Chapter 9
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve on Mission.[a] 1Calling the Twelve together, Jesus gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to cure diseases, 2and he sent them forth to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
3He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking staff, nor sack, nor bread, nor money. Nor are you to have a second tunic. 4Whatever house you enter, stay there until you depart from that area. 5As for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.” 6Then they set forth and traveled from village to village, preaching the gospel and curing diseases everywhere.
John the Baptist, Herod, and Jesus.[b] 7Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was taking place, and he was perplexed because some people were saying that John had been raised from the dead, 8others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the ancient prophets had come back to life. 9But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Then who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he was anxious to see him.
10Jesus Feeds Five Thousand Men.[c] On their return, the apostles reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them along and withdrew privately to a town named Bethsaida. 11When the people learned of this, they followed him. Jesus welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God. He also cured those who were in need of healing.
12When evening was approaching, the Twelve came to Jesus and said, “Send the people away now so that they can go to the villages and farms in the area and obtain food and lodging, for we are in a deserted place.” 13He replied, “Give them something to eat yourselves.” They said, “All we have are five loaves and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all these people.” 14For there were present about five thousand men.
Then he instructed his disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of about fifty.” 15They did so and made them sit down. 16Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed and broke them and gave them to the disciples to distribute among the people. 17They all ate and were satisfied. Then they gathered up what was left over—twelve baskets of fragments.
18Peter’s Confession That Jesus Is the Christ.[d]Once while Jesus was praying by himself, he asked his disciples who were standing close by, “Who do the people say that I am?” 19They answered, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” 20“But you,” he said to them, “who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him: “The Christ of God.” 21Thereupon he gave them strict orders and commanded them not to tell this to anyone.
22Jesus Predicts His Passion. He then went on to say, “The Son of Man must endure great suffering, be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be put to death, and on the third day be raised.”
23The Conditions of Discipleship.[e] Then he said to all who were with him, “Anyone who wishes to follow me must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
26“If anyone is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”
28Jesus Is Transfigured.[f] About eight days after he had said this, Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up on a mountain to pray. 29And while he was praying, the appearance of his face underwent a change, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30Suddenly, there were two men talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which would come to pass in Jerusalem. 32Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake they beheld his glory and the two men standing beside him.
33When they were ready to leave, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tents—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not truly know what he was saying. 34While he was speaking, a cloud came and cast its shadow over them, and the three disciples became frightened as they entered the cloud. 35Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One.[g] Listen to him.” 36After the voice had spoken, they beheld only Jesus. They kept silent and at that time they did not tell anyone about what they had witnessed.
End of the Galilean Ministry
37Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon.[h] On the following day, when they descended from the mountain, a large crowd came forth to meet him. 38Then, suddenly, a man in the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I implore you to look at my son. He is my only child. 39A spirit seizes him and with a shriek suddenly throws him into convulsions until he begins to foam at the mouth. It hardly ever leaves him, continuously torturing him. 40I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.”
41Jesus said in reply, “Ounbelieving and perverse generation! How much longer shall I remain with you and have to endure you? Bring your son here!” 42As the boy was approaching him, the demon threw him into convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, cured the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43And all those present were awestruck at the greatness of God.
Jesus Predicts His Passion a Second Time.[i] Amid the astonishment of the crowds at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, 44“Listen carefully to these words. The Son of Man is going to be handed over into the power of men.” 45But they did not understand what he was saying. Its meaning was hidden from them so that they could not comprehend his message, and they were afraid to ask him what he meant.
46True Greatness.[j] The disciples then began to argue about which of them was the greatest. 47Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a child, placed him by his side, 48and 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.”
49Whoever Is Not against You Is with You.[k] John then said, “Master, we saw someone expelling demons in your name, and we forbade him because he is not with us.” 50Jesus replied, “Do not hinder him! For whoever is not against you is with you.”
The Journey to Jerusalem[l]
The Departure
51Passing through Samaria.[m] As the time drew near for him to be taken up, Jesus resolutely set his sights on Jerusalem, 52and he sent messengers ahead of him. They entered a Samaritan village to make arrangements for his arrival, 53but the people there would not receive him because his destination was Jerusalem. 54When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”[n] 55But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56Then they journeyed forth to another village.
