Bible Commentaries

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 9:1-50

1. Christ Sends Forth the Twelve Apostles. (Luke 9:1-6)

2. Herod Perplexed. (Luke 9:7-9)

3. The Return of the Apostles. (Luke 9:10)

4. The Feeding of the Five Thousand. (Luke 9:11-17)

5. Peter’s Confession of Christ. (Luke 9:18-21)

6. The Son of Man Announces His Death and Resurrection. (Luke 9:22)

7. Necessity of Self-Denial. (Luke 9:23-26)

8. The Transfiguration. (Luke 9:27-36)

9. The Demon Cast Out. (Luke 9:37-43)

10. The Second Prediction of His Rejection. (Luke 9:44-45)

11. Disciples Rebuked. (Luke 9:46-50.)

Luke 9:1-9

The sending out of the twelve is briefly given by Luke. The full account is in Matthew. All this shows the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Matthew writing concerning the King must needs give all the details of the sending out of the Kingdom messengers. In the foreground is put here the power and authority which the Lord gave to the Apostles over all demons and to cure all diseases. Did Judas also have this power? Assuredly, for he was an Apostle. The authority and power was conferred upon them and not for any faith, virtue or merit on the Apostle’s side. They went forth preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. They are the messengers of the compassionate friend of sinners. Herod here fears Him and desires to see Him, who was greater than John, whom he had beheaded. Herod saw Him later. He had desired to see Him for a long time. At last He stood before Him bound, the willing sacrifice to be led away to the cross. Herod never heard a single word from His lips. Then the wicked King mocked. (Chapter 23:8).

Luke 9:10-26

The compassion and tenderness of the Lord is blessedly revealed throughout these verses. The Apostles returned and He took them away for rest. The multitude followed Him “and He received them, and spake unto them of the Kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.” The miracle of the feeding of the five thousand is reported in all the Gospels including John. He graciously supplied their need. Peter’s confession is preceded by prayer. In Matthew we read the fuller confession, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” There also the Lord saith that it was revealed unto Peter by His Father. Luke alone tells us He prayed before. May we then not look upon the confession as an answer to the Lord’s prayer?

Luke 9:27-50

In the transfiguration scene we see Him again in prayer. “And as He prayed the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistening.” Luke tells us of the subject of the conversation between the Lord, Moses, and Elijah. They spoke of His decease, which He should accomplish in Jerusalem. He had announced for the first time His coming suffering and death (Luke 9:22) and that death demanded by the Law (Moses) and predicted by the prophets (Elijah), which must needs be and precede His, glory, is the great theme. Another statement is found in Luke, which is absent in Matthew and Mark. Moses and Elijah “appeared in glory”; not their own glory, but His glory. Luke also informs us that when they entered the overshadowing cloud, they feared. The Transfiguration is prophetic. Some day the Second man, the last Adam, the head of the new creation, will appear in His Glory, and all His Saints will share that coming Glory.

IV. The journey to Jerusalem -- Chapter 9:51-19:27

CHAPTER 9:51-62

1. His Face Set Toward Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51-52)

2. The Rejected Messengers and His Rebuke. (Luke 9:53-56)

3. Tests of Discipleship. (Luke 9:57-62.)

The fifty-first verse marks a new part in this Gospel. The time was come; His hour was approaching. As the perfect Man we have seen Him. As babe, as child, as man in all His loveliness we have seen Him and now the compassionate, loving One, He, who always pleased God in a perfect obedience “steadfastly set His face to go up to Jerusalem.” Coming from Galilee the messengers entered into a village of the Samaritans, who would not receive Him because His face was set toward Jerusalem, the city the Samaritans hated. James and John asked the Lord to command fire to come down from heaven to consume them as Elias did. They believed the Lord had the power to do this. They had been with Him and had seen His deeds of love and kindness and yet they could make so strange a request. He then rebuked them. Later John went again into Samaria, but manifested a far different spirit (Acts 8:1-40).