路加福音 9
Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified)
差遣十二门徒
9 耶稣叫齐了十二个门徒,给他们能力、权柄制伏一切的鬼,医治各样的病, 2 又差遣他们去宣传神国的道、医治病人, 3 对他们说:“行路的时候不要带拐杖和口袋,不要带食物和银子,也不要带两件褂子。 4 无论进哪一家,就住在那里,也从那里起行。 5 凡不接待你们的,你们离开那城的时候,要把脚上的尘土跺下去,见证他们的不是。” 6 门徒就出去,走遍各乡宣传福音,到处治病。
7 分封的王希律听见耶稣所做的一切事,就游移不定,因为有人说是约翰从死里复活, 8 又有人说是以利亚显现,还有人说是古时的一个先知又活了。 9 希律说:“约翰我已经斩了,这却是什么人,我竟听见他这样的事呢?”就想要见他。
给五千人吃饱
10 使徒回来,将所做的事告诉耶稣。耶稣就带他们暗暗地离开那里,往一座城去,那城名叫伯赛大。 11 但众人知道了,就跟着他去。耶稣便接待他们,对他们讲论神国的道,医治那些需医的人。 12 日头快要平西,十二个门徒来对他说:“请叫众人散开,他们好往四面乡村里去借宿找吃的,因为我们这里是野地。” 13 耶稣说:“你们给他们吃吧!”门徒说:“我们不过有五个饼、两条鱼,若不去为这许多人买食物就不够。” 14 那时人数约有五千。耶稣对门徒说:“叫他们一排一排地坐下,每排大约五十个人。” 15 门徒就如此行,叫众人都坐下。 16 耶稣拿着这五个饼、两条鱼,望着天祝福,掰开,递给门徒,摆在众人面前。 17 他们就吃,并且都吃饱了。把剩下的零碎收拾起来,装满了十二篮子。
认耶稣为基督
18 耶稣自己祷告的时候,门徒也同他在那里。耶稣问他们说:“众人说我是谁?” 19 他们说:“有人说是施洗的约翰,有人说是以利亚,还有人说是古时的一个先知又活了。” 20 耶稣说:“你们说我是谁?”彼得回答说:“是神所立的基督。” 21 耶稣切切地嘱咐他们,不可将这事告诉人。
预言受难
22 又说:“人子必须受许多的苦,被长老、祭司长和文士弃绝,并且被杀,第三日复活。”
当背十架跟从主
23 耶稣又对众人说:“若有人要跟从我,就当舍己,天天背起他的十字架来跟从我。 24 因为凡要救自己生命[a]的,必丧掉生命;凡为我丧掉生命的,必救了生命。 25 人若赚得全世界,却丧了自己、赔上自己,有什么益处呢? 26 凡把我和我的道当做可耻的,人子在自己的荣耀里,并天父与圣天使的荣耀里降临的时候,也要把那人当做可耻的。 27 我实在告诉你们:站在这里的,有人在没尝死味以前,必看见神的国。”
改变相貌
28 说了这话以后约有八天,耶稣带着彼得、约翰、雅各上山去祷告。 29 正祷告的时候,他的面貌就改变了,衣服洁白放光。 30 忽然,有摩西、以利亚两个人同耶稣说话, 31 他们在荣光里显现,谈论耶稣去世的事,就是他在耶路撒冷将要成的事。 32 彼得和他的同伴都打盹,既清醒了,就看见耶稣的荣光,并同他站着的那两个人。 33 二人正要和耶稣分离的时候,彼得对耶稣说:“夫子,我们在这里真好!可以搭三座棚:一座为你,一座为摩西,一座为以利亚。”他却不知道所说的是什么。 34 说这话的时候,有一朵云彩来遮盖他们。他们进入云彩里就惧怕。 35 有声音从云彩里出来,说:“这是我的儿子,我所拣选的[b],你们要听他!” 36 声音住了,只见耶稣一人在那里。当那些日子,门徒不提所看见的事,一样也不告诉人。
害癫痫病的孩子
37 第二天,他们下了山,就有许多人迎见耶稣。 38 其中有一人喊叫说:“夫子!求你看顾我的儿子,因为他是我的独生子。 39 他被鬼抓住就忽然喊叫,鬼又叫他抽风,口中流沫,并且重重地伤害他,难以离开他。 40 我求过你的门徒把鬼赶出去,他们却是不能。” 41 耶稣说:“唉!这又不信又悖谬的世代啊,我在你们这里,忍耐你们要到几时呢?将你的儿子带到这里来吧!” 42 正来的时候,鬼把他摔倒,叫他重重地抽风。耶稣就斥责那污鬼,把孩子治好了,交给他父亲。 43 众人都诧异神的大能[c]。
