Luke9

Jesus empowers His twelve disciples to preach the Kingdom and heal, sending them out without provisions. Upon their return, He miraculously feeds five thousand with five loaves and two fishes. Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ of God, after which Jesus foretells His suffering and teaches on the cost of discipleship, culminating in His Transfiguration before Peter, James, and John.

Jesus Commissions the Twelve

1
He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. ​
2
He sent them out to proclaim the Kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
3
He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey—neither staffs, nor wallet, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats apiece. ​
4
Into whatever house you enter, stay there, and depart from there.
5
As many as don’t receive you, when you depart from that city, shake off even the dust from your feet for a testimony against them.” ​
6
They departed, and went throughout the villages, proclaiming the Good News, and healing everywhere.

Herod's Perplexity over Jesus

7
Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him; and he was very perplexed, because it was said by some that Yochanan had risen from the dead, ​
8
and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again.
9
Herod said, “Yochanan I beheaded, but who is this, about whom I hear such things?” He sought to see him.

Feeding the Five Thousand

10
The emissaries, when they had returned, told him what things they had done. He took them, and withdrew apart to a deserted place of a city called Bethsaida. ​
11
But the multitudes, perceiving it, followed him. He welcomed them, and spoke to them of the Kingdom of God, and he cured those who needed healing.
12
The day began to wear away; and the twelve came, and said to him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and farms, and lodge, and get food, for we are here in a deserted place.” ​
13
But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we should go and buy food for all these people.”
14
For they were about five thousand men. He said to his disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”
15
They did so, and made them all sit down.
16
He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to the sky, he blessed them, and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.
17
They ate, and were all filled. They gathered up twelve baskets of broken pieces that were left over. ​

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

18
As he was praying alone, the disciples were with him, and he asked them, “Who do the multitudes say that I am?” ​
19
They answered, “‘Yochanan the Immerser,’ but others say, ‘Elijah,’ and others, that one of the old prophets is risen again.”
20
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.” ​
21
But he warned them, and commanded them to tell this to no one, ​
22
saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.” ​
23
He said to all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. ​
24
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same will save it.
25
For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self?
26
For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed, when he comes in his glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels.
27
But I tell you the truth: There are some of those who stand here, who will in no way taste of death, until they see the Kingdom of God.” ​

The Transfiguration

28
About eight days after these sayings, he took with him Peter, Yochanan, and Jacob, and went up onto the mountain to pray. ​
29
As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling.
30
Behold, two men were talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah,
31
who appeared in glory, and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. ​
32
Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men who stood with him.
33
As they were parting from him, Peter said to Yeshua, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not knowing what he said. ​
34
While he said these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud.
35
A voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!” ​
36
When the voice came, Yeshua was found alone. They were silent, and told no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.

Healing the Demonized Boy

37
On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great multitude met him. ​
38
Behold, a man from the crowd called out, saying, “Rabbi, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.
39
Behold, a spirit takes him, he suddenly cries out, and it convulses him so that he foams, and it hardly departs from him, bruising him severely.
40
I begged your disciples to cast it out, and they couldn’t.” ​
41
Yeshua answered, “Faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”
42
While he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him violently. But Yeshua rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
43
They were all astonished at the majesty of God. But while all were marveling at all the things which Yeshua did, he said to his disciples,

The Second Passion Prediction

44
“Let these words sink into your ears, for the Son of Man will be delivered up into the hands of men.” ​
45
But they didn’t understand this saying. It was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying. ​

Humility and True Greatness

46
There arose an argument among them about which of them was the greatest. ​
47
Yeshua, perceiving the reasoning of their hearts, took a little child, and set him by his side,
48
and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me. Whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For whoever is least among you all, this one will be great.” ​
49
Yochanan answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow with us.” ​
50
Yeshua said to him, “Don’t forbid him, for he who is not against us is for us.”

Jesus Sets His Face Toward Jerusalem

51
It came to pass, when the days were near that he should be taken up, he intently set his face to go to Jerusalem, ​
52
and sent messengers before his face. They went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, so as to prepare for him.
53
They didn’t receive him, because he was traveling with his face set towards Jerusalem. ​
54
When his disciples, Jacob and Yochanan, saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky, and destroy them, just as Elijah did?” ​
55
But he turned and rebuked them, “You don’t know of what kind of spirit you are.
56
For the Son of Man didn’t come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” They went to another village. ​

The Cost of Discipleship

57
As they went on the way, a certain man said to him, “I want to follow you wherever you go, Lord.”
58
Yeshua said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” ​
59
He said to another, “Follow me!” But he said, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.”
60
But Yeshua said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce the Kingdom of God.” ​
61
Another also said, “I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to say good-bye to those who are at my house.”
62
But Yeshua said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.” ​

Study Notes for Luke 9

Verse 1

Luke emphasizes that the disciples were given both power (dynamis) and authority (exousia) over evil forces, indicating that their mission was backed by divine authorization.

