Luke 9
DOYLYChap. X. ver. 1. After these things &c.] It appears that Jesus was still on His journey towards Jerusalem, but made short stages, preaching in many places as He went. Bp. Pearce. For further notes on this chapter, see the marginal references to St. Matthew’s Gospel.
— other seventy also.] Seventy, other than the Apostles whom He had before sent. This appointment of the seventy disciples is not mentioned by the three other Evangelists. Bp. Pearce.
These seventy, having the charge committed to them of preaching the Gospel, were of higher authority than private disciples, but were still inferior to the Apostles in authority. As our Lord seems to have chosen the number of His Apostles corresponding to the twelve Patriarchs; so he may have appointed these seventy with reference to the seventy elders of Israel. Exod. xxiv. 9. Beansobre.
— two and two] They were thus sent for mutual assistance, and the more certain testimony of their miracles. Thus two disciples were sent by the Baptist to Christ, and thus Barnabas and Paul were sent by the Church. Grotius. Our Saviour sent them “before His face,” that they might prepare beforehand for the reception of His doctrines the minds of the people in the several cities through which he was to pass. Dr. S. Clarke. He sent them as His immediate barbingers to proclaim His approach to the several cities and places which He intended to visit. Dr. Hales.
Luke 9:23
- — take up his cross] See note at Matt. x. 39. In the parallel passage at Matt. xvi. 22, it is related that St. Peter “began to rebuke Him;” which led to these remarks of our Lord.
Luke 9:28
- — went up into a mountain to pray.] Behold how our Lord entered on all His great works with prayer in His mouth! When He was to enter on that great work of His humiliation in His passion, He went into the garden to pray: when He was to enter on this great work of His exaltation in His transfiguration, He went up into the mountain to pray. He was taken up from
His knees to both. What a noble example is this to us of piety and devotion! Bp. Hail.
Luke 9:31
- — in glory.] In a glorious form. Dr. S. Clarke. — and spake of his decease &c.] Talked with Jesus concerning the sufferings and death which He was to undergo at Jerusalem; and concerning the strange and glorious effects which the wisdom of God designed to bring about, by that great and wonderful dispensation. Dr. S. Clarke.
Luke 9:44
- — Let these sayings sink down &c.] Jesus continued repeatedly to charge His disciples not to suffer
Christ commendeth humility, and reproveth the desire of revenge.
4200 DOMINI 32. 45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.
o Matt. 10. 1. 46 ¶ Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
Mark 9. 34. 47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,
Luke 9:45
- — they understood not this saying, &c.] They understood the words, but knew not how to reconcile them with their own traditions, that the Messiah should live for ever; or with the great things, in a temporal view, which they expected from Him. Dr. Whitby.
Luke 9:51
- — when the time was come &c.] When the time was drawing near, at which, having fulfilled His prophecy office, He was to finish His ministry and to leave this world; He positively resolved, notwithstanding the known malice of His enemies, to go up to Jerusalem; this being absolutely necessary, in order to fulfil the other great purposes for which He came into the world. Dr. S. Clarke.
Luke 9:53
- — they did not receive him, because his face was &c.] It by no means appears that the inhabitants of Samaria were thus inhospitable at all times, and to all Jews: but it seems more probable that there was on the present occasion something peculiar in the circumstances, which disposed them to this conduct. Our Saviour was now removing from those parts of Galilee which for more than two years had been the chief scene of His miracles and preaching, into Judea, with the intent of employing there the remainder of His life before His passion. This journey is the same with that mentioned at John vii, when He followed His relations privately to the feast of tabernacles. But the Samaritans had also their solemn feasts in opposition to those held at Jerusalem. To travel therefore into Judea, with the declared purpose of thare solemnizing this festival, was held to be an affront to the Samaritan modes of worship, and argued our Lord’s judgment to be, that Jerusalem was the only place where these feasts should be celebrated. And it must have been especially a matter of great importance, that a person so eminent as Jesus should declare against them. Dean Stanhope.
Luke 9:54
- — wilt thou that we command fire &c.] The disciples here acted under an impulse which bespoke the highest veneration for their Master, and zeal for His interest. In the instance of Elijah indeed, 2 Kings i. 10, the safety of his person was attempted; but, though this
bid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
Luke 9:55
- — Ye know not what manner &c.] That is, Ye own yourselves to be My disciples; but do ye consider what spirit now actuates and governs you; not that, surely to which My doctrines design to mould and fashion you; which is not a furious, persecuting, and destructive spirit, but mild, gentle, and saving; tender of the lives and interests of men, even of those who are our greatest enemies; ye ought to consider that ye are not now under the hard and severe dispensation of the Law, but the calm and peaceable institution of the Gospel. Under it He commands universal love and peace and goodwill: and now no difference of religion, no pretence of zeal for God and Christ, can warrant and justify this passionate, vindictive, and exterminating spirit. Abp. Tillotson.
Our Saviour’s rebuke completely repels the feeling under which the Apostles acted. As the Gospel is a dispensation of compassion and love; an institution good to mankind in all their interests and capacities; to promote this Gospel by methods of vigour and revenge, would be to employ means most unsuited to the end. In uncommon emergencies, it is true, God has not been wanting to exert His vindictive power (Acts v. 1—11; xiii. 6—12). But these are very rare and peculiar cases; not to be drawn into consequence and practice, because it is scarcely possible that the same occasions should occur again, or that the same assurances should be obtained, of acting in them by the dictate of the Holy Spirit. The governours therefore of the Church, in the ordinary course of their ministry, and private Christians in their demeanour towards each other, are to follow those great standing rules, which He, who best understood the tem-
4200 DOMINE 32 q 2 Kings 1. 10. Excuses for not following Christ. Seventy disciples sent out.
Anno DOMINI 52. 56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
Mott. 0.19. 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.
Luke 9:56
- — is not come to destroy men’s lives, &c.] When we look upon the sacred acts and monuments of our Saviour’s life, we find many a life which He preserved from perishing; some that had perished, by Him recalled; never any by Him destroyed. Only one poor fig tree, as the real emblem of His severity to the unfruitful, was blasted and withered by His curse. But to man, how was He ever favourable and indulgent! So repelled, as He was, so persecuted, reviled, betrayed, condemned, crucified; yet not one did He strike dead for these heinous indignities. How can we enough love and praise Thy mercy, O Thou preserver of men! How should we imitate Thy saving and beneficent disposition towards mankind; as knowing that, the more we can help and save our fellow-creatures, the nearer we come to Thee, who camest to save all mankind! Bp. Hall.
Luke 9:62
- — No man, having put his hand &c.] As no man is fit to manage a plough who is not intent on his work, so no man must think of taking upon himself the profession of the Gospel, who allows worldly considerations to be uppermost in his mind. Bp. Mann.
The ancient ploughs, being much more rude and simple than those in modern use, required peculiar attention in the person who had the guidance of them, in