人子将要被交
耶稣所做的一切事,众人正稀奇的时候,耶稣对门徒说: 44 “你们要把这些话存在耳中,因为人子将要被交在人手里。” 45 他们不明白这话,意思乃是隐藏的,叫他们不能明白,他们也不敢问这话的意思。
议论谁将为大
46 门徒中间起了议论:谁将为大。 47 耶稣看出他们心中的议论,就领一个小孩子来,叫他站在自己旁边, 48 对他们说:“凡为我名接待这小孩子的,就是接待我;凡接待我的,就是接待那差我来的。你们中间最小的,他便为大。”
49 约翰说:“夫子,我们看见一个人奉你的名赶鬼,我们就禁止他,因为他不与我们一同跟从你。” 50 耶稣说:“不要禁止他,因为不敌挡你们的,就是帮助你们的。”
撒马利亚人不接待主
51 耶稣被接上升的日子将到,他就定意向耶路撒冷去, 52 便打发使者在他前头走。他们到了撒马利亚的一个村庄,要为他预备。 53 那里的人不接待他,因他面向耶路撒冷去。 54 他的门徒雅各、约翰看见了,就说:“主啊,你要我们吩咐火从天上降下来烧灭他们,像以利亚所做的[d]吗?” 55 耶稣转身责备两个门徒,说:“你们的心如何,你们并不知道。 56 人子来不是要灭人的性命[e],是要救人的性命。”说着就往别的村庄去了。[f]
57 他们走路的时候,有一人对耶稣说:“你无论往哪里去,我要跟从你。” 58 耶稣说:“狐狸有洞,天空的飞鸟有窝,只是人子没有枕头的地方。” 59 又对一个人说:“跟从我来!”那人说:“主,容我先回去埋葬我的父亲。” 60 耶稣说:“任凭死人埋葬他们的死人,你只管去传扬神国的道。” 61 又有一人说:“主,我要跟从你,但容我先去辞别我家里的人。” 62 耶稣说:“手扶着犁向后看的,不配进神的国。”
路 加 福 音 9
Chinese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version
耶稣派使徒去传教
9 耶稣把他的十二名使徒召集在一起,赐给了他们制服鬼和医治疾病的力量与权力。 2 然后,耶稣就派他们出去宣传上帝的王国并治病救人。 3 耶稣对他们说∶“旅途中,不要带手杖、背包、面包,也不要带钱,不要带多余的衣服。 4 你们走进哪一家,就在哪一家里住下,一直住到你们离开那座城镇为止。 5 如果哪一处的人们不欢迎你们,当你们离开那个城镇时,抖掉你们脚上的尘土,做为对他们的警告。
6 然后,使徒们便出发了。他们走遍了所有的村庄,传播福音,医治病人。
希律的困惑
7 希律王听说了所发生的一切,感到迷惑不解,因为有人曾经说过:“约翰从死里复活了。” 8 也有人说过:”以利亚已经再现了。”还有人说:“很久以前的一位先知复活了。” 9 但是希律说道∶“我已经砍了约翰的头,可是,我听到的这个人是谁呢?”因此,希律非常想见到耶稣。
耶稣让五千多人吃饱了
10 使徒们回来了,他们向耶稣叙述了他们的所作所为。然后,耶稣悄悄地带领着他们来到了一座叫伯赛大的城镇。 11 但是众人发现耶稣的行踪后,就跟随着他。耶稣很欢迎他们,并对他们讲述了上帝王国的事情,还医治了那些需要治疗的人。
12 当太阳落山时,耶稣的十二个使徒来到他身边,对他说∶“打发人群走吧,以便他们能到附近的村村寨寨去找食物和住处,因为,咱们这儿太偏僻了。”
13 可是耶稣回答说∶“你们给他们一些吃的东西。”
使徒们却说∶“我们只有五块面包和两条鱼,当然,除非我们去给这些人买些食物!” 14 (当时大约共有五千多个男子在那里。)
耶稣对他的门徒说∶“你们让他们每五十个人坐在一起,坐成一组、一组的。”
15 门徒按照耶稣的吩咐,让人们按组坐下。 16 这时,耶稣拿起那五块面包和两条鱼,举目望天,感谢上帝赐给的食物,然后掰开食物,交给门徒,让他们摆在人们面前。 17 所有的人都饱了,剩下的食物,收拾起来还足足装了十二筐。
彼得说耶稣是基督
18 一次当耶稣独自祈祷的时候,门徒们来到他身边,耶稣问他们∶“人们都说我是谁?”
