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Luke Chapter
Nine
Luke 9
In chapter 9 the Lord charges the disciples with the same
mission in Israel as that which He Himself fulfilled. They preach the kingdom,
heal the sick, and cast out devils. But this is added, that their work takes
the character of a final mission. Not that the Lord had ceased to work, for He
also sent forth the seventy; but final in this sense, that it became a definite
testimony against the people if they rejected it. The twelve were to shake off
the dust from their feet on leaving the cities that would reject them. This is
intelligible at the point we have reached in the Gospel. It is repeated, with a
yet greater force, in the case of the seventy. We shall speak of it in the
chapter that relates to their being sent forth. Their mission comes after the
manifestation of His glory to the three disciples. But the Lord as long as He
was here continued His exercise of power in mercy, for it was what He
personally was here, and sovereign goodness in Him was above all the evil He
met with.
To go on with our chapter. That which follows verse 7 shews that the
fame of His marvellous works had reached the ears of the king. Israel was
without excuse. Whatever little conscience there was felt the effect of His
power. The people also followed Him. Gone apart with the disciples, who had
returned from their mission, He is soon surrounded by the multitude; again,
their servant in grace, however great their unbelief, He preaches to them and
heals all who needed it.
But He would give them a fresh and very especial proof of
the divine power and presence that was among them. It had been said that in the
time of Israel's blessing from the Lord, when He should make the horn of David
to flourish, He would satisfy the poor with bread. Jesus now does so. But there
is more than this here. We have seen throughout this Gospel that He exercises
this power, in His humanity, by the unmeasured energy of the Holy Ghost. Hence
a marvellous blessing for us, granted according to the sovereign counsels of
God, through the perfect wisdom of Jesus in selecting His instruments. He will
have the disciples do it. Nevertheless the power that performs it is all His
own. The disciples see nothing beyond that which their eyes can estimate. But,
if He who feeds them is Jehovah, He ever takes His place Himself in the
dependence of the nature He had assumed. He retires with His disciples, and
there, afar from the world, He prays. And, as in the two remarkable cases [1] of the descent of the Holy Ghost and the
selection of the Twelve, so here also His prayer is the occasion of the
manifestation of His glory-glory which was due to Him, but which the Father
gave Him as man, and in connection with the sufferings and the humiliation,
which, in His love, He voluntarily underwent.
The attention of the people was excited, but they did not
go beyond the speculations of the human mind with regard to the Saviour. The
disciples' faith recognised without hesitation the Christ in Jesus. But He was
no longer to be proclaimed as such-the Son of man was to suffer. Counsels more
important, a glory more excellent than that of the Messiah, were to be
realised: but it should be through suffering-suffering that, as to human trials,
His disciples were to share by following Him. But in losing their life for Him,
they would gain it; for in following Jesus, the eternal life of the soul was
the question and not merely the kingdom. Moreover He who was now rejected would
return in His own glory, namely, as Son of man (the character He takes in this
Gospel), in the glory of the Father, for He was the Son of God, and in that of
the angels as Jehovah the Saviour, taking place above them, although (yea as)
man: He was worthy of this, for He created them. The salvation of the soul, the
glory of Jesus acknowledged according to His rights, everything warned them to
confess Him while He was despised and disallowed. Now, to strengthen the faith
of those whom He would make pillars, and through them the faith of all, He
announces that some of them, before they tasted death (they should neither wait
for death, in which the value of eternal life would be felt, nor for the return
of Christ), should see the kingdom of God.
In consequence of this declaration, eight days later He
took the three who afterwards were pillars, and went up into a mountain to
pray. There He is transfigured. He appears in glory, and the disciples see it.
But Moses and Elias share it with Him. The saints of the Old Testament have
part with Him in the glory of the kingdom founded upon His death. They speak
with Him of His decease. They had heretofore spoken of other things. They had
seen the law set up, or had sought to bring the people back to it, for the
introduction of blessing; but now that this new glory is the subject, all
depends on the death of Christ, and on that alone. Everything else disappears.
