Luke9
New American Standard
1Now He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all the demons, and the power to heal diseases.
2And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing.
3And He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics.
4And whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that city.
5And as for all who do not receive you, when you leave that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
6And as they were leaving, they began going throughout the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
7Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening; and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead,
8and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen.
9Herod said, “I myself had John beheaded; but who is this Man about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see Him.
10When the apostles returned, they gave an account to Him of all that they had done. And taking them with Him, He withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida.
11But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and He welcomed them and began speaking to them about the kingdom of God, and curing those who had need of healing.
12Now the day was ending, and the twelve came up and said to Him, “Dismiss the crowd, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and get something to eat; because here, we are in a secluded place.”
13But He said to them, “You give them something to eat!” But they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we go and buy food for all these people.”
14(For there were about five thousand men.) But He said to His disciples, “Have them recline to eat in groups of about fifty each.”
15They did so, and had them all recline.
16And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and, looking up to heaven, He blessed them and broke them, and gave them to the disciples again and again, to serve the crowd.
17And they all ate and were satisfied; and the broken pieces which they had left over were picked up, twelve baskets full.
18And it happened that while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, “Who do the people say that I am?”
19They answered and said, “John the Baptist, and others say Elijah; but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.”
20And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”
21But He warned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone,
22saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised on the third day.”
23And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
24For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, this is the one who will save it.
25For what good does it do a person if he gains the whole world, but loses or forfeits himself?
26For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and the glory of the Father and the holy angels.
27But I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
28About eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter, John, and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.
29And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming.
30And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah,
31who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
32Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who were standing with Him.
33And as these two men were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; and let’s make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not realizing what he was saying.
34But while he was saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.
35And then a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!”
36And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.
37On the next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him.
38And a man from the crowd shouted, saying, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, because he is my only son,
39and a spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams, and it throws him into a convulsion with foaming at the mouth; and only with difficulty does it leave him, mauling him as it leaves.
40And I begged Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not.”
41And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”
42Now while he was still approaching, the demon slammed him to the ground and threw him into a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy and gave him back to his father.
43And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. But while everyone was astonished at all that He was doing, He said to His disciples,
44“As for you, let these words sink into your ears: for the Son of Man is going to be handed over to men.”
45But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not comprehend it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement.
46Now an argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest.
47But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their hearts, took a child and had him stand by His side,
48and He said to them, “Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.”
49John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him, because he does not follow along with us.”
50But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; for the one who is not against you is for you.”
51When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem;
52and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him.
53And they did not receive Him, because He was traveling toward Jerusalem.
54When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”
55But He turned and rebuked them.
56And they went on to another village.
57As they were going on the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.”
58And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
59And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.”
60But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.”
61Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say goodbye to those at my home.”
62But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Luke 9.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The apostles sent forth. (1–9). The multitude miraculously fed. (10–17). Peter's testimony to Christ, Self-denial enjoined. (18–27). The transfiguration. (28–36). An evil spirit cast out. (37–42). Christ checks the ambition of his disciples. (43–50). He reproves their mistaken zeal. (51–56). Every thing to be given up for Christ. (57–62).
vv1-9
Christ sent his twelve disciples abroad, who by this time were able to teach others what they had received from the Lord. They must not be anxious to commend themselves to people's esteem by outward appearance. They must go as they were. The Lord Jesus is the fountain of power and authority, to whom all creatures must, in one way or another, be subject; and if he goes with the word of his ministers in power, to deliver sinners from Satan's bondage, they may be sure that he will care for their wants. When truth and love thus go together, and yet the message of God is rejected and despised, it leaves men without excuse, and turns to a testimony against them. Herod's guilty conscience was ready to conclude that John was risen from the dead. He desired to see Jesus; and why did he not go and see him? Probably, because he thought it below him, or because he wished not to have any more reprovers of sin. Delaying it now, his heart was hardened, and when he did see Jesus, he was as much prejudiced against him as others, Lu 23:11.
vv10-17
The people followed Jesus, and though they came unseasonably, yet he gave them what they came for. He spake unto them of the kingdom of God. He healed those who had need of healing. And with five loaves of bread and two fishes, Christ fed five thousand men. He will not see those that fear him, and serve him faithfully, want any good thing. When we receive creature-comforts, we must acknowledge that we receive them from God, and that we are unworthy to receive them; that we owe them all, and all the comfort we have in them, to the mediation of Christ, by whom the curse is taken away. The blessing of Christ will make a little go a great way. He fills every hungry soul, abundantly satisfies it with the goodness of his house. Here were fragments taken up: in our Father's house there is bread enough, and to spare. We are not straitened, nor stinted in Christ.
