Luke 9:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And they did so, and had them all sit down.

NIV: The disciples did so, and everyone sat down.

NASB: They did so, and had them all recline.

CSB: They did what he said, and had them all sit down.

NLT: So the people all sat down.

KJV: And they did so, and made them all sit down.

NKJV: And they did so, and made them all sit down.

A crowd of five thousand men, plus women and children, surround Jesus and the disciples in an unpopulated area near Bethsaida (Matthew 14:21). The people are hungry, as they've been with Jesus all day. The disciples want Jesus to release the people to go to the small towns to find food to buy. Jesus has other plans (Luke 9:10-14).

When Jesus heals and teaches, the people often crowd around Him. At least once, He had to climb into a boat and teach from the water so everyone on shore could hear (Mark 4:1). On another occasion, the people pressed in around Him so much Luke describes it with the Greek word for choking (Luke 8:42). There's no reason to expect these people are much different, yet they obey the disciples and move away. Perhaps they sense they are going to get food.

Jesus is inviting the disciples into kingdom work without explaining what He's going to do. The disciples don't understand, and they don't exactly trust Jesus to address their concerns. However, like the people, they obey. Later, the disciples will bicker over personal glory (Luke 9:46–48). They serve others in the context of direct obedience to Christ, not yet understanding Christ is calling them to be servants.

Luke 9:10–17 records Jesus feeding the five thousand, one of the last public events before Jesus "set[s] His face to go to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51). With just five loaves and two fish, Jesus sates multiple thousands of men, plus women and children. Further, there are twelve full baskets left over. This is one of the few miracles found in all four Gospels (Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:31–44; John 6:1–13). Next, Jesus will challenge the Twelve to a deeper, more committed discipleship in preparation for their journey to Jerusalem and Jesus' path to the cross.

Luke 9 completes Jesus' Galilean ministry and begins describing His journey towards Jerusalem. Jesus gives His disciples miraculous power and commissions them to preach. The empowerment thrills the disciples but confuses Herod Antipas. A hungry crowd of thousands and hard teachings about following Jesus, however, shows the disciples' faith is short-lived. The transfiguration and the demonized boy precede stories of the disciples' continued confusion. They still struggle to accurately represent Jesus. Luke 9:51–62 begins the "travelogue" (Luke 9:51—19:27) with examples of the patience and sacrifice needed to represent Jesus as His followers.

Luke 9 straddles the two major sections biblical scholars call "Jesus' Galilean Ministry" (Luke 4:14—9:50) and "The Travelogue to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51—19:27). The Galilean ministry alternates calls to discipleship with stories on Jesus' authority and teachings. The travelogue records what Jesus did and taught to prepare the disciples for His crucifixion. After a final group of stories on how to respond to Jesus (Luke 9:51—11:13) and several examples of how the Jewish religious leaders reject Jesus (Luke 11:14–54), Luke presents Jesus' teaching on the kingdom of God (Luke 12:1—19:27).

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.