The heavenly glory of the kingdom and death are in immediate relationship.
Peter sees only the introduction of Christ into a glory equal to theirs;
connecting the latter in his mind with that which they both were to a Jew, and
associating Jesus with it. It is then that the two disappear entirely, and
Jesus remains alone. It was He alone whom they were to hear. The connection of
Moses and Elias with Jesus in the glory, depended on the rejection of their
testimony by the people to whom they had addressed it.
But this is not all. The church, properly so called, is not seen here.
But the sign of the excellent glory, of the presence of God, shews itself-the
cloud in which Jehovah dwelt in Israel. Jesus brings the disciples to it as
witnesses. Moses and Elias disappear, and, Jesus having brought the disciples
close to the glory, the God of Israel manifests Himself as the Father, and owns
Jesus as the Son in whom He delighted. All is changed in the relationships of
God with man. The Son of man, put to death on earth, is owned in the excellent
glory to be the Son of the Father. The disciples know Him thus by the testimony
of the Father, are associated with Him, and, as it were, introduced into
connection with the glory in which the Father Himself thus acknowledged
Jesus-in which the Father and the Son are found. Jehovah makes Himself known as
Father by revealing the Son. And the disciples find themselves associated on
earth with the abode of glory, from whence, at all times, Jehovah Himself had
protected Israel. Jesus was there with them, and He was the Son of God. What a
position! What a change for them! It is, in fact, the change from all that was
most excellent in Judaism to connection with the heavenly glory, which was
wrought at that moment, in order to make all things new. [2]
The personal profit of this passage is great, in that it
reveals to us, in a very striking manner, the heavenly and glorious state. The
saints are in the same glory as Jesus, they are with Him, they converse
familiarly with Him, they converse on that which is nearest to His heart-on His
sufferings and death. They speak with the sentiments that flow from
circumstances which affect the heart. He was to die in the beloved Jerusalem,
instead of their receiving the kingdom. They speak as understanding the
counsels of God; for the thing had not yet taken place. Such are the
relationships of the saints with Jesus in the kingdom. For, up to this point,
it is the manifestation of the glory as the world will see it, with the
addition of the intercourse between the glorified and Jesus. The three were
standing on the mountain. But the three disciples go beyond thus. They are
taught of the Father. His own affections for His Son are made known to them.
Moses and Elias have borne testimony to Christ, and shall be glorified with
Him; but Jesus now remains alone for the church. This is more than the kingdom,
it is fellowship with the Father, and with His Son Jesus (not understood,
assuredly, at that time, but now is by the power of the Holy Ghost). It is
wonderful, this entrance of the saints into the excellent glory, into the
Shekinah, the abode of God; and these revelations on God's part of His own
affections for His Son. This is more than the glory. Jesus, however, is always
the object that fills the scene for us. Observe also for our position down here,
that the Lord speaks as intimately of His death to His disciples on the earth
as to Moses and Elias. These are not more intimate with Him than are Peter,
James, and John. Sweet and precious thought! And mark how thin a veil there is
between us and what is heavenly. [3]
That which follows is the application of this revelation
to the state of things below. The disciples are unable to profit by the power
of Jesus, already manifested, to cast out the power of the enemy. And this
justifies God in that which was revealed of His counsels on the mount, and
leads to the setting aside of the Jewish system, in order to introduce their
fulfilment. But this does not hinder the action of the grace of Christ in
delivering men while He was yet with them, until man had finally rejected Him.
But, without noticing the fruitless astonishment of the people, He insists with
His disciples on His rejection and on His crucifixion; carrying this principle
on to the renunciation of self, and the humility which would receive that which
was least.