57The Cost of Following Jesus.[o] As they traveled along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58Jesus told him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
59To another he said, “Follow me.” The man replied, “Lord, allow me to go first and bury my father.” 60Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You are to go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
61Another man said, “I will follow you, Lord, but allow me first to say farewell to my family at home.” 62Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
The Mission of All the Disciples
Chapter 10
The Mission of the Seventy-Two[p] 1After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. 2He said to them: “The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few. Therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers for his harvest.
3“Go on your way. Behold, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4Carry no money bag or sack and wear no sandals. Greet no one on the road. 5Whatever house you enter, let your first words be, ‘Peace to this house!’ 6If a man of peace lives there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you.
7“Remain in the same house, and eat and drink whatever is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. 8Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat whatever is set before you. 9Cure the sick who are there, and say, ‘The kingdom of God has come unto you.’
10“But whenever you enter a town and the people do not welcome you, go out into the streets and say, 11‘Even the dust of your town that clings to us we wipe off our feet as a sign against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand.’ 12I tell you, on that day[q] it will be more bearable for Sodom than for that town.
13Woe to the Cities of Galilee.[r]“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the mighty deeds performed in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have come to repentance long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14But at the judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15And as for you, Capernaum:
Will you be exalted to heaven?
You will be brought down to the netherworld.[s]
16“Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
17Joy of the Missionaries.[t] The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and they said, “Lord, in your name even the demons are subject to us.” 18He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 19Behold, I have given you the power to tread upon snakes and scorpions and all the forces of the enemy, and nothing will ever harm you. 20Nevertheless, do not rejoice in the knowledge that the spirits are subject to you. Rejoice rather that your names are inscribed in heaven.”
21Joy of Jesus.[u]At that very hour, Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned and have revealed them to children. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
22“All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
23The Privilege of Discipleship. Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24I tell you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”
25The Greatest Commandment.[v]And behold, a lawyer came forward to test Jesus by asking, “Teacher, what must I do to gain eternal life?” 26Jesus said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28Jesus then said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.”
29The Parable of the Good Samaritan. But because the man wished to justify himself, he asked, “And who is my neighbor?” 30Jesus replied, “A man was going down[w] from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him and beat him, and then went off leaving him half-dead. 31A priest happened to be traveling along that same road, but when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32A Levite[x] likewise came to that spot and saw him, but he too passed by on the other side.
33“But a Samaritan who was traveling along that road came upon him, and when he saw him he was moved with compassion. 34He went up to him and bandaged his wounds after having poured oil and wine on them. Then he brought him upon his own animal to an inn and looked after him.
35“The next day, he took out two denarii[y] and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Look after him, and when I return I will repay you for anything more you might spend.’
36“Which of those three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37He answered, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”[z]
38Martha and Mary.[aa] In the course of their journey, he came to a village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39She had a sister named Mary who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying.
40But Martha was distracted by her many tasks. So she came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to come and help me.” 41The Lord answered her: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and upset about many things, 42when only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Chapter 11
Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer.[ab] 1One day, Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
3Give us each day our daily bread.
4And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is in debt to us.
And do not lead us into temptation.”
The Parable of the Persistent Friend.[ac] 5He also said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says: ‘My friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey, and I have nothing to offer him,’ 7and the friend answers from inside: ‘Do not bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up now to give you anything.’ 8I tell you: even though he will not get up and give it to him because of their friendship, he will get up and give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.
Ask, Seek, Knock. 9“Therefore, I say to you: ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks will receive, and those who seek will find, and to those who knock the door will be opened.
11The Parable of the Good Father.“Is there any father among you who would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish, 12or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? 13If you, then, despite your evil nature, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
For or against Jesus[ad]
14Jesus and Beelzebul.[ae] Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the man who was mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. 15But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons.” 16Others, to test him, demanded a sign from heaven.
17However, he knew what they were thinking, and he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a house divided against itself will collapse. 18If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand?
“For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19Now, if it is by Beelzebul that I cast out demons, by whom do your own children cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. 20But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
21“When a strong man is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe. 22But when someone who is stronger than he is attacks and overpowers him, he carries off all the weapons upon which the owner relied and distributes the plunder.
