Luke 10:23

And he turned him unto [his] disciples, and said privately, Blessed [are] the eyes which see the things that ye see:

And {G2532} he turned him {G4762} unto {G4314} his disciples {G3101}, and said {G2036} privately {G2398}{G2596}, Blessed {G3107} are the eyes {G3788} which {G3588} see {G991} the things that {G3739} ye see {G991}:

Then, turning to the talmidim, he said, privately, “How blessed are the eyes that see what you are seeing!

Then Jesus turned to the disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.

And turning to the disciples, he said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:

Commentary

Context of Luke 10:23

Luke 10:23 follows a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry: the triumphant return of the seventy (or seventy-two) disciples whom He had sent out. They were rejoicing because even the demons were subject to them in Jesus' name (Luke 10:17). Immediately prior to this verse, Jesus Himself expressed profound joy in the Holy Spirit, praising His Father for revealing these truths to "babes" while hiding them from the "wise and prudent" (Luke 10:21-22). It is in this atmosphere of divine revelation and the disciples' firsthand experience of God's power that Jesus turns to them privately, emphasizing the extraordinary privilege they possess.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Privilege and Revelation: The core message is the unique blessing bestowed upon the disciples. They were witnesses to the very presence and work of God's Son, Jesus Christ, and His Kingdom breaking into the world. This was not merely physical sight, but spiritual understanding and acceptance of the profound truths being revealed.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: The "things that ye see" refer to the miracles, teachings, and the very person of Jesus, which were the long-awaited signs of the Messianic era. As the subsequent verse clarifies (Luke 10:24), many prophets and kings had longed to see and hear these very things but did not. The disciples were living in the fulfillment of centuries of anticipation.
  • Spiritual Discernment: While many saw Jesus physically, only a select few truly "saw" in the sense of understanding His identity and mission. This verse highlights the importance of spiritual perception—the ability to grasp divine truth that is often hidden from those who rely solely on worldly wisdom.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "blessed" is makarioi (μακάριοι), which signifies a state of deep spiritual well-being, happiness, and divine favor. It's not merely good fortune, but an enduring state of joy and contentment that comes from being in right relationship with God and receiving His blessings. It implies an enviable state from a spiritual perspective.

Practical Application

While we do not physically walk with Jesus as the disciples did, this verse still holds profound meaning for believers today. We are blessed to live in the era of the Holy Spirit, with access to the complete revelation of God's Word. We "see" through faith and understanding, witnessing the ongoing work of Christ in the world and in our lives. This verse encourages us to:

  • Cherish God's Revelation: Value the Scriptures and the truths about Jesus Christ that have been preserved for us. We have a profound understanding of God's plan of salvation that even Old Testament prophets yearned for.
  • Seek Spiritual Sight: Pray for spiritual discernment and understanding, asking God to open the "eyes of our heart" (Ephesians 1:18) to grasp the depth of His truth.
  • Appreciate Our Inheritance: Recognize the immense privilege of being part of God's Kingdom today, participating in His ongoing work through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 13:16

    But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

  • Matthew 13:17

    For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous [men] have desired to see [those things] which ye see, and have not seen [them]; and to hear [those things] which ye hear, and have not heard [them].
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