New Testament Commentary - Luke 9

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 9 The Twelve sent out—Jesus feeds the five thousand—Peter testifies of Christ—Jesus foretells his death and resurrection—He is transfigured on the mount—He heals and teaches.
1 THEN he called his ^atwelve disciples together, and gave them power and ^bauthority over all devils, and to cure diseases^a. 2 And he sent them to ^apreach the kingdom of God, and to ^bheal the sick.	1^a he called his disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases Now this was not the first time that the Lord had delivered the power of the priesthood upon his disciples. Now Jesus had began baptizing, that is he had given his disciples that power from the beginning of his ministry from the time of that first cleansing of the temple as recored by the Apostle John (See John 3:21 & 26; John 4:1-2). Thus from the beginning Jesus had ordained his disciples unto the priesthood and the ministry, but at this particular time he further give the 'twelve' power and authority, those particular gift of the spirit and of the priesthood over devils and healing. And this now was before the feeding of the 5,000, and was likely the cause of such great a multitude to have gathered to the Christ at that time. For Christ had sent them out, still preaching the gospel and baptizing; and also performing great miracles unto the converting of many. And it was upon the disciples' return that the multitude did so gather in such a great number unto him, perhaps to see the Lord of whom they had been taught and converted to.	1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. 4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. 5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, ^ashake off the very ^bdust from your feet for a testimony against them. 6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the ^agospel, and healing every where.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
7 ¶ Now ^aHerod 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; 8 And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. 9 And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
10 ¶ And the apostles, when they were returned, told ^ahim all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a ^bdesert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing. 12 And 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.
13 But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people. 14 For they were about ^afive thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. 15 And they did so, and made them all sit down.
16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17 And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.
18 ¶ And 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? 19 They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.
20 He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The ^aChrist of God. 21 And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to ^atell no man that thing; 22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be ^arejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
23 ¶ And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his ^across daily, and ^bfollow me. 24 ^aFor whosoever will save his life shall ^blose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and ^alose himself, or be cast away?
26 For whosoever shall be ^aashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the ^bSon of man be ashamed, ^cwhen he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of ^adeath, till they see the kingdom of God.
28 ¶ And it came to pass about an ^aeight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a ^bmountain to ^bpray. 29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was ^aaltered, and his raiment was white and ^bglistering.
30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31 Who appeared in glory, ^aand spake of his ^bdecease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem^a. 32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his ^aglory, and the two men that stood with him.	31^a spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem Now this is a curious fact indeed that the two translated beings from the Old Testament, Moses and Elijah [Elias] would meet with Jesus Christ on the mount of transfiguration and discuss with him the matters of his decease and resurrection. Why two 'translated beings'? Why were there two 'angels' who aided Christ in his resurrection from the tomb? Could it be that Moses and Elijah as translated beings were needed to so minister the ordinance of the resurrection upon the Lord as he passed from this mortality to be so resurrected from the grave into immortality? Indeed we are taught that only those ordinances as practiced here on earth are to have power in heaven. Was there some particular requirement which held that Moses and Elijah, translated, but not passed into the next realm, thus still pertaining unto this earth, would have to be of such as who performed that ordinance in behalf of the Savior for it to be 'sealed' and take effect, openning the gates back into heaven?
33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. 34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. 35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my ^abeloved Son: hear him. 36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
37 ¶ And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him. 38 And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. 39 And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.
40 And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not. 41 And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither. 42 And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.
43 ¶ And they were all amazed at the ^amighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples, 44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be ^adelivered into the hands of men. 45 But they ^aunderstood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.
46 ¶ Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be ^agreatest. 47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, 48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my ^aname receiveth me: and whosoever shall ^breceive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be ^cgreat.
49 ¶ And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is ^afor us.
51 ¶ And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the ^aSamaritans, to make ready for him. 53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem^a.	53^a they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem Now the Samaritans had been taught from the time that Christ had met that woman at the well at the beginning of his ministry, and there were many who had accepted him as the Messiah. For they must have understood that the true Messiah, the one of Ephraim who they sought for was out of the house of David (see Messiah ben David ~ Messiah ben Joseph). Thus it mattered not that Jesus was a 'Jew' of the house of David, in this he could well be the Messiah. What it was which provoked this one village to at this point spurn him, was not that he was a Jew of the house of David who was presented as the Messiah. What they rejected of him was his choice to 'worship' at Jerusalem at the time of the passover. Thus they must have consider him false or to be rejected on that basis alone, the he would worship in Jerusalem for that passover rather than choosing to keep it with them in Samaria.
54 And when his disciples ^aJames and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command ^bfire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of ^aspirit ye are of. 56 For the ^aSon of man is not come to ^bdestroy men's ^clives, but to ^dsave them. And they went to another village.
57 ¶ And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will ^afollow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58 And 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.
59 And he said unto another, ^aFollow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
61 And another also said, Lord, I will ^afollow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the ^aplough, and ^blooking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.