Verse 3

The command to take nothing emphasizes radical dependence on God and the hospitality of those receiving the message, ensuring the mission is swift and focused.

Verse 5

Shaking off the dust symbolized severing fellowship and declaring that the responsibility for rejection lay with the inhabitants of that town (cf. Acts 13:51).

Verse 7

Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee, had previously murdered John the Baptist. His fear and perplexity highlight the widespread speculation regarding Jesus' identity.

Verse 10

The apostles return and report their work, after which Jesus seeks solitude. The crowds follow him, demonstrating their hunger for the Kingdom message.

Verse 12

The disciples' practical concern for logistics contrasts sharply with Jesus' divine solution. This miracle serves as a messianic sign (echoing Moses/manna) and a model for the disciples' future ministry.

Verse 17

The collection of twelve baskets of fragments, one for each disciple, symbolizes the superabundant provision of God and ensures that nothing is wasted.

Verse 18

Luke stresses that this pivotal exchange occurred while Jesus was praying, emphasizing the divine source of Peter’s revelation.

Verse 20

Peter’s confession, 'The Christ of God,' is the central affirmation of faith in the Synoptic Gospels, confirming Jesus' identity as the long-awaited Messiah.

Verse 21

Jesus imposes the 'Messianic Secret' because the public understanding of the Messiah was political and military; Jesus needed to redefine messiahship through suffering.

Verse 22

This is the first of three major passion predictions in Luke. The term Son of man connects Jesus' suffering with Daniel 7:13, linking humanity, humiliation, and future glory.

Verse 23

Taking up the cross 'daily' is unique to Luke, emphasizing that discipleship involves continuous self-denial, not just a one-time decision.

Verse 27

This verse refers either to the Transfiguration (which immediately follows) or, more broadly, to the spiritual establishment and power demonstrated by the early church after Pentecost.

Verse 28

The Transfiguration occurs as Jesus is praying and serves as a preview of his divine glory, confirming the truth of Peter’s confession.

Verse 31

Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the Prophets. They discuss Jesus’ 'decease' (Greek: *exodos*), linking his death to the great Exodus event of Israel's deliverance.

Verse 33

Peter’s suggestion to build three shelters attempts to place Jesus on equal footing with Moses and Elijah, demonstrating his misunderstanding of Jesus’ supreme authority.

Verse 35

The divine voice confirms Jesus' unique status as the Son and explicitly commands the disciples to 'hear him,' establishing Jesus' authority over the Law and the Prophets.

Verse 37

The descent from the mountain of glory (Transfiguration) directly into the chaos of human suffering emphasizes the practical, suffering nature of Jesus' ministry.

Verse 40

The disciples' failure, despite the power given to them in 9:1, highlights that spiritual authority requires faith and dependence on Jesus, which they lacked.

Verse 44

Jesus immediately shifts the focus from amazement at his power back to his impending suffering, correcting the disciples' focus on earthly glory.

Verse 45

The disciples' inability to grasp the prediction shows that their expectations of a conquering Messiah prevented them from accepting the necessity of suffering.

Verse 46

The disciples’ argument over who is greatest immediately follows the prediction of suffering, demonstrating their persistent misunderstanding of the Kingdom’s nature.

Verse 48

Jesus uses a child as a living parable. True greatness in the Kingdom is found not in status or power, but in humble service and welcoming the weakest members of society.

Verse 49

John’s question reveals an elitist or proprietary attitude among the disciples, wanting to control who performs ministry. Jesus rejects this narrow view.

Verse 51

This verse marks the theological and geographical turning point of Luke’s Gospel, initiating the long 'Travel Narrative.' Jesus 'steadfastly set his face' (a phrase denoting firm resolve) toward his passion.

Verse 53

Samaritans rejected Jesus because his destination (Jerusalem) indicated loyalty to the rival Jewish center of worship, highlighting the deep ethnic and religious division.

Verse 54

James and John’s aggressive, punitive suggestion invokes the actions of Elijah. They are rebuked for seeking vengeance rather than exhibiting grace.

Verse 56

This key statement defines the mission of Christ: salvation, not destruction. This theme contrasts sharply with the popular expectation of a destructive messianic judgment.

Verse 58

Jesus challenges the man's impulsive commitment by emphasizing the radical insecurity and self-denial required of those who follow the Son of man, who possesses no earthly home.

Verse 60

The phrase 'Let the dead bury their dead' is a powerful call for immediate priority. Jesus demands urgent action and uncompromising loyalty to the Kingdom above all family obligations.

Verse 62

This illustrates the necessity of single-minded focus in ministry. Looking back suggests regret or divided loyalty, rendering one unfit for the task of proclaiming the Kingdom.

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