Luke 9:53 - Printer Friendly

What does Luke 9:53 mean?

ESV: But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.

NIV: but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.

NASB: And they did not receive Him, because He was traveling toward Jerusalem.

CSB: But they did not welcome him, because he determined to journey to Jerusalem.

NLT: But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem.

KJV: And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

NKJV: But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.

Verse Commentary:

Jesus and the disciples are traveling south, from Galilee through Samaria, and to Jerusalem. Jesus has sent "messengers" ahead to a town in Samaria to "make preparations for him" (Luke 9:52). Perhaps they are to announce that Jesus is coming to teach. Or they may be looking for food and lodging. Whatever their goal, the locals reject them. There are two possible reasons they would do so.

It's possible the villagers are refusing to listen to Jesus teach. The beliefs of the Samaritans are a combination of Judaism, historic idolatry (1 Kings 12:25–33), imported Assyrian religion (2 Kings 17:24–33), and teachings from a Jewish cult established about four hundred years before Jesus' birth. As the woman at the well tells Jesus, Samaritans worship on Mount Gerizim (John 4:20). Samaritans may fall victim to religious teachers and charlatans who practice magic for money (Acts 8:9), but they reject the idea that Jerusalem is the only place to worship God.

If the villagers are refusing to provide lodging for the group, they are breaking a sacred cultural obligation for hospitality. Yet their reaction is understandable. The religious and ethnic mixture of the Samaritans led to serious civil conflict. This came to a head when John Hyrcanus became high priest. He was the son of one of the Maccabean brothers who fought against Antiochus IV Epiphanes and won a time of political independence for the Jews. In 128 BC, John Hyrcanus attacked the city of Shechem and destroyed the Samaritan temple on Gerizim. So, as Jerusalem is both the religious and political center of the Jews, the Samaritans have political as well as religious reasons to reject Jews.

In Luke's writings, however, this village is an anomaly. The next villages will accept Jesus (Luke 9:56). Thanks to the testimony of the woman at the well, Jesus will make great inroads in her town of Sychar (John 4:1–42). The blind man who returns to thank Jesus while nine others run off is Samaritan (Luke 17:16). Jesus uses a Samaritan in a parable to exemplify hospitality (Luke 10:33). And after Jesus' crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, Samaritans will be some of the first to accept Jesus as their savior (Acts 8:4–8, 14–17)—even John will return and preach the gospel throughout Samaria (Acts 8:25).

This is the first pericope—or story—in the section of Luke sometimes referred to as "The Travelogue to Jerusalem." Jesus' journey toward Jerusalem, as He teaches His disciples to follow Him so they can build the church, starts with rejection. Before He enters what is commonly called the "Passion Week," Jesus will mourn over the rejection of Jerusalem (Luke 13:31–35). Jesus enters the city with much fanfare, but the religious leaders will tell Him to rebuke the celebrants (Luke 19:39). In a moment, James and John offer to call down fire to destroy the Samaritan village because they reject Jesus (Luke 9:54). They don't yet understand that the Jewish leadership will not only reject but conspire to kill Jesus.

Luke 9:52–56 records how a Samaritan village refuses to give Jesus and the disciples hospitality. This was a grievous insult in that time. In response, John and James offer to call down fire from heaven, but Jesus rebukes them. This is the first of several stories in Luke 9:52—11:13 where Jesus corrects the disciples' idea of what it means that He is Lord. Here, Jesus teaches the disciples they do not need to judge those who reject Jesus.

Chapter Summary:

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.

Chapter Context:

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.

Accessed 5/8/2024 11:04:46 AM