19 他们回答说∶“有人说您是施洗者约翰,还有人说您是以利亚,也有人说您是很久以前死去的一位先知复活了。”
20 耶稣又问门徒∶“你们说我是谁呢?”
彼得回答∶“您是上帝的基督。”
21 但是,耶稣警告他们,不要把此事告诉给任何人。
耶稣说他必死
22 耶稣对门徒说∶“人子必须遭受很多苦难,他必遭到年长的犹太首领、祭司长和律法师的拒弃,并被杀害,然后在第三天必定复活。”
23 然后,耶稣对在场所有的人说道∶“如果谁想跟随我,他就必须舍弃自己,每天都得背起他的十字架跟随我。 24 凡是想保全生命的人都将丧生;凡是为我牺牲生命的人都会保全生命。 25 如果一个人失去或毁灭了自己,即使他得到了整个世界,也毫无价值。 26 不要以我和我的教导为耻,如果你们以我和我的教导为耻,那么当我 [a]—人子伴随着我的荣耀、以及我父和神圣天使的荣耀降临时,也会以你们为耻。 27 但是,我实话告诉你们,站在这里的一些人在经历死亡之前,会看到上帝的王国。”
看到耶稣和摩西、以利亚在一起
28 耶稣说完这些话后的大约第八天,他带着彼得、约翰和雅各到山上去祈祷。 29 当耶稣祷告时,耶稣的容貌变了,他的衣服变得白得耀眼。 30 突然,有两个人出现在那里,与耶稣说话,他们是摩西和以利亚。 31 他们是伴着荣耀出现的,他们谈论着关于耶稣的死,耶稣将死在耶路撒冷。 32 可是,彼得和其他人却都睡着了。当他们醒过来时,都看到了耶稣的荣耀,也看见了和耶稣基督站在一起的那两个人。 33 当这两个人正要离开耶稣时,彼得对耶稣说∶“主人,我们在这里真是太好了,我们应该搭三个帐篷,一个给您,一个给摩西,另一个给以利亚。”彼得并不知道自己在说些什么。
34 当彼得正说这些话时,一片云彩飘来,笼罩住他们。当被云彩笼罩时,他们都很害怕。 35 从云里传来一个声音说∶“这是我的儿子,他是我选中的,你们要听他的话。”
36 话音落后,只有耶稣一人在那里。彼得、约翰和雅各对此事守口如瓶,之后的很久一段时间,他们没有告诉任何人他们所看到的事情。
耶稣解救被邪灵缠身的男孩
37 第二天,耶稣、彼得、约翰和雅各一下山,就有一大群人来见耶稣。 38 当时,人群中有人大声喊道∶“老师,我求您来看看我的儿子,他是我唯一的孩子! 39 一个邪灵抓住他,他突然尖叫、抽疯、口吐白沫,邪灵折磨他,不肯离开他。 40 我求您的门徒赶走邪灵,可是他们办不到。”
41 然后耶稣回答说∶“你们这代毫无信仰的人啊!你们真是大错特错了!我还要和你们在一起呆多久呢?我还得忍耐你们到何时呢?把你儿子带到我这里来吧。”
42 可是,孩子在来的路上时,鬼把他摔倒在地,使他不停地抽搐。于是,耶稣斥责邪灵,治好了孩子,然后把孩子交给了他的父亲。 43 在场的人都对上帝的卓越力量感到非常惊讶。
耶稣谈到自己的死
当人们沉浸在对耶稣所做的事情惊异之中时,耶稣对他的门徒说: 44 “要听进去我现在告诉你们的话:人子就要被交到凡人手里了。” 45 但是,门徒却不明白这话的意思,因为,它的含义是向他们隐藏着的,所以他们不能理解,而且他们也不敢问耶稣这话是什么意思。
谁是最伟大的人?
