Luke 9:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.

NIV: and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

NASB: And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing.

CSB: Then he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

NLT: Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

KJV: And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

NKJV: He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

Jesus has given the twelve apostles the power and authority to be His representatives. They are enabled to heal, cleanse leprosy, expel demons, and raise the dead (Matthew 10:8). For now, though, they may only do so for the Jews—not Samaritans or Gentiles (Matthew 10:5). Healing is associated with the coming of the kingdom of God and the Messiah, as Jesus read in Nazareth (Luke 4:18–19).

In this passage, Jesus does not elaborate what the apostles are to teach about the kingdom of God. Likely, they teach what God expects of citizens in His kingdom (Luke 6:20–49), but they also know that to enter the kingdom, the people must choose to listen (Luke 8:4–15).

This first section of Jesus' ministry (Luke 4:14—9:50) is more about who Jesus is and what His followers should look like. In the next section, Luke will record stories and parables further illustrating the kingdom of God (Luke 13:18—18:30).

Later, Jesus will send seventy-two disciples ahead to the towns He plans to visit (Luke 10:1–12). When they return, they will celebrate how demons submitted to their word. Jesus corrects them: it is good that Satan and the demons will be conquered. "Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:17–20). After Jesus ascends into heaven, more in the church will receive the power to perform miracles to authenticate their teaching that Jesus is the Son of God and the Messiah. They will spread the news of the kingdom of God beyond the Jews to the Samaritans and the Gentiles (Acts 1:8).

Luke 9:1–6 continues the stories of Jesus' power and authority which began in Luke 8:22. He equips His disciples with the power to perform wonders on His behalf. They experience a welcoming reception for their message. However, Jesus had warned this would not always be so (Luke 8:4–21). The disciples' joy is short-lived; when faced with thousands of hungry people (Luke 9:10–17) and a demon-tortured boy (Luke 9:37–43), they forget their own authority. Mark 6:7–13 also records the disciples' brush with power while Matthew 10 includes a much longer account of their training.

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.