John Calvin Commentary Luke 10:2

"And he said unto them, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers into his harvest." — Luke 10:2 (ASV)

The harvest is indeed abundant. I have explained this passage in Matthew 9;³² but it was proper to insert it again here, because it is related for a different purpose. To stimulate his disciples more powerfully to apply themselves diligently to their work, he declares that the harvest is abundant. Therefore, it follows that their labor will not be fruitless, but that they will find, in abundance, opportunities for employment and means of usefulness.

He afterwards reminds them of dangers, contests, and annoyances, and instructs them to go and prepare themselves to travel quickly throughout all of Judea.³³ In short, he repeats the same injunctions which he had given to the Apostles. Therefore, it is unnecessary to elaborate further here, since a full explanation of all these matters may be found in the passage already quoted.

We may notice briefly, however, the meaning of the expression, salute no man by the way. It indicates extreme haste when, on meeting a person by the way, we pass on without speaking to him, to avoid being detained even for a short time. Thus, when Elisha sent his servant to the Shunammite woman, he charged him not to salute any person whom he met:

if you meet any man, do not salute him;
and if any salute you, do not answer again (2 Kings 4:31).

Christ does not intend that his disciples should be so unkind³⁴ as to refuse to salute persons whom they meet, but instructs them to hasten forward, so that they pass by everything that would detain them.

³² Harmony, volume 1 p. 421..

³³ “Et leur commande d’aller alaigrement et en diligence, a fin que bien tost ils ayent fait une course par tout le pays de Iudee;” — “and commands them to go with alacrity and diligence, that they may soon have performed a circuit through the whole country of Judea.”;” — “and commands them to go with alacrity and diligence, that they may soon have performed a circuit through the whole country of Judea.”

³⁴ “Si inhumains et mal-gracieux;” — “so barbarous and uncivil.”;” — “so barbarous and uncivil.”