the broader theological understanding of dietary freedom that would develop within the early church, emphasizing the internal purity of the heart over external food regulations (Mark 7:19; Acts 10; Rom 14; 1 Cor 10). The message of the Kingdom of God was paramount, and material concerns, personal comfort, or even ritualistic preferences were not to impede its proclamation. The focus was on the mission, fostering simple, honest engagement with people, and entrusting their sustenance entirely to the provision encountered on their journey.