(7) And in the same house remain.—See Note on Matthew 10:11.

The labourer is worthy of his hire.—See Note on Matthew 10:10. The exact reproduction of the words by St. Paul in 1Timothy 5:18, as a citation from “the Scripture,”’ is every way interesting. The Apostle could scarcely have failed to have become acquainted, during his long companionship with St. Luke, with the materials which the Evangelist was collecting for his great work. We can hardly doubt, accordingly, that he quotes this as one of the sayings of the Lord Jesus, as he quotes another in Acts 20:35, and clothes it with the same authority as the older Scripture. On this assumption, the Gospel of St. Luke must have been, in part, at least, written and recognised at the time when the Pastoral Epistles were written.

Luke 10:7-9. And in the same house remain — As long as you stay in the town or village: eating and drinking — Cheerfully and contentedly; such things as they give — Neither suspect your being welcome, nor be afraid of being troublesome; for the labourer — In the work of the ministry, if he be indeed a labourer; is worthy of his hire — It is not an act of charity, but of justice, in them who are taught in the Word, to communicate to them that teach: and whatever kindness they show you, it is but a small return for the kindness you do them in bringing them the glad tidings of peace. Go not from house to house — Be content with whatever fare you meet with; and never create any unnecessary trouble in the family where you are, nor quit your lodgings to seek others, in hope of better accommodations during the short stay you make in a place. And heal the sick that are therein — Which, as I direct, so I shall empower you to do; And say unto them, The kingdom of God, &c. — Publish the approach of the kingdom of God; its approach to them; and that they stand fair for an admission into it, if they will but obey the call of God, and turn to him without delay. Say, Now is the day of your visitation; see that you understand and improve it. Observe, reader! It is well to be made sensible of our advantages and opportunities, that we may lay hold on and embrace them. When the kingdom of God comes nigh to us, it concerns us to go forth to meet it.

10:1-16 Christ sent the seventy disciples, two and two, that they might strengthen and encourage one another. The ministry of the gospel calls men to receive Christ as a Prince and a Saviour; and he will surely come in the power of his Spirit to all places whither he sends his faithful servants. But the doom of those who receive the grace of God in vain, will be very fearful Those who despise the faithful ministers of Christ, who think meanly of them, and look scornfully upon them, will be reckoned as despisers of God and Christ.See the notes at Matthew 10:11. On this passage Dr. Thomson ("The Land and the Book," vol. i. p. 534) remarks: "The reason (for the command, 'Go not from house to house') is very obvious to one acquainted with Oriental customs. When a stranger arrives in a village or an encampment, the neighbors, one after another, must invite him to eat with them. There is a strict etiquette about it, involving much ostentation and hypocrisy, and a failure in the due observance of this system of hospitality is violently resented, and often leads to alienations and feuds among neighbors; it also consumes much time, causes unusual distraction of mind, leads to levity, and every way counteracts the success of a spiritual mission." 3-12. (See on [1625]Mt 10:7-16).Ver. 7 See Poole on "Luke 10:5"

And in the same house remain,.... Where the sons of peace are, and the peace rests, and into which you are invited, and kindly received and used:

eating and drinking such things as they give; or rather, "such things as are with them", as the Vulgate Latin renders it; or "of that which is theirs", as the Syriac version; all one, and with as much freedom, as if they were your own; the reason follows,

for the labourer is worthy of his hire; what you eat and drink is your due; what you ought to have; your diet is a debt, and not a gratuity; See Gill on Matthew 10:10.

go not from house to house; as if fickle and inconstant, as if not satisfied with your lodging and entertainment, and as seeking out for other and better, or as if burdensome where they were; See Gill on Matthew 10:11. The Jews have a proverb, expressing the inconvenience and expensiveness, and the danger of moving from place to place:

"he that goes, , "from house to house", (loses his) shirt, (i.e. comes to distress and poverty,) from place to place (his) life (e);''

or he is in great danger of losing his life.

(e) Bereshit Rabba, sect. 39. fol. 34. 3.

And in the same house {c} remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.

(c) Take up your lodging in that house which you enter into first, that is, do not be concerned about comfortable lodging, as men do who plan to stay in a place a long time: for here that solemn preaching of the gospel, which was used afterward when the Churches were settled, is not instituted: but these are sent abroad to all the coasts of Judea to show them that the last jubilee is at hand.