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

LUKE 10:16KJV
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Luke 10:16 (KJV)

What does Luke 10:16 mean?

Luke 10:16 says that whoever listens to Jesus’ followers is really listening to Jesus himself, and whoever rejects them is actually rejecting both Jesus and the one who sent him—God. Jesus is making it clear that accepting or rejecting his messengers is the same as accepting or rejecting him and, by extension, God.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to the seventy-two disciples he is sending out to spread his message. He is preparing them for how people will respond to their teaching. The verse highlights the close connection between Jesus, his followers, and God, showing that the authority of the disciples comes from Jesus, and ultimately from God.

The Greek behind Luke 10:16

  • The word "heareth" (ἀκούω, akouō, G191) means more than just hearing sounds; it often carries the sense of truly listening or paying attention. Here, it emphasizes a real response to the disciples’ message.
  • "Despiseth" (ἀθετέω, atheteō, G114) means to reject, disregard, or treat as unimportant. The Greek here stresses not just a mild dislike but an active refusal or dismissal.
  • "Sent" (ἀποστέλλω, apostellō, G649) is the root of the word "apostle" and means to send out with a mission. Jesus is saying that he was sent by God, and now he is sending his disciples in the same way.

Why Luke 10:16 matters

  • Luke 10:16 clarifies that the authority of Jesus’ followers is not their own, but comes directly from Jesus and God, which would encourage the disciples as they faced acceptance or rejection.
  • The verse helps clear up any idea that rejecting the message of Jesus’ followers is a small thing; Jesus says it is as serious as rejecting God himself.
  • This statement ties into the larger context of Luke 10, where Jesus sends out the seventy-two, showing that their mission is a continuation of his own work and is backed by divine authority.

Where else these words appear

“despiseth” Greek G114 · used in 12 verses

  • Mark 6:26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.
  • John 12:48 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.
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

“me” Greek G1691 · used in 77 verses

  • Matthew 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
  • John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
  • John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

“me” Greek G1700 · used in 104 verses

  • Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
  • Luke 22:28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
  • Acts 25:9 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

“sent” Greek G649 · used in 130 verses

  • Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
  • Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
  • John 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.