23No Compromise.“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
24New Offensive from the Evil Spirit.“When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions seeking a place to rest, and if it finds none it says, ‘I will return to the home from which I departed.’ 25However, when it returns, it finds that home swept and put in order. 26Then it goes off and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they enter and settle there. As a result, the plight of that person is worse than before.”
27True Blessedness.[af] While he was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out to him and said, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!” 28Jesus replied, “Blessed, rather, are those who hear the word of God and obey it!”
29The Sign of Jonah.[ag] As the crowd continued to increase in number, Jesus said to them, “This is an evil generation. It asks for a sign, but the only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah. 30For just as Jonah became a sign to the inhabitants of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
31“On the day of judgment the queen of the south will rise up with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the farthest reaches of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now one greater than Solomon is here. 32On the day of judgment, the men of Nineveh will rise up with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.
33The Parable of the Lighted Lamp.[ah]“No one lights a lamp and then puts it in a cellar or under a basket; rather, he places it upon a lampstand so that people may see the light when they come in.
34The Lamp of the Body.“Your eyes are the lamp of your body. If your eyes are sound, your whole body will be filled with light. However, if your eyes are diseased, your whole body will be in darkness. 35See to it then that the light inside you is not darkness. 36Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp illuminates you with its rays.”
37Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees.[ai] When he had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his house. He went in and took his place at table. 38The Pharisee was surprised to see that he had not first washed[aj] before the meal. 39But the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees cleanse the outside of a cup and dish, but you leave the inside full of greed and wickedness. 40You fools! Did not the one who made the outside also make the inside? 41Let what is inside be given as alms to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.
42“Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes[ak] of mint and rue and every garden herb, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced these without neglecting the others.
43“Woe to you Pharisees! You love to have the best seats in synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces.
44“Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves[al] upon which people tread without realizing it.”
45On hearing this, one of the lawyers said, “Teacher when you say such things you are insulting us too.” 46He replied, “Woe also to you lawyers! For you impose burdens on people that are difficult to bear, but you yourselves do not lift a finger to be of assistance.
47“Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the Prophets whom your ancestors murdered. 48By acting in this way you bear witness to and approve of what your ancestors did. They killed the Prophets, and you build their tombs.
49“That is why the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them Prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ 50so that this generation may be charged with the responsibility for the blood of all the Prophets shed since the foundation of the world, 51from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah[am] who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will have to answer for it all.
52“Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter, and you blocked those from entering who were trying to go in.”
53When he left the house, the scribes and the Pharisees were extremely hostile and they began to interrogate him about many things, 54hoping to trap him in something he might say in reply.
Chapter 12
The Yeast of the Pharisees.[an] 1Meanwhile a crowd of many thousands of people had gathered, and they were so tightly packed together that they were trampling on each other. Then Jesus began to speak, saying first to his disciples: “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—which is their hypocrisy. 2There is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing secret that will not become known. 3Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops.
Courage in Time of Persecution. 4“I tell you, my friends, have no fear of those who kill the body and after that can do nothing further. 5But I will tell you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who, after he has killed, has the authority to cast into Gehenna. I tell you, fear him!
6“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. 7Even the hairs on your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth far more than any number of sparrows.
8“I tell you this: whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. 9But whoever denies me before men, he will be denied before the angels of God.
10Sayings about the Holy Spirit.“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.[ao] 11When you are brought before synagogues and rulers and authorities, do not be concerned about how or what you are to answer or what you are to say. 12When the time comes, the Holy Spirit will teach you what you are to say.”
Be Poor in Order To Be Free
13A Saying about Greed.[ap]Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the family inheritance with me.” 14Jesus answered him, “Friend, who appointed me to be a judge and arbitrator in your regard?”
15[aq]After this, he said to the crowd, “Take care to be on your guard against all kinds of greed. Life does not depend upon an abundance of one’s possessions.”
16The Parable of the Rich Fool. Then he told them a parable: “There was a wealthy man whose land yielded an abundant harvest. 17He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have sufficient space to store my crops?’ 18Then he said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, where I will store my grain and other produce, 19and I shall say to myself, “Now you have an abundance of goods stored up for many years to come. Relax, eat, drink, and be merry.”’
20“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. And who then will get to enjoy the fruit of your labors?’ 21That is how it will be for the one who stores up treasure for himself yet fails to become rich in the sight of God.”
