Luke Chapter 9

From The Open Bible Project

9:1 He called [22] the twelve [See Luke Footnotes 22] together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.

• (1) The twelve apostles are sent forth only at the commandment of Christ and equipped with the power of the Holy Spirit: both that none of the Israelites might pretend ignorance, and also that they might be better prepared for their general mission.

9:2 He sent them forth to preach the Kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

9:3 He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey--neither staffs, nor wallet, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats apiece.

9:4 Into whatever house you enter, stay there, and depart from there.

• (a) When you depart out of any city, depart from that place where you first took up your lodging: so that in these few words the Lord forbids them to change their lodgings: for this publishing of the gospel was as it were a publishing throughout the whole land, that no one in Judea might pretend ignorance, as though he had not heard that Christ had come.

9:5 As many as don't receive you, when you depart from that city, shake off even the dust from your feet for a testimony against them."

9:6 They departed, and went throughout the villages, preaching the Good News, and healing everywhere.

9:7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him; and he was very perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead,

• (2) As soon as the world hears tidings of the gospel it is divided into differing opinions, and the tyrants especially are afraid.
• (b) He stuck as it were fast in the mire.

9:8 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again.

9:9 Herod said, "John I beheaded, but who is this, about whom I hear such things?" He sought to see him.

9:10 The apostles, when they had returned, told him what things they had done. He took them, and withdrew apart to a deserted place of a city called Bethsaida.

• (3) They that follow Christ will lack nothing, not even in the wilderness.
• (c) The word signifies a desert: note, this was not in the town Bethsaida, but part of the fields belonging to the town.

9:11 But the multitudes, perceiving it, followed him. He welcomed them, and spoke to them of the Kingdom of God, and he cured those who needed healing.

9:12 The day began to wear away; and the twelve came, and said to him, "Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and farms, and lodge, and get food, for we are here in a deserted place."

9:13 But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." They said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we should go and buy food for all these people."

• (d) This is said imperfectly, and therefore we must understand it to mean something like this: "We cannot give them to eat unless we go and buy, etc.".

9:14 For they were about five thousand men. He said to his disciples, "Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each."

9:15 They did so, and made them all sit down.

9:16 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to the sky, he blessed them, and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.

• (e) He gave God thanks for these loaves and fishes, and prayed at the same time that God would feed this multitude which was so great with such a small quantity, and to put it briefly, that this whole banquet might be to the glory of God.

9:17 They ate, and were all filled. They gathered up twelve baskets of broken pieces that were left over.

9:18 It happened, as he was praying alone, that the disciples were with him, and he asked them, "Who do the multitudes say that I am?"

• (4) Although the world be tossed up and down between different errors, yet we ought not to condemn the truth but be all the more desirous to know it, and be more steadfast to confess it.
• (f) Alone from the people.

9:19 They answered, "'John the Baptizer,' but others say, 'Elijah,' and others, that one of the old prophets is risen again."

9:20 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God."

9:21 But he warned them, and commanded them to tell this to no one,

9:22 saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up."

• (5) Christ himself attained to the heavenly glory, by the cross and invincible perseverance.

9:23 He said to all, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross,[23] and follow me.

• (g) Even as one day follows another, so does one cross follow another, and the cross is by the figure of speech metonymy taken for the miseries of this life: for to be hanged on the cross was the most grievous and cruel punishment that there was amongst the Jews.

9:24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same will save it.

9:25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self?

9:26 For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed, when he comes in his glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels.

9:27 But I tell you the truth: There are some of those who stand here, who will in no way taste of death, until they see the Kingdom of God."

• Jesus clearly teaches that the Kingdom of God would come before some of them died. This would occur in AD 70 at the destruction of the Temple. -KC

9:28 It happened about eight days after these sayings, that he took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up onto the mountain to pray.

• (6) So that his disciples do not stumble at his debasing himself in his flesh, he teaches them that it is voluntary, showing in addition for a moment the brightness of his glory.

9:29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling.