46 耶稣的门徒们之间发生了一场争论,争论谁是他们中间最伟大的人。 47 但是,耶稣知道他们内心的想法,便领过来一个小孩,让他站在自己身边。 48 然后,耶稣对门徒说∶“谁以我的名义接受像这孩子的人,谁就是在接受我;任何接受我的人,也就是在接受派我来的那位。你们中间最渺小的人是最伟大的。”
不反对你的人,就是拥护你的人
49 约翰答道∶“主人,我们见到有人以您的名义驱鬼,我们就阻止了他,因为他不与我们一起跟从您!”
50 但是,耶稣却对约翰说∶“不要制止他,因为,不反对你们的人,就是拥护你们的人。”
撒玛利亚城
51 到了耶稣该被接到天堂的时候了,耶稣坚定地前往耶路撒冷。 52 他派了一些使者先走,那些人启程来到了撒玛利亚的一个村庄,为耶稣的到来做准备。 53 但是,撒玛利亚人不接纳耶稣,因为耶稣要去的地方是耶路撒冷。 54 耶稣的门徒雅各和约翰见到这个情景时,便说道∶“主,您想不想让我们命令烈火由天而降,毁掉他们呢?” [b]
55 但是,耶稣却转身斥责了他们。 56 然后,他们到另一个村庄去了。 [c]
跟随耶稣
57 当他们走在路上时,有人对耶稣说∶“无论您到哪里,我都跟随着您。”
58 耶稣却说∶“狐狸有穴,飞鸟有巢,可是人子连枕头的地方都没有。” 59 他又对另一个人说∶“跟随我来。”
那个人却说∶“请先让我回去埋葬我的父亲。”
60 但是,耶稣对他说∶“让死人去埋葬他们自己的死人吧!你只管去传播上帝的王国。”
61 还有一个人说∶“主啊,我将跟随您,但是,请先让我回去向我的家人告别。”
62 但是耶稣对他说∶“手扶犁耕作,却又朝后看的人,对上帝的王国是不合适的。”
Footnotes
- 路 加 福 音 9:26 我: 直译为人子。
- 路 加 福 音 9:54 一些希腊本增有…像以利亚所做的那样。
- 路 加 福 音 9:56 一些希腊本增有∶“耶稣说∶‘你们不知道属于那种灵。 56 节上帝之子不是为了毁掉人的生命而来的,而是为了拯救它们而来的。’”
Luke 9
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 9
The Mission of the Twelve.[a] 1 (A)He summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal [the sick]. 3 He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey,[b] neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.(B) 5 And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet[c] in testimony against them.”(C) 6 Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.
Herod’s Opinion of Jesus.(D) 7 [d]Herod the tetrarch[e] heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, “John has been raised from the dead”;(E) 8 others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”; still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” 9 [f](F)But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see him.
The Return of the Twelve and the Feeding of the Five Thousand.(G) 10 When the apostles returned, they explained to him what they had done. He took them and withdrew in private to a town called Bethsaida. 11 The crowds, meanwhile, learned of this and followed him. He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and he healed those who needed to be cured. 12 As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve approached him and said, “Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.” 13 (H)He said to them, “Give them some food yourselves.” They replied, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people.” 14 Now the men there numbered about five thousand. Then he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of [about] fifty.” 15 They did so and made them all sit down. 16 Then taking[g] the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.(I) 17 They all ate and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.
Peter’s Confession About Jesus.[h] 18 (J)Once when Jesus was praying in solitude,[i] and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’”(K) 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Messiah of God.”[j] 21 He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.
The First Prediction of the Passion. 22 He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”(L)
The Conditions of Discipleship.(M) 23 Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily[k] and follow me.(N) 24 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.(O) 25 What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.(P) 27 Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
The Transfiguration of Jesus.[l] 28 (Q)About eight days after he said this, he took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray.[m] 29 While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,[n] 31 [o](R)who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory[p] and the two men standing with him.(S) 33 As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents,[q] one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. 34 [r]While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. 35 [s](T)Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” 36 After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time[t] tell anyone what they had seen.