22Trust in God.[ar] Then he said to his disciples, “Therefore, heed my words. Do not be concerned about your life and what you will have to eat, or about your body and what you will wear. 23For life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.
24“Consider the ravens. They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn, and yet God feeds them. You are of far greater importance than birds. 25Can any of you through worrying add a single moment to your span of life? 26If then such a small thing is beyond your power, why should you be concerned about the rest?
27“Consider the lilies and how they grow. They neither labor nor spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his royal splendor was clothed like one of these. 28If God so clothes the grass that grows today in the field and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will he clothe you, Oyou of little faith!
29“Hence, do not be greatly concerned about what you are to eat and what you are to drink. Do not worry. 30The nations of the world are concerned for all these things. Your Father is aware of your needs. 31Rather, seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
32Treasure in Heaven.[as]“Fear not, little flock, for your Father has chosen to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions and give to those in need. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can come near and no moth can destroy. 34For where your treasure is, there will your heart also be.
Parables about Watchfulness[at]
35The Parable of the Vigilant Steward.[au]“Fasten your belts for service and have your lamps lit. 36Be like servants who are waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that they may open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. 37Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he arrives. Amen, I say to you, he will fasten his belt, have them recline to eat, and proceed to wait on them himself. 38If he comes in the second watch[av] or in the third and finds them still awake, blessed are those servants.
39The Hour of the Son of Man.[aw]“But keep this in mind: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40So you must also be prepared, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
41The Parable of the Faithful Servant.[ax] Then Peter asked, “Lord, are you directing this parable to us or do you mean it for everyone?” 42The Lord replied, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward whom his master will put in charge of his household to give its members their allotment of food at the proper time? 43Blessed is that servant if his master finds him doing so when he arrives home. 44Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his property.
45“But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is detained in arriving,’ and he proceeds to beat the menservants and the maids, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46the master of that servant will return on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will punish him and assign him a place with the unfaithful.
47“The servant who knew his master’s wishes but did not get ready or do what his master wanted will receive a severe beating. 48But the one who did not know those wishes, and who acted in such a manner as to deserve a beating, will be beaten less severely. Much will be demanded of a person to whom much has been given, and even more will be asked of a person to whom more has been entrusted.
The Urgency of Making the Decision
49Jesus and His Passion.[ay]“I have come to spread fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already blazing! 50I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it has been completed!
51Jesus, Cause of Dissensions.[az]“Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.
52“From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
54Discerning the Signs of the Times.[ba] He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It is going to rain,’ and so it happens. 55And when you see the wind blowing from the south, you say, ‘It is going to be hot,’ and so it happens. 56You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky. Why then do you not know how to interpret the present time?
57Reconciling with Others before the Judgment.[bb]“And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58Thus, when you are going to court with your opponent, make an effort to settle the matter with him on the way. If you fail to do so, he may drag you before the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the officer, and the officer will throw you into prison. 59I tell you, you will not be given your freedom until you have paid your debt down to the very last penny.”
Footnotes
- Luke 9:1 The Twelve are to share the mission of Jesus, to announce and attest the coming of salvation. Like their Lord, the apostles of the kingdom must be disinterested and conscious of the grave importance of the Gospel. They will accept hospitality simply and without consideration of personal interest. It is by clearly dissociating themselves from incredulity that they will announce the judgment that is coming (see Acts 13:51; 18:5).
- Luke 9:7 People speak of the return of Elijah as a precursor of the day of the Lord (Mal 3:23). They have known John. Now Jesus’ renown reaches the palace of the prince whom he will encounter in the course of his Passion (see Lk 23:7-12). The murderer of John evinces an idle curiosity. The action of Jesus compels each of us to ask ourselves: What do we say of Jesus?
- Luke 9:10 The preaching of Jesus so excites the crowd that they go so far as to disturb him in his retreat. He receives them and speaks to them about the kingdom of God. The miracle of the loaves is like a renewal of the prodigy of the manna expected at the time of the Messiah. In this account, Christians already discern the signs of the Eucharist: God nourishes his people. See also notes on Mt 14:13-21; 14:19; and 14:21; and Mk 6:43.