9:30 Behold, two men were talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah,

9:31 who appeared in glory, and spoke of his [24] departure, [See Luke Footnotes 24] which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

• (h) What death he would die in Jerusalem.

9:32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men who stood with him.

9:33 It happened, as they were parting from him, that Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let's make three tents: one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah," not knowing what he said.

• Peter thinks that what he is seeing means that Jesus, Moses (the Law), and Elijah (the Prophets) are all equal but God clarifies this misconception. -KC

9:34 While he said these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud.

9:35 A voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!"

• God himself is saying that Jesus is the one to listen to. NOT Moses (the law) or Elijah (the prophets). This is a major transition from the law and prophets (Judaism) to Jesus (Christianity). This is a new shift in their thinking. -KC

9:36 When the voice came, Jesus was found alone. They were silent, and told no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.

• (i) Until Christ was risen again from the dead.

9:37 It happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met him.

• (7) Nothing offends Christ as much as incredulity, although he bears with it for a time.

9:38 Behold, a man from the crowd called out, saying, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.

9:39 Behold, a spirit takes him, he suddenly cries out, and it convulses him so that he foams, and it hardly departs from him, bruising him severely.

• (k) As it happens in the falling sickness.

9:40 I begged your disciples to cast it out, and they couldn't."

9:41 Jesus answered, "Faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here."

9:42 While he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him violently. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

9:43 They were all astonished at the majesty of God. But while all were marveling at all the things which Jesus did, he said to his disciples,

• (8) We have no reason to promise ourselves rest and quietness in this world, seeing that they themselves who seemed to fawn upon Christ crucify him shortly after.

9:44 "Let these words sink into your ears, for the Son of Man will be delivered up into the hands of men."

• (l) Give diligent ear to them, and once you have heard them see that you keep them.

9:45 But they didn't understand this saying. It was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

9:46 There arose an argument among them about which of them was the greatest.

• (9) Ambition results in dishonour, but the result of modest obedience is glory.

9:47 Jesus, perceiving the reasoning of their hearts, took a little child, and set him by his side,

9:48 and said to them, "Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me. Whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For whoever is least among you all, this one will be great."

9:49 John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he doesn't follow with us."

• (10) Extraordinary things are neither rashly to be allowed nor condemned.

9:50 Jesus said to him, "Don't forbid him, for he who is not against us is for us."

9:51 It came to pass, when the days were near that he should be taken up, he intently set his face to go to Jerusalem,

• (11) Christ goes willingly to death.
• (m) Literally, "he hardened his face": that is, he resolved with himself to die, and therefore ventured upon his journey and cast away all fear of death, and went on.

9:52 and sent messengers before his face. They went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, so as to prepare for him.

9:53 They didn't receive him, because he was traveling with his face set towards Jerusalem.

9:54 When his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky, and destroy them, just as Elijah did?"

• (12) We must take heed of zeal and fond imitation which is not moderated, even in good causes, that whatever we do, we do it to God’s glory, and the profit of our neighbour.

9:55 But he turned and rebuked them, "You don't know of what kind of spirit you are.

• (n) So the Hebrews say, that is, you do not know what will, mind, and counsel you are of: so the gifts of God are called the spirit because they are given by God’s Spirit, and so are the things that are contrary to them also called the spirit, which proceed from the wicked spirit, such as the spirit of covetousness, of pride, and madness.

9:56 For the Son of Man didn't come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." They went to another village.

9:57 As they went on the way, a certain man said to him, "I want to follow you wherever you go, Lord."

• (13) Those who follow Christ must prepare themselves to endure all discomforts.

9:58 Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

9:59 He said to another, "Follow me!" But he said, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father."

• (14) The calling of God ought to be preferred without any question, before all duties that we owe to men.

9:60 But Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce the Kingdom of God."

• (o) Who, even though they live in this frail life of man, yet are strangers from the true life, which is everlasting and heavenly.

9:61 Another also said, "I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to bid farewell to those who are at my house."

• (15) Those who follow Christ must at once renounce all worldly cares.

9:62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God."