The Healing of a Boy with a Demon.[u] 37 (U)On the next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. 38 There was a man in the crowd who cried out, “Teacher, I beg you, look at my son; he is my only child. 39 For a spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams and it convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it releases him only with difficulty, wearing him out. 40 I begged your disciples to cast it out but they could not.” 41 Jesus said in reply, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you and endure you? Bring your son here.” 42 As he was coming forward, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion; but Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and returned him to his father. 43 And all were astonished by the majesty of God.
The Second Prediction of the Passion.(V) While they were all amazed at his every deed, he said to his disciples, 44 “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” 45 But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
The Greatest in the Kingdom.(W) 46 [v]An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest.(X) 47 Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.”(Y)
Another Exorcist.(Z) 49 Then John said in reply, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”
V. The Journey to Jerusalem: Luke’s Travel Narrative[w]
Departure for Jerusalem; Samaritan Inhospitality. 51 [x]When the days for his being taken up[y] were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,(AA) 52 [z]and he sent messengers ahead of him.(AB) On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, 53 but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”(AC) 55 Jesus turned and rebuked them, 56 and they journeyed to another village.
The Would-be Followers of Jesus.[aa] 57 (AD)As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” 59 And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “[Lord,] let me go first and bury my father.” 60 But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead.[ab] But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 (AE)And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” 62 [To him] Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Footnotes
- 9:1–6 Armed with the power and authority that Jesus himself has been displaying in the previous episodes, the Twelve are now sent out to continue the work that Jesus has been performing throughout his Galilean ministry: (1) proclaiming the kingdom (Lk 4:43; 8:1); (2) exorcising demons (Lk 4:33–37, 41; 8:26–39) and (3) healing the sick (Lk 4:38–40; 5:12–16, 17–26; 6:6–10; 7:1–10, 17, 22; Lk 8:40–56).
- 9:3 Take nothing for the journey: the absolute detachment required of the disciple (Lk 14:33) leads to complete reliance on God (Lk 12:22–31).
- 9:5 Shake the dust from your feet: see note on Mt 10:14.
- 9:7–56 This section in which Luke gathers together incidents that focus on the identity of Jesus is introduced by a question that Herod is made to ask in this gospel: “Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”(Lk 9:9) In subsequent episodes, Luke reveals to the reader various answers to Herod’s question: Jesus is one in whom God’s power is present and who provides for the needs of God’s people (Lk 9:10–17); Peter declares Jesus to be “the Messiah of God” (Lk 9:18–21); Jesus says he is the suffering Son of Man (Lk 9:22, 43–45); Jesus is the Master to be followed, even to death (Lk 9:23–27); Jesus is God’s son, his Chosen One (Lk 9:28–36).
- 9:7 Herod the tetrarch: see note on Lk 3:1.
- 9:9 And he kept trying to see him: this indication of Herod’s interest in Jesus prepares for Lk 13:31–33 and for Lk 23:8–12 where Herod’s curiosity about Jesus’ power to perform miracles remains unsatisfied.
- 9:16 Then taking…: the actions of Jesus recall the institution of the Eucharist in Lk 22:19; see also note on Mt 14:19.
- 9:18–22 This incident is based on Mk 8:27–33, but Luke has eliminated Peter’s refusal to accept Jesus as suffering Son of Man (Mk 8:32) and the rebuke of Peter by Jesus (Mk 8:33). Elsewhere in the gospel, Luke softens the harsh portrait of Peter and the other apostles found in his Marcan source (cf. Lk 22:39–46, which similarly lacks a rebuke of Peter that occurs in the source, Mk 14:37–38).
- 9:18 When Jesus was praying in solitude: see note on Lk 3:21.
- 9:20 The Messiah of God: on the meaning of this title in first-century Palestinian Judaism, see notes on Lk 2:11 and on Mt 16:13–20 and Mk 8:27–30.
- 9:23 Daily: this is a Lucan addition to a saying of Jesus, removing the saying from a context that envisioned the imminent suffering and death of the disciple of Jesus (as does the saying in Mk 8:34–35) to one that focuses on the demands of daily Christian existence.
- 9:28–36 Situated shortly after the first announcement of the passion, death, and resurrection, this scene of Jesus’ transfiguration provides the heavenly confirmation to Jesus’ declaration that his suffering will end in glory (Lk 9:32); see also notes on Mt 17:1–8 and Mk 9:2–8.