- Luke 9:18 At the opening of this passage, Jesus is found in prayer—thus Luke underlines the importance of the moment. Christ invites the Twelve to declare themselves concerning who he is. Peter precedes the others—in the Gospel, Peter’s faith has a large role (see Lk 22:31-33)—in acknowledging Christ as God, that is, as the expected Messiah whose unity with God is astonishing. In order to avoid all ambiguity about himself, Jesus recommends secrecy and for the first time announces his Passion. Contrary to what people expect, the Messiah will not save his people by a popular or political uprising but by his Death and Resurrection. The title “Son of Man” suggests the Passion and announces a glorious coming on the last day.
- Luke 9:23 To believe in Christ is to strive to share the mystery of his Death and Resurrection. To do so it is necessary for each of us to go beyond ourselves and our egoism in the ordinary conditions of life. See the kingdom of God: this expression evokes the appearances of the risen Lord or the work of the Spirit in the primitive Church.
- Luke 9:28 In a vision on a mountain, three disciples behold, for one instant, the divine splendor of Jesus. Moses and Elijah, who announced God’s plan in the Law and the Prophets, attest that it will now be accomplished by the Passion, that “passage” of Jesus, which is the new “Exodus.” As formerly in the Exodus God manifested himself in the cloud, now through the one he designates as his Son, his Chosen One (see Isa 42:1; 49:7), he will give to all people the definitive liberation. The evangelist hardly explains the unfolding of this mysterious event. He gives us the shattering experience of Jesus’ inner life to prompt our faith in Christ: to hear this man is to hear God.
- Luke 9:35 My Chosen One: this is similar to a Palestinian Jewish title found in the literature of the Dead Sea Scrolls and to Isa 42:1.
- Luke 9:37 Returning to the people, Jesus resumes the struggle. In contrast with the lapse of the disciples, the Messiah manifests his sovereign power against all the forces that enchain us, of which the person afflicted with a demon is a striking example.
- Luke 9:43 Amid popular success, Jesus keeps his eyes fixed on his Passion, the decisive act of salvation. For the believers, as for the disciples, it remains difficult to accept the necessity of the cross.
- Luke 9:46 As a result of their lack of pretense, children are the beloved of God and become models for the believer (see Lk 18:15-17). We must share this regard of Christ for the little ones, even in the way of thinking and living.
- Luke 9:49 It is necessary to accept the initiative of all those who make use of the name of Christ.
- Luke 9:51 We are at a crossroads in the life of Christ: Jesus begins to go to Jerusalem where his mystery is to be accomplished. This journey will take him from Galilee to the Holy City. In this section, Luke brings together a part of the teaching of Jesus that the other evangelists do not have or that they give in very different contexts. In these ten chapters, we find some of the most moving words of Christ about the mercy of God.
- Luke 9:51 The Samaritans refused passage to Jewish pilgrims on their way to the temple in Jerusalem, because they did not give recognition to that sanctuary. The critical text says simply that Jesus “rebuked” the disciples (v. 55); some manuscripts have: “And he said, ‘You do not know what kind of spirit you are of, for the Son of Man did not come to destroy lives, but to save them.’”
- Luke 9:54 An allusion to 2Ki 1:10-12.
- Luke 9:57 Jesus demands an unconditional commitment from those who hesitate. The preaching of the kingdom is of primary urgency. On its account, we are to renounce every possession and free ourselves from even the most sacred human attachments.
- Luke 10:1 The number of those sent suggests universality, since the ancient leaders of Israel traditionally numbered seventy-two (see Num 11:24-29), and seventy-two pagan nations were listed (see Gen 10). In this passage, Luke brings together various recommendations of Jesus in order to draw up a program for the missionaries.
- Luke 10:12 That day: the day of judgment.
- Luke 10:13 See note on Mt 11:20-24.
- Luke 10:15 The netherworld: the place of the dead, i.e., the underworld (as in Acts 2:27, 31).
- Luke 10:17 In the joy of the disciples, Jesus sees the beginning of the defeat of the forces of evil inflamed against human beings, and of their leader Satan (see Lk 11:20). Jesus shares their joy; but he invites them to rejoice most of all that they are the elect of the Father, a happiness that radically surpasses all missionary success.