vv18-27
It is an unspeakable comfort that our Lord Jesus is God's Anointed; this signifies that he was both appointed to be the Messiah, and qualified for it. Jesus discourses concerning his own sufferings and death. And so far must his disciples be from thinking how to prevent his sufferings, that they must prepare for their own. We often meet with crosses in the way of duty; and though we must not pull them upon our own heads, yet, when they are laid for us, we must take them up, and carry them after Christ. It is well or ill with us, according as it is well or ill with our souls. The body cannot be happy, if the soul be miserable in the other world; but the soul may be happy, though the body is greatly afflicted and oppressed in this world. We must never be ashamed of Christ and his gospel.
Key Words
δέ (dé): but, and, etc.
συγκαλέω (synkaléō): to convoke
αὐτός (autós): the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
δίδωμι (dídōmi): to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection)
δύναμις (dýnamis): force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself)
ἐξουσία (exousía): privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence
ἐπί (epí): properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.
πᾶς (pâs): all, any, every, the whole
δαιμόνιον (daimónion): a dæmonic being; by extension a deity
Cross References
Luke 9Herod's desire to see Jesus is eventually realized only when Jesus is sent to him as a prisoner.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Moses' face shining after praying on the mount typefies Christ's transfiguring countenance.
Supported by JFB
Parallel account of the scribe offering to follow Jesus whithersoever He goes.
Supported by John Calvin
Elisha was permitted to bid farewell to his family, whereas Jesus demands immediate, unconditional commitment.
Matthew's parallel account of Jesus calling and empowering the twelve disciples for their mission.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Mark's parallel account of the sending out of the twelve with power over unclean spirits.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jesus references back to this mission, contrasting their temporary lack with future preparations.
The parallel confession of Peter, identifying Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Supported by JFB
Peter's eyewitness testimony of Christ's majesty on the holy mount.
Supported by JFB
The Father's command 'hear him' fulfills Moses' prophecy of the coming Prophet.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallel incident of the disciples forbidding someone casting out demons in Christ's name.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Direct precedent cited by James and John when they ask to command fire from heaven as Elijah did.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel dialogue of a disciple asking to first go and bury his father.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
A solemn warning against looking back to what was left behind, exemplified by Lot's wife.
Paul and Barnabas carry out this exact instruction by shaking dust from their feet.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The detailed background of Herod's execution of John and his troubled conscience regarding Jesus.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Mark's parallel account of the apostles returning and gathering to report to Jesus.
Supported by JFB
John's parallel account of the feeding of the five thousand, leading to the Bread of Life discourse.
Supported by JFB
Elisha's miraculous feeding of one hundred men with twenty loaves, typifying Christ's greater miracle.
Parallel instruction on self-denial and taking up the cross to follow Christ.
Supported by John Calvin
Matthew's parallel account of the Transfiguration, including Moses and Elijah.
Supported by JFB
Mark's parallel account describing Christ's glistening, white garments.
Supported by JFB
The divine cloud that overshadowed the tabernacle now overshadows the disciples.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallel of Jesus' rebuke to the faithless and perverse generation after the failed exorcism.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Parallel teaching on humility and greatness using a child as an emblem.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Prophetic description of setting one's face like flint, echoed in Jesus setting His face to Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Loving family more than Christ makes one unworthy of His discipleship.
The demand to prioritize Christ over all family relationships to be His disciple.
The urgent command to escape for one's life and not look back behind.
Warnings against drawing back after starting the path of faith, which displeases God.
Jesus gives identical instructions of urgency and dependency when sending out the seventy.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Moses' doubt about feeding a massive assembly, mirroring the disciples' weak faith here.
Mark's parallel of Jesus asking His disciples who the crowds and they say He is.
Supported by JFB
Parallel promise of seeing the Son of man coming in His kingdom.
Supported by JFB
Parallel promise of seeing the kingdom of God come with power.
Supported by JFB
The disciples are heavy with sleep here, contrasting with their sleep in Gethsemane.
Supported by JFB