- 9:28 Up the mountain to pray: the “mountain” is the regular place of prayer in Luke (see Lk 6:12; 22:39–41).
- 9:30 Moses and Elijah: the two figures represent the Old Testament law and the prophets. At the end of this episode, the heavenly voice will identify Jesus as the one to be listened to now (Lk 9:35). See also note on Mk 9:5.
- 9:31 His exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem: Luke identifies the subject of the conversation as the exodus of Jesus, a reference to the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus that will take place in Jerusalem, the city of destiny (see Lk 9:51). The mention of exodus, however, also calls to mind the Israelite Exodus from Egypt to the promised land.
- 9:32 They saw his glory: the glory that is proper to God is here attributed to Jesus (see Lk 24:26).
- 9:33 Let us make three tents: in a possible allusion to the feast of Tabernacles, Peter may be likening his joy on the occasion of the transfiguration to the joyful celebration of this harvest festival.
- 9:34 Over them: it is not clear whether them refers to Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, or to the disciples. For the cloud casting its shadow, see note on Mk 9:7.
- 9:35 Like the heavenly voice that identified Jesus at his baptism prior to his undertaking the Galilean ministry (Lk 3:22), so too here before the journey to the city of destiny is begun (Lk 9:51) the heavenly voice again identifies Jesus as Son. Listen to him: the two representatives of Israel of old depart (Lk 9:33) and Jesus is left alone (Lk 9:36) as the teacher whose words must be heeded (see also Acts 3:22).
- 9:36 At that time: i.e., before the resurrection.
- 9:37–43a See note on Mk 9:14–29.
- 9:46–50 These two incidents focus on attitudes that are opposed to Christian discipleship: rivalry and intolerance of outsiders.
- 9:51–18:14 The Galilean ministry of Jesus finishes with the previous episode and a new section of Luke’s gospel begins, the journey to Jerusalem. This journey is based on Mk 10:1–52 but Luke uses his Marcan source only in Lk 18:15–19:27. Before that point he has inserted into his gospel a distinctive collection of sayings of Jesus and stories about him that he has drawn from Q, a collection of sayings of Jesus used also by Matthew, and from his own special traditions. All of the material collected in this section is loosely organized within the framework of a journey of Jesus to Jerusalem, the city of destiny, where his exodus (suffering, death, resurrection, ascension) is to take place (Lk 9:31), where salvation is accomplished, and from where the proclamation of God’s saving word is to go forth (Lk 24:47; Acts 1:8). Much of the material in the Lucan travel narrative is teaching for the disciples. During the course of this journey Jesus is preparing his chosen Galilean witnesses for the role they will play after his exodus (Lk 9:31): they are to be his witnesses to the people (Acts 10:39; 13:31) and thereby provide certainty to the readers of Luke’s gospel that the teachings they have received are rooted in the teachings of Jesus (Lk 1:1–4).
- 9:51–55 Just as the Galilean ministry began with a rejection of Jesus in his hometown, so too the travel narrative begins with the rejection of him by Samaritans. In this episode Jesus disassociates himself from the attitude expressed by his disciples that those who reject him are to be punished severely. The story alludes to 2 Kgs 1:10, 12 where the prophet Elijah takes the course of action Jesus rejects, and Jesus thereby rejects the identification of himself with Elijah.
- 9:51 Days for his being taken up: like the reference to his exodus in Lk 9:31 this is probably a reference to all the events (suffering, death, resurrection, ascension) of his last days in Jerusalem. He resolutely determined: literally, “he set his face.”
- 9:52 Samaritan: Samaria was the territory between Judea and Galilee west of the Jordan river. For ethnic and religious reasons, the Samaritans and the Jews were bitterly opposed to one another (see Jn 4:9).
- 9:57–62 In these sayings Jesus speaks of the severity and the unconditional nature of Christian discipleship. Even family ties and filial obligations, such as burying one’s parents, cannot distract one no matter how briefly from proclaiming the kingdom of God. The first two sayings are paralleled in Mt 8:19–22; see also notes there.
- 9:60 Let the dead bury their dead: i.e., let the spiritually dead (those who do not follow) bury their physically dead. See also note on Mt 8:22.
Copyright © 2011 by Global Bible Initiative
Copyright © 2004 by World Bible Translation Center
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