- Luke 10:21 In this inspired prayer, Jesus lays bare the profound movement of his heart and the very mystery of his person. He is gripped by the revelation made to the poor (i.e., children); he lives, in an inexpressible fashion, in unity with the Father in the Spirit. The expectation of kings and prophets, i.e., of the Old Testament, is now accomplished, for Jesus is here and shares with human beings God’s mysterious presence. The Church knows that by herself she is nothing in this world, but she is astounded to bring forth for all people this great revelation of God. This text constantly brings her back home to the heart of the Gospel.
- Luke 10:25 Jesus gives pride of place in his teaching to the commandment of love, which sums up the entire Law (see Mt 22:40); but love of God and love of neighbor are henceforth joined inseparably.
- Luke 10:30 Going down: Jericho lies in the deepest depression on earth, at 800 feet below sea level.
- Luke 10:32 Levite: a minister of the temple.
- Luke 10:35 Denarii: plural for denarius, a laborer’s daily wage.
- Luke 10:37 The scribe had asked who was his neighbor. Jesus responds with the example of the Samaritan who, without regard for national rancors and religious disputes, recognizes the neighbor in an unknown person who is in need of help. Hence, the person who loves will know immediately how to individualize who his neighbor is. It is not necessarily—as the Jews thought—a person of the same nation, race, or religion.
- Luke 10:38 The incident is intended to teach that the disciples of Jesus must not allow secondary things to take precedence over essentials, namely, the hearing of the Word of God in order to feed on it and put it into practice (see Lk 6:47; 8:21; 11:28; Acts 6:2). The village in which the two sisters lived was Bethany. Like the preceding parable, this thoughtful incident is told only in Luke.
- Luke 11:1 In the eyes of Luke, the prayer of the disciples is connected to the prayer of Jesus himself. It is a profession of faith in which the community says the essence of what it requests: the kingdom of God, daily sustenance, forgiveness, and strength in time of trial. The form of the Our Father given here is shorter than the one handed down in the Gospel of Matthew.
- Luke 11:5 In the Palestine of that time, people went to bed early; moreover, the entire family slept in a single room, and the door was secured from inside with a heavy bar. Thus, awakening a neighbor caused a great deal of inconvenience, but the latter would be ashamed to remain insensitive. And since God is mercy itself, could he refuse the request of believers when it concerns essentials (see Lk 18:1-8; 22:44)?
- Luke 11:14 The suspicion with which his adversaries regard Jesus becomes accusation and snare; they treat him as an agent of Satan and demand signs of him. In this confrontation that is more and more manifest, Jesus does not soften his message in any way; rather he demands that one choose for or against him. The time of waiting is over; the time of decision is at hand.
- Luke 11:14 There are groups who claim to cast out demons—the word “children” designates the members or disciples of a group. Why then should his opponents be suspicious of Jesus, especially since he actually heals sicknesses? The miracles that he works manifest the power of God, for in order to conquer Satan who is reputedly at work in sicknesses one must be stronger than he is.
- Luke 11:27 The happiness of the kingdom of God is open to those who accept the Word of Jesus. This is a warning to adversaries who reject it. Thus, the true grandeur of Mary is not in having given Jesus his body but in having welcomed the message (see Lk 1:38; 8:21).
- Luke 11:29 Many long for prodigies that would forcibly remove the need for faith. Their desire is vain. The true sign that attests the mission of Jesus is the totality of his work and the force of his person as well as his call to conversion. Thus, past generations had seen messages for them in the wisdom of Solomon (see 1Ki 10:1-11) and the word of Jonah (Jon 3).
- Luke 11:33 Luke here brings together two sentences that have a theme of the lamp. It is a call to throw off blindness and be open to the light that is Jesus (see Lk 8:16). The light of faith transforms one’s life.
- Luke 11:37 In Luke these strong rebukes seem to have been given by Jesus in private conversations with Pharisees and scribes, whereas in Matthew (23:13ff) the charges are uttered publicly in the presence of outsiders. This is a further aspect of the “gentleness of Christ,” which Luke means to communicate.
- Luke 11:38 Had not first washed: this referred to the ceremonial washing, which was part of the “oral” traditions of the Pharisees, i.e., practices and regulations meant to fill out the written Law of Moses (see Mt 15:9; Mk 7:3, and note on Mk 7:4).
- Luke 11:42 Tithