Luke 9NKJV
Books
All books

Luke9

New King James Version

1Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.

2He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

3And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.

4“Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart.

5And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”

6So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

7Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Him; and he was 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 old prophets had risen again.

9Herod said, “John I have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things?” So he sought to see Him.

10And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.

11But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.

12When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.”

13But He said to them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people.”

14For there were about five thousand men. Then He said to His disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of fifty.”

15And they did so, and made them all sit down.

16Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.

17So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them.

18And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

19So they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.”

20He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”

21And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one,

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 the third day.”

23Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

24For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

25For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?

26For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.

27But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”

28Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.

29As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.

30And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah,

31who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

32But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him.

33Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.

34While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud.

35And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”

36When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.

37Now it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met Him.

38Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, “Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child.

39And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him.

40So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”

41Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”

42And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.

43And they were all amazed at the majesty of God. But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples,

44“Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.”

45But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.

46Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest.

47And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him,

48and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”

49Now John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.”

50But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side.”

51Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,

52and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him.

53But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.

54And when 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, just as Elijah did?”

55But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.

56For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village.

57Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”

58And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

59Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”

60Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”

61And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”

62But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put 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.

Full AI study →

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.

Cross References

Luke 9
v9Luke 23:8thematic

Herod's desire to see Jesus is eventually realized only when Jesus is sent to him as a prisoner.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v29Exodus 34:29-35typology

Moses' face shining after praying on the mount typefies Christ's transfiguring countenance.

Supported by JFB

v57Matthew 8:19thematic

Parallel account of the scribe offering to follow Jesus whithersoever He goes.

Supported by John Calvin

v611 Kings 19:20contrast

Elisha was permitted to bid farewell to his family, whereas Jesus demands immediate, unconditional commitment.

v1Matthew 10:1thematic

Matthew's parallel account of Jesus calling and empowering the twelve disciples for their mission.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v1Mark 6:7-13thematic

Mark's parallel account of the sending out of the twelve with power over unclean spirits.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v3Luke 22:35contrast

Jesus references back to this mission, contrasting their temporary lack with future preparations.

v20Matthew 16:16thematic

The parallel confession of Peter, identifying Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Supported by JFB

v282 Peter 1:16thematic

Peter's eyewitness testimony of Christ's majesty on the holy mount.

Supported by JFB

v35Deuteronomy 18:15fulfillment

The Father's command 'hear him' fulfills Moses' prophecy of the coming Prophet.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v49Mark 9:38-40thematic

Parallel incident of the disciples forbidding someone casting out demons in Christ's name.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v542 Kings 1:10-14allusion

Direct precedent cited by James and John when they ask to command fire from heaven as Elijah did.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v59Matthew 8:21thematic

Parallel dialogue of a disciple asking to first go and bury his father.

Supported by John Calvin, JFB

v62Luke 17:32thematic

A solemn warning against looking back to what was left behind, exemplified by Lot's wife.

v5Acts 13:51thematic

Paul and Barnabas carry out this exact instruction by shaking dust from their feet.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v7Matthew 14:1-12thematic

The detailed background of Herod's execution of John and his troubled conscience regarding Jesus.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v10Mark 6:30thematic

Mark's parallel account of the apostles returning and gathering to report to Jesus.

Supported by JFB

v12John 6:5-15thematic

John's parallel account of the feeding of the five thousand, leading to the Bread of Life discourse.

Supported by JFB

v132 Kings 4:43typology

Elisha's miraculous feeding of one hundred men with twenty loaves, typifying Christ's greater miracle.

v23Matthew 16:24thematic

Parallel instruction on self-denial and taking up the cross to follow Christ.

Supported by John Calvin

v28Matthew 17:1-13thematic

Matthew's parallel account of the Transfiguration, including Moses and Elijah.

Supported by JFB

v28Mark 9:2-13thematic

Mark's parallel account describing Christ's glistening, white garments.

Supported by JFB

v34Exodus 40:34-38typology

The divine cloud that overshadowed the tabernacle now overshadows the disciples.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v41Matthew 17:17thematic

Parallel of Jesus' rebuke to the faithless and perverse generation after the failed exorcism.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v46Matthew 18:1-5thematic

Parallel teaching on humility and greatness using a child as an emblem.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v51Isaiah 50:7allusion

Prophetic description of setting one's face like flint, echoed in Jesus setting His face to Jerusalem.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v61Matthew 10:37thematic

Loving family more than Christ makes one unworthy of His discipleship.

v61Luke 14:26thematic

The demand to prioritize Christ over all family relationships to be His disciple.

v62Genesis 19:17thematic

The urgent command to escape for one's life and not look back behind.

v62Hebrews 10:38thematic

Warnings against drawing back after starting the path of faith, which displeases God.

v3Luke 10:4-12thematic

Jesus gives identical instructions of urgency and dependency when sending out the seventy.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v13Numbers 11:21-23contrast

Moses' doubt about feeding a massive assembly, mirroring the disciples' weak faith here.

v18Mark 8:27-30thematic

Mark's parallel of Jesus asking His disciples who the crowds and they say He is.

Supported by JFB

v27Matthew 16:28thematic

Parallel promise of seeing the Son of man coming in His kingdom.

Supported by JFB

v27Mark 9:1thematic

Parallel promise of seeing the kingdom of God come with power.

Supported by JFB

v32Matthew 26:40-43contrast

The disciples are heavy with sleep here, contrasting with their sleep in Gethsemane.

Supported by JFB