Luke 9

¹Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

Mt 10:1; Mr 6:7.

⁴And 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.

⁷Now 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. Mt 14:1; Mr 6:14.

⁸And 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.

¹⁰And 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.

Mr 6:30.

¹²And 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.

Mt 14:15; Mr 6:35; Joh 6:3.

¹⁸And 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. Mt 14:13; Mr 8:27.

²²Saying, 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.

²³And 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.

²⁴For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Mt 16:25; Mr 8:35; Joh 12:25.

²⁸And 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.

Mt 17:1; Mr 9:2.

³¹Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

In glory - Like Christ with whom they talked.

³²But 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, 2Pet 1:16.

³⁴While 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.

³⁷And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.

Mt 17:14; Mr 9:14.

⁴⁴Let 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. Mt 17:22; Mr 9:31.

⁴⁶Then 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.

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

Mt 18:2; Mr 9:37.

⁴⁸And 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.

⁴⁹And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.

Mr 9:38.

⁵¹And 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, Heb 12:2.

⁵²And 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.

⁵³And 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.

⁵⁴And 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.

⁵⁵But 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.

⁵⁷And 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.

Mt 8:19.

⁵⁸And 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.

⁶¹And 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, 1Kings 19:19; to which our Lord’s answer seems to allude.

⁶²And 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.