Luke 9

Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

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

And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.

And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

Now Herod 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;

And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.

And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.

And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.

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.

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.

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.

For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.

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

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.

And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.

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?

They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.

He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.

And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;

Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.

And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:

Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.

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.

While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.

And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

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.

And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.

And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.

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.

And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.

And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.

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.

And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,

Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.

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.

Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.

And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,

And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

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.

And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.

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,

And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.

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

And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

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.

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.

And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

What does Luke 9:9 mean?

Luke 9:9

"And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him."

Explanation

Luke 9:9 is a statement made by Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee during the time of Jesus' ministry.

In this verse, Herod expresses his bewilderment regarding the identity of Jesus, having already executed John the Baptist.

The confusion arises because Herod hears of the miracles and teachings of Jesus, which cause him to wonder if John has been raised from the dead.

Throughout the Gospels, there is a theme of people trying to understand who Jesus really is, and Herod's question reflects that broader confusion and curiosity.

The verse hints at the political and religious tension of the time, as well as the fear that Herod might have felt about the rise of a new prophet.

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Historical Context

Herod Antipas was a tetrarch, one of the sons of Herod the Great, and he ruled over Galilee and Perea.

It was under his jurisdiction that John the Baptist was arrested and eventually beheaded.

John had been critical of Herod's marriage to Herodias, his brother's former wife, which was against Jewish law.

The historical Herod was known for his building projects but was also a ruler who wanted to maintain his political power and balance his rule under Roman oversight.

Luke 9:9 reflects the intersection of political power, religious influence, and the societal unrest that characterized Herod's rule.

Theological Insights

Different theological traditions have looked at this verse in varying ways.

Some see it as reflecting the divine mystery of Jesus' identity, as even political leaders were confused about who he was. Others consider it an indication of guilty conscience on Herod's part, as he feared the repercussions of his actions against John the Baptist.

Additionally, this verse showcases the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming of a messiah and raises questions about the nature of Jesus as distinct from other prophets.

Practical Applications

The verse can serve as a reflection on the consequences of guilt and the fear it can instill.

It also prompts individuals to consider their own understanding of Jesus' identity and what it means to them personally.

Questions of recognition and discernment arise, challenging believers to reaffirm their faith and understanding of the teachings of Jesus.

Cross-References

Matthew 14:1-2: "At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him."
Mark 6:14-16: "And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him."
Luke 23:8: "And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him."

Language Study

The original Greek language contains nuances that the English translation might not fully convey. The verb translated as "desired" (ἐζήτει - ezeitei) in "And he desired to see him" implies a continuous action, suggesting Herod had an ongoing curiosity or longing to see Jesus.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The theme of a ruler being haunted by the death of a prophet or wise man can be found in various cultures.

For instance, in Greek mythology, figures like Tantalus were punished for their transgressions against the gods.

In other religious texts, such as the Bhagavad Gita, there are dialogues between the divine and the rulers that interrogate the understanding of authority and spiritual wisdom.

Scientific Perspectives

This verse does not lend itself directly to scientific analysis.

However, in the broader context, any discussions about identity, death, or resurrection might intersect with areas of psychological study concerning conscience, guilt, and the human need to make sense of phenomena that do not have immediate explanations.

Commentaries

Commentators have offered various interpretations of Luke 9:9.

Some suggest that Herod's inquiry demonstrates the spreading fame of Jesus and the impact of his ministry.

Others view Herod's desire to see Jesus as an ominous sign, given his earlier treatment of John the Baptist.

Still, others point to this verse as an example of the political intrigue and the interplay between secular and religious power during Jesus’ time.

The Gospel writers may be using Herod's reaction to foreshadow the eventual trial and crucifixion of Jesus, drawing a parallel between Jesus' fate and John's.

Luke 9

Luke 9

What does Luke 9:9 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 9:9 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?