In the remainder of the chapter, from verse 46, the
Gospel gives us the different features of selfishness and of the flesh that are
in contrast with the grace and devotedness manifested in Christ, and that tend
to prevent the believer from walking in His steps. Verses 46-48; 49, 50; 51-56,
respectively, present examples [4] of this; and, from 57 to 62, the contrast
between the illusive will of man and the efficacious call of grace; the
discovery of the repugnance of the flesh, when there is a true call; and the
absolute renunciation of all things, in order to obey it, are set before us by
the Spirit of God. [5] The Lord (in reply to the spirit that sought
the aggrandisement of their own company on earth, forgetful of the cross)
expresses to the disciples that which He did not conceal from Himself, the
truth of God, that all were in such wise against them that, if any one were not
so, he was even thereby for them. So thoroughly did the presence of Christ test
the heart. The other reason, given elsewhere, is not repeated here. The Spirit,
in this connection, confines Himself to the point of view we are considering.
Thus rejected, the Lord judges no one. He does not avenge Himself; He was come
to save men's lives. That a Samaritan should repulse the Messiah was, to the
disciples, worthy of destruction. Christ came to save the lives of men. He
submits to the insult, and goes elsewhere. There were some who wished to serve
Him here below. He had no home to which He could take them. Meantime, for this
very reason, the preaching of the kingdom was the only thing to His unwearying
love; the dead (to God) might bury the dead. He who was called, who was alive,
must be occupied with one thing, with the kingdom, to bear testimony to it; and
that without looking back, the urgency of the matter lifting him above all
other thoughts. He who had put his hand to the plough must not look back. The
kingdom, in presence of the enmity-the ruin-of man, of all that opposed it,
required the soul to be wholly absorbed in its interests by the power of God.
The work of God, in the presence of Christ's rejection, demanded entire
consecration.
[1]
Observe also here, that it is not only in the case of acts of power, or in that
of testimony to the glory of His Person in answer to His prayer, that these
prayers are offered. His conversation with the disciples respecting the change
in the dispensations of God (in which He speaks of His sufferings, and forbids
them to make Him known as the Christ) is introduced by His prayer when He was
in a desert place with them. That His people were to be given up for a time
occupied His heart as much as the glory. Moreover, He pours out His heart to
God, whatever may be the subject that occupies Him according to the ways of
God.
[2] It
is the display of the kingdom, not of the church in heavenly places. I suppose
the words "they entered" must refer to Moses and Elias. But the cloud
overshadowed the disciples. Yet it carries us beyond that display. The word
"overshadowed" is the same as that used by the LXX for the cloud
coming and filling the tabernacle. We learn from Matthew it was a bright cloud.
It was the Shekinah of glory which had been with Israel in the wilderness-I may
say the Father's house. His voice came from it. Into this they entered. It is
this in Luke that makes the disciples afraid. God had talked with Moses out of
it; but here they enter into it. Thus, besides the kingdom, there is the proper
dwelling-place of the saints. This is found in Luke only. We have the kingdom,
Moses and Elias in the same glory with the Son, and others in flesh on the
earth, but the heavenly sojourn of the saints also.
[3] Note
too that if Jesus takes up the disciples to see the glory of the kingdom, and
the entrance of the saints into the excellent glory where the Father was, He
came down also and met the crowd of this world and the power of Satan where we
have to walk.
[4]
These three passages point out, each in succession, a more subtle selfishness
less easily detected by man: gross personal selfishness, corporate selfishness,
and the selfishness that clothes itself with the appearance of zeal for the
Lord, but which is not likeness to Him.
[5]
Observe that, when the will of man acts, he does not feel the difficulties, but
he is not qualified for the work. When there is a true call, the hindrances are
felt.
── John Darby《Synopsis of Luke》
Luke 9
Chapter Contents
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)
Commentary on Luke 9:1-9
(Read Luke 9:1-9)
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, Luke 23:11.
Commentary on Luke 9:10-17
(Read Luke 9:10-17)
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.
Commentary on Luke 9:18-27
(Read Luke 9:18-27)
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.
