Jesus is the good news. Jesus had sent out 72 disciples to preach the Kingdom of God, the gospel message. Up until this point since the fall of man through Adam, everyone had known only one way to be saved, through works and religion. But now, the good news is that Jesus the Son of God has come to save us from our sins, to give life to us who are dead, through His death and resurrection. This is the good news! Tragically there are many who reject the gospel, thanks but no thanks. So Jesus warns them.
Warnings are good and necessary to protect us from future harm. The Bible is full of warnings. From the beginning, God warns Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree or they will surely die (Genesis 2:16-17). Near the end of WWII, the US military distributed the Lemay leaflets and warned the Japanese of the terrifying power of the newly developed atomic bomb and pleaded with them to evacuate their cities. Those leaflets were largely ignored. Along the same lines, Jesus’ warning should not be taken lightly because the consequences are even more devastating.
Why do people reject the good news? They are not holy and fail to understand sin and the need for forgiveness. Forgiveness is the foundation of the gospel but without understanding God is holy and I am a sinner there is no desire for forgiveness. God demands perfection but we cannot accomplish it, so God sent Jesus to accomplish it on our behalf (James 2:10, 1 Cor 5:21).
They don’t realize that rejection brings judgment and punishment. Luke 10:12 How many of us warn those who reject the gospel? Jesus commands His disciples that after they are rejected, they are to go out into public and loudly declare the warning (Luke 10:10). Warnings are not to be whispered but shouted so that as many people as possible can hear them.
After they warn the people, they are to wipe the dust off (Luke 10:11, Luke 9:5). Jesus wants nothing to do with them because they rejected His message. Those who refuse to receive the gospel have no part with Jesus. This is more than just a goodbye, but a warning of their impending judgment (Psalm 49:12, Hebrews 9:27). Jesus is the only hope for us. The gospel is the message that draws us into the arms of God. When we share the gospel we share the good news of eternal life but we also must warn them of the judgment to come.
Luke 10:11 continues saying, “Yet know this, that the kingdom of God is at hand.” “At hand” means it’s near which means there is still time. Jesus shows compassion through His warning by saying it’s not too late. It’s not over until it’s over. Even though you rejected the gospel, there is still hope and this is your warning. Jesus is full of compassion and gives you another chance, even though you don’t deserve it. (Jonah 4:11, Luke 19:41-42). For example, Jerusalem killed the prophets, yes Jesus says he continually wanted to gather them under His wings (Matthew 23:27). His compassion is not a fleeting emotion but always there, ready to save you. Therefore, Jesus’ warning is not revenge but compassion. He gives you another chance through a warning.
Why is the warning important? Because the kingdom of God is real. The kingdom of God begins with Jesus and He established it (Matthew 3:17,4:23). Jesus is our King and He is here. He is a great and mighty King who raises the dead to life. It is a real kingdom that every believer experiences. Jesus is the only hope because He is the Savior King who actually saves us. There are many pretend kings that falsely offer salvation. It could be money, a thing, a religion, or a relationship but they all fail. Nothing can satisfy our needs or take away our guilt. Only Jesus can take away every sin, failure, and lacking as He enters our hearts. To receive the Gospel is to be in Christ and to be in Christ is to be infused with the divine life. This means the gospel brings us into the Kingdom where Jesus is our Lord and our life is of God and for God.
The warning is a terrifying truth and must be taken seriously. “It will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city” Luke 10:12 In Genesis 19, God destroyed the city of Sodom as judgment for their horrible immorality and depravity. God gives the verdict for everyone and executes His judgment. “In that day” points to the day of the Great White Throne where Jesus will open the books and everyone will be judged according to their deeds. (Revelation 20:11-15) Only those whose names are in the Book of Life will be spared from being thrown into the lake of fire.
Sodom is real and historical (Luke 17:29, Genesis 19:24). The fire and sulfur described are more powerful and hotter than what we can imagine, like hellfire. Everyone is a sinner already condemned to hell and the only way to escape such punishment is through Jesus the Son of God (John 3:18). “More tolerable” means there are different levels of punishment in hell. God is fair and all sinners deserve hell, however, he will not punish them the exact same (Matthew 23:14). The terrifying aspect of Jesus’ warning is that those who reject the gospel and His warning then they will be treated differently (Luke 12:48). Sodom didn’t get to hear the gospel but they were punished severely. The Pharisees will be judged more harshly because they received the Law first.
What about us who have received the full gospel and the fullness of the Scripture? We should tremble because we have rejected the complete and clarified revelation of the gospel and hear it spoken constantly every week. The church is not exempt but in fact, will be where judgment will begin and with a greater severity (1 Peter 4:17). So this warning is also to the church. Do you wholeheartedly love Jesus? Do you seek and desire for His presence? Do you submit to Him as King and obey Him? Repent and fully embrace the gospel.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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