Luke 10:20

Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses the seventy-two who have just returned from mission, rejoicing that demons submit to them (v. 17). He redirects their joy away from the power they exercised and toward their own standing before God.

The words — χαίρετε (chairete, "rejoice") appears twice, once negated and once affirmed, making the verb the hinge of the correction. πνεύματα (pneumata, "spirits") is used rather than the more charged δαιμόνια ("demons"), a deliberate softening that keeps the focus on the disciples' position, not the adversary.

The thread — Matthew 7:22–23 shows people who drove out demons in Jesus' name yet are told "I never knew you," confirming that works in his name do not guarantee inclusion. Revelation 20:12–15 grounds "names written in heaven" in the final judgment before the Book of Life.

Why it lands — The verse separates the evidence of ministry from the evidence of salvation and asks the reader to locate their confidence in the latter, not the former.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Cross-references

Revelation 20:15 And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Matthew 7:22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And books were opened, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books.
Hebrews 12:23 in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
Revelation 21:27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Revelation 3:5 Like them, he who overcomes will be dressed in white. And I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and His angels.
Daniel 12:1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.
Exodus 32:32 Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.”
Ezekiel 13:9 My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and speak lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of My people or be recorded in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.
Philippians 4:3 Yes, and I ask you, my true yokefellow, to help these women who have contended at my side for the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.