Commentary on Luke 9:28-36
(Read Luke 9:28-36)
Christ's transfiguration was a specimen of that glory in
which he will come to judge the world; and was an encouragement to his
disciples to suffer for him. Prayer is a transfiguring, transforming duty,
which makes the face to shine. Our Lord Jesus, even in his transfiguration, was
willing to speak concerning his death and sufferings. In our greatest glories
on earth, let us remember that in this world we have no continuing city. What
need we have to pray to God for quickening grace, to make us lively! Yet that
the disciples might be witnesses of this sign from heaven, after awhile they
became awake, so that they were able to give a full account of what passed. But
those know not what they say, that talk of making tabernacles on earth for glorified
saints in heaven.
Commentary on Luke 9:37-42
(Read Luke 9:37-42)
How deplorable the case of this child! He was under the
power of an evil spirit. Disease of that nature are more frightful than such as
arise merely from natural causes. What mischief Satan does where he gets
possession! But happy those that have access to Christ! He can do that for us
which his disciples cannot. A word from Christ healed the child; and when our
children recover from sickness, it is comfortable to receive them as healed by
the hand of Christ.
Commentary on Luke 9:43-50
(Read Luke 9:43-50)
This prediction of Christ's sufferings was plain enough,
but the disciples would not understand it, because it agreed not with their
notions. A little child is the emblem by which Christ teaches us simplicity and
humility. What greater honour can any man attain to in this world, than to be
received by men as a messenger of God and Christ; and to have God and Christ
own themselves received and welcomed in him! If ever any society of Christians
in this world, had reason to silence those not of their own communion, the
twelve disciples at this time had; yet Christ warned them not to do the like
again. Those may be found faithful followers of Christ, and may be accepted of
him, who do not follow with us.
Commentary on Luke 9:51-56
(Read Luke 9:51-56)
The disciples did not consider that the conduct of the
Samaritans was rather the effect of national prejudices and bigotry, than of
enmity to the word and worship of God; and through they refused to receive
Christ and his disciples, they did not ill use or injure them, so that the case
was widely different from that of Ahaziah and Elijah. Nor were they aware that
the gospel dispensation was to be marked by miracles of mercy. But above all,
they were ignorant of the prevailing motives of their own hearts, which were
pride and carnal ambition. Of this our Lord warned them. It is easy for us to
say, Come, see our zeal for the Lord! and to think we are very faithful in his
cause, when we are seeking our own objects, and even doing harm instead of good
to others.
Commentary on Luke 9:57-62
(Read Luke 9:57-62)
Here is one that is forward to follow Christ, but seems
to have been hasty and rash, and not to have counted the cost. If we mean to
follow Christ, we must lay aside the thoughts of great things in the world. Let
us not try to join the profession of Christianity, with seeking after worldly
advantages. Here is another that seems resolved to follow Christ, but he begs a
short delay. To this man Christ first gave the call; he said to him, Follow me.
Religion teaches us to be kind and good, to show piety at home, and to requite
our parents; but we must not make these an excuse for neglecting our duty to
God. Here is another that is willing to follow Christ, but he must have a
little time to talk with his friends about it, and to set in order his
household affairs, and give directions concerning them. He seemed to have
worldly concerns more upon his heart than he ought to have, and he was willing
to enter into a temptation leading him from his purpose of following Christ. No
one can do any business in a proper manner, if he is attending to other things.
Those who begin with the work of God, must resolve to go on, or they will make
nothing of it. Looking back, leads to drawing back, and drawing back is to
perdition. He only that endures to the end shall be saved.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Luke》
Luke 9
Verse 4
[4] And
whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.
There abide and thence depart — That is, stay in that house till ye leave the city.
Verse 7
[7] Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was
perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;
It was said by some —
And soon after by Herod himself. Matthew 14:1; Mark 6:14.
Verse 8
[8] And
of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets
was risen again.
