Study Bible
Luke
Chapter 9

Jesus was Resolute

Luke 9:51-56Luke: List of Major Bible Charts, Maps, & PicturesJesus' Journey to JerusalemThe Character of Discipleship

Section · Luke 9:51–19:27

Jesus' Journey to Jerusalem

Jesus begins towards Jerusalem. Luke's Gospel records Jesus journey to Jerusalem. Luke's Gospel presents the solemn progress to the capital city, where Jesus would die for elect sinners in accordance with the will of God. He would rise from the dead three days later! See the videos "We Believe in Jesus" below.

A major turning point in Luke's Gospel. Jesus determines to begin moving towards the cross (9:51). Everything he said and did was in anticipation of his impending death and resurrection.

Section · Luke 9:51–10:42

The Character of Discipleship

Jesus prepared his disciples by discipling them in the Gospel of the Kingdom. He taught them not to be merely preachers of the Word, but doers also.

Luke emphasized Jesus' instruction about what it meant to be his disciple. This teaching is informed by predictions of Jesus's coming death at the cross.

Jesus was Resolute

Hughes states:

We come to a major turning point in Luke's Gospel at this point because beginning here and continuing for ten lengthy chapters - right up to the Triumphal Entry (Luke 19:28-44) - Jesus is on the road. Luke alludes to this fact at least ten times (for example, Luke 9:51-57; 10:1; 11:53; 13:22, 33; 17:11; 18:31, 35; 19:1). But it is easy to lose sight of this because Luke does not note the journey's geographical progress. So as readers, we must consciously remind ourselves that Jesus is on the road.

Jesus set out purposed to see the plan of God realized (cf. Luke 1:23; 2:6, 21-22; 21:22). The phrase "taken up to heaven" refers to the ascension (Acts 1:2, 11, 22; cf analempseos). The ascension marks the final stage of Christ's life upon earth, following his conception, birth, ministry, death, burial, and resurrection. The Kingdom of God has been initiated. Jesus literally "set his face to go to Jerusalem" (cf. Isa 50:7) in order to fulfill God's full and complete purpose for his life. Christ's enemies had set their bullseye upon Christ, but Christ from the beginning had his eyes on the will of God (cf. John 4:34; 6:39, etc.) - the Cross and what followed.

Jesus has an appointment in Jerusalem (Luke 9:22; cf. Acts 2:22-24; 4:27-28). In Luke, God's plan begins (Luke 1:9) and ends there (Luke 24:53). Even the Book of Acts begins in Jerusalem (Acts 1:4) and becomes the center of the Church (Acts 8:1, 14; 15:12) with Paul returning to Jerusalem after every missionary journey.

Jesus sent messengers ahead, which appears to be an allusion to Malachi 3:1, and this is supported by Luke's use of angelos (meaning messengers) and by "on ahead," literally meaning, "before his face." Compare Luke 7:27 and Malachi 3:1.

Only Luke refers to Jesus' ministry to the Samaritans (cf. Luke 9:52, etc.). Since Jesus was going to Jerusalem and it would take approximately 3 days to get through Samaria, so Jesus sent messengers ahead for preparations for lodging, etc.

In Luke 9:53 we observe that there were some that did not welcome him. This rejection is not surprising. Hughes relates:

The mutual hatred between the Jews and the Samaritans went back for centuries, when the Samaritans intermarried with their Assyrian conquerors. The Jews considered them racial half-breeds and religious apostates. So the Samaritans responded by calling the Jews apostates - full-blooded but apostate. The Samaritans set up a rival temple on Mount Gerizim (later destroyed by the Jews), published their own edition of the Pentateuch, and established a rival liturgy. The Jews responded by publicly cursing the Samaritans in the synagogues and praying daily that they might not enter eternal life. During New Testament times some Samaritans managed to sneak into the Jerusalem temple where they strewed some human bones. This made both the Jews and Samaritans regret that life was so short - there was so much to hate and so little time!

No, wonder some of the disciples, even John the disciple called the "Disciple of Love," asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" Again, Hughes comments saying:

James and John, the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17), were deadly serious. They were not naive, and they were not joking. They believed Jesus was an Elijah-like Messiah, and thus Elijah's life was a precedent for what should happen now. They remembered 2 Kings 1:1-14, which records how the apostate king Ahaziah twice sent soldiers to take Elijah and how twice the prophet said, "If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!" (2 Kings 1:10, 12) - and it did! The two disciples' memory was good, but what they failed to understand was that though Ahaziah was rejecting God, the Samaritans were not, but were simply returning the rejection of the Jews. The situations were not the same.

Luke 9:51

taken up. Refers to Jesus' resurrection and him being taken up to heaven (Acts 1:2, 11, 22; 1 Tim. 3:16). set his face. A Hebrew expression which speaks to determined resolve. Jesus was committed to begin making his way to Jerusalem where he would fulfill God's plan through his death and resurrection. This phrase sets the theme for the next section (9:51–19:27).

Luke 9:52

Samaritan. The Samaritans were a people of mixed ancestry. They were the result of Jewish intermarriage with Gentiles after their capture by Assyria (2 Kgs. 17:24-41; Ezra 4; Neh. 4). Sadly, they were despised by both the Jews and Gentiles. This led them to develop their own version of the Pentateuch, their own temple on Mount Gerizim, and their own version of Israel's history. Their distorted view of God, Scripture, and worship, there was great antagonism between the Jews and Samaritans (see Luke 10:25-37). prepare. This was probably housing preparations.

Luke 9:53

Jesus would fulfill God's will by offering his life at Jerusalem (v. 51). Yet, the Samaritans were opposed to worship at the temple in Jerusalem (see note on v. 52). Therefore, they opposed Jesus. This was a very different reaction than Jesus' previous visit there (John 4:39-42).

Luke 9:54-55

command fire. The disciples' response to Jesus' rejection was similar to Elijah's response to King Ahaziah's rejection of God (2 Kgs. 1:1-16). It was a sign of their zeal for Jesus and possibly their feelings about the Samaritans. rebuked. It would have been just for those who rejected the Christ to be judged. However, Jesus knew that it wasn't the time for fire and wrath (John 3:17). Likewise, until he returns, believers should love and show mercy to sinners by preaching the gospel (6:27-31; Matt 28:18-20). See WLC 105.

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