“The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just about respecting messengers; it highlights the profound authority invested in them. When people reject the disciples, it's not simply a personal affront to them, but a radical rejection of Jesus himself and ultimately, God the Father who sent Him.
“The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just commissioned seventy disciples and sent them out in pairs to proclaim that the kingdom of God is near, giving them authority to heal and cast out demons. This verse follows the warnings Jesus gave to cities like Chorazin and Bethsaida, which rejected His message despite witnessing His mighty works, explaining that their rejection of the disciples is a rejection of Jesus Himself, and by extension, of God the Father who sent Him.
Ever felt like you were speaking for someone else, and people reacted to you as if they were talking directly to that person? Jesus gives His followers a profound role.
Jesus is stating a powerful principle here: His disciples, when sent out, are not just delivering a message; they are carrying His very authority and presence.
Ambassadors of the King
When Jesus sent out the seventy-two disciples in Luke 10, He wasn't sending them as independent agents. They were His representatives, His ambassadors. The core of this statement is that the reception given to the disciples is a direct reflection of the reception given to Jesus Himself.
A Triune Connection
Notice the incredible chain reaction Jesus lays out:
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When we face rejection, it stings. But what if that rejection carried cosmic consequences? Jesus makes it clear that rejecting His messengers isn't a small matter.
Jesus isn't just talking about hurt feelings here; He's describing a profound spiritual reality with eternal implications.
A Deeper Contempt
The word used for 'rejects' (or 'despises') in the original language carries a strong sense of setting aside, nullifying, or treating as worthless. It's not just a simple disagreement; it's a fundamental dismissal.
Escalating Judgment
Jesus lays out a sobering progression:
Understand the original words
akouō · Greek Verb
The act of listening to, obeying, and submitting to the message or the messenger. In a biblical context, it involves active response and alignment with the truth spoken.
atheteō · Greek Verb
To treat with contempt, refuse to acknowledge, or turn away from someone or their message; it signifies a failure to accept God’s appointed authority.
This verse, spoken as Jesus commissions his disciples, carries immense weight because it directly links the reception of his messengers to the reception of God Himself. The historical context of Jesus' ministry, marked by both fervent acceptance and staunch rejection in towns like those in Galilee, underscores the gravity of this statement.
c. AD 28— this verse
Jesus commissions the seventy-two
Jesus sends out seventy-two disciples in pairs to prepare towns for his arrival, giving them authority to heal and proclaim the kingdom of God.
c. AD 28
Rejection in Galilean towns
Many towns where the disciples preached, such as Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, reject Jesus' message and the disciples' ministry.
c. AD 28
Jesus pronounces judgment on unrepentant cities
Jesus laments the lack of repentance in these cities despite the miracles performed there, comparing their fate to that of more wicked Gentile cities like Tyre and Sidon.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' ministry and rejection in Jerusalem
Jesus faces increasing opposition and rejection from religious leaders and the crowds in Jerusalem, culminating in his crucifixion.
This passage directly parallels Luke 10:16, showing Jesus teaching his disciples that receiving them is the same as receiving Him, and rejecting them is rejecting Him and the Father who sent Him.
John 13:20Jesus tells his disciples, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one whom I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.' This reinforces the idea that the disciples act as His representatives.
1 Samuel 8:7This passage offers a contrast: when Israel rejected Samuel's leadership and demanded a king, God told Samuel, 'It is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me...'
Acts 5:3-4Ananias and Sapphira were confronted by Peter, 'Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit... You did not lie to men but to God.' This shows how actions against the apostles were seen as actions against God.
barnesLuke 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."
See the notes at Matthew 10:40 .
vincentLuke 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."
Despiseth (ἀθετεῖ)See on Luke 7:30, and compare Galatians 2:21; Galatians 3:15.
This verse isn't just about respecting messengers; it highlights the profound authority invested in them. When people reject the disciples, it's not simply a personal affront to them, but a radical rejection of Jesus himself and ultimately, God the Father who sent Him.
Jesus has just commissioned seventy disciples and sent them out in pairs to proclaim that the kingdom of God is near, giving them authority to heal and cast out demons. This verse follows the warnings Jesus gave to cities like Chorazin and Bethsaida, which rejected His message despite witnessing His mighty works, explaining that their rejection of the disciples is a rejection of Jesus Himself, and by extension, of God the Father who sent Him.
Jesus has just commissioned seventy disciples and sent them out in pairs to proclaim that the kingdom of God is near, giving them authority to heal and cast out demons. This verse follows the warnings Jesus gave to cities like Chorazin and Bethsaida, which rejected His message despite witnessing His mighty works, explaining that their rejection of the disciples is a rejection of Jesus Himself, and by extension, of God the Father who sent Him.
"“The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”" — This verse isn't just about respecting messengers; it highlights the profound authority invested in them. When people reject the disciples, it's not simply a personal affront to them, but a radical r…
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Last reviewed October 2026