That Elijah had appeared — He could not rise again, because he did not die.
Verse 10
[10] And
the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he
took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city
called Bethsaida.
Verse 12
[12] And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto
him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round
about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.
Matthew 14:15; Mark 6:35; John 6:3.
Verse 18
[18] And
it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he
asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?
Apart —
From the multitude.
And he asked them —
When he had done praying, during which they probably stayed at a distance. Matthew 14:13; Mark 8:27.
Verse 22
[22]
Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders
and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
Saying — Ye
must prepare for a scene far different from this.
Verse 23
[23] And
he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and
take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Let him deny himself, and take up his cross — The necessity of this duty has been shown in many places: the extent of
it is specified here, daily - Therefore that day is lost wherein no cross is
taken up.
Verse 24
[24] For
whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life
for my sake, the same shall save it.
Matthew 16:25; Mark 8:35; John 12:25.
Verse 28
[28] And
it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John
and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
Verse 31
[31] Who
appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at
Jerusalem.
In glory —
Like Christ with whom they talked.
Verse 32
[32] But
Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were
awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
They saw his glory —
The very same expression in which it is described by St. John, John 1:14; and by St. Peter, 2 Peter 1:16.
Verse 34
[34]
While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared
as they entered into the cloud.
A cloud came and overshadowed them all. And
they, the apostles, feared, while they (Moses and Elijah) entered into the
cloud, which took them away.
Verse 37
[37] And
it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill,
much people met him.
Verse 44
[44] Let
these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered
into the hands of men.
Let these sayings sink down into your ears — That is, consider them deeply. In joy remember the cross. So wisely does
our Lord balance praise with sufferings. Matthew 17:22; Mark 9:31.
Verse 46
[46] Then
there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
And there arose a reasoning among them — This kind of reasoning always arose at the most improper times that
could be imagined.
Verse 47
[47] And
Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,
Verse 48
[48] And
said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and
whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least
among you all, the same shall be great.
And said to them — If
ye would be truly great, humble yourselves to the meanest offices. He that is
least in his own eyes shall be great indeed.
Verse 49
[49] And
John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and
we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
Verse 51
[51] And
it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he
stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
The days are fulfilled that he should be
received up — That is, the time of his passion was now
at hand. St. Luke looks through this, to the glory which was to follow.
He steadfastly set his face — Without fear of his enemies, or shame of the cross, Hebrews 12:2.
Verse 52
[52] And
sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of
the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
He sent messengers to make ready — A lodging and needful entertainment for him and those with him.
Verse 53
[53] And
they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to
Jerusalem.
His face was as though he would go to
Jerusalem — It plainly appeared, he was going to
worship at the temple, and thereby, in effect, to condemn the Samaritan worship
at Mount Gerizim.
Verse 54
[54] And
when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we
command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
As Elisha did — At
or near this very place, which might put it into the minds of the apostles to
make the motion now, rather than at any other time or place, where Christ had
received the like affront.
Verse 55
[55] But
he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are
of.
Ye know not what manner of spirit — The spirit of Christianity is. It is not a spirit of wrath and vengeance,
but of peace, and gentleness, and love.
Verse 57
[57] And
it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him,
Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
Verse 58
[58] And
Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the
Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
But Jesus said to him — First understand the terms: consider on what conditions thou art to
follow me.
Verse 61
[61] And
another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them
farewell, which are at home at my house.
Suffer me first to bid them farewell that are
in my house — As Elisha did after Elijah had called him
from the plough, 1 Kings 19:19; to which our Lord's answer seems
to allude.
Verse 62
[62] And
Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking
back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Is fit for the kingdom of God — Either to propagate or to receive it.
── John ‘Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Luke》
Chapter 9. The Will of a Worker
As He Prays
His Face Altered
I. Send out
Twelve Disciples
II. The Way of
the Cross
III. Begin the
Final Journey
── Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》