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 9:46 mean?

Explanation

The verse Luke 9:46 depicts an incident where the disciples of Jesus are involved in a dispute over which one of them should be considered the greatest.

This reflects a fundamental human concern with status and hierarchy.

Despite their close association with Jesus and his teachings of humility and servant leadership, the disciples are not immune to the rivalries and power struggles that are common to human social groups.

The statement points to the disciples' misunderstanding of the nature of the Kingdom of God and the character of true greatness as defined by Jesus, which contrasts sharply with worldly notions of power and prestige.

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Historical Context

Luke 9:46 occurs within a section of the Gospel of Luke that emphasizes Jesus' journey towards Jerusalem and his impending passion.

At this time in Jewish history, the expectation of a Messiah was closely linked to the idea of a political or military leader who would restore the kingdom of Israel to a position of prominence.

The disciples, being part of this cultural milieu, may have been influenced by these expectations and thus entered into a dispute about their respective positions in what they anticipated would be the Messianic kingdom.

Theological Insights

Different theological traditions have approached the verse in Luke 9:46 uniquely:

Catholic Viewpoint: This verse is seen as a reminder of the virtue of humility and the dangers of pride.

Catholics may interpret it in light of the teaching of Jesus about servant leadership, where the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.

Protestant Perspective: Many Protestant theologians emphasize the personal relationship with Jesus and interpret such disputes among disciples as examples of human weakness, underscoring the need for grace and the pursuit of Christ-like humility.
Eastern Orthodox Interpretation: The Orthodox tradition might highlight the concept of theosis, the process of becoming more like God, and stress that true greatness comes through humility and service, which are pathways to becoming closer to God.

Practical Applications

Humility in Leadership: The incident is a reminder for leaders in all spheres to prioritize service over status, and humility over power.
Community and Church Dynamics: In communal settings, this verse encourages members to foster cooperation rather than competition and to prioritize the greater good over personal ambition.
Personal Reflection: Individuals can reflect on their motivations and seek to cultivate humility, recognizing that the desire for greatness can often lead to discord.

Cross-References

Matthew 18:1-4: At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
Mark 9:33-34: And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
Matthew 23:11-12: But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Luke 22:24-27: And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

Language Study

The key phrase in the original Greek text is “διαλογισμὸς ἐγένετο ἐν αὐτοῖς,” which is translated as "there arose a reasoning among them." "διαλογισμός" (dialogismos) often denotes internal reasoning or debate, suggesting that the disciples were not merely discussing but were inwardly wrestling with the question of greatness. "ἐγένετο" (egeneto) is a verb that indicates something that came into being or occurred, highlighting that this debate emerged among the disciples spontaneously.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The quest for greatness and status is a common theme in many ancient myths and cultures. In Greek mythology, for example, the gods often competed for position and power.

However, in the context of Jesus' teaching, the call is towards a radical inversion of these values, wherein greatness is found in servitude and humility, contrasting with the worldly narratives of power and domination.

Scientific Perspectives

While there is no direct connection between this biblical verse and specific scientific insights, modern psychology may provide some understanding of the disciples' behavior.

The social comparison theory, for instance, looks at how individuals determine their own social and personal worth based on how they stack up against others. This natural human tendency may offer a lens through which to understand the disciples' argument about greatness.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators have offered various perspectives on Luke 9:46:

Matthew Henry's Commentary: Reflects on the folly of the disciples, noting their ignorance of the nature of Christ's kingdom and the importance of becoming like little children in humility.
William Barclay's Daily Study Bible: Suggests that the disciples' argument is a clear example of human ambition corrupting the fellowship, but provides hope in Jesus' subsequent teaching that redirects their understanding of greatness.
The New International Commentary on the New Testament: Examines the cultural and historical nuances of the period, explaining the disciples' preoccupation with status within the context of their expectations of the Messianic kingdom.

Luke 9

Luke 9

What does Luke 9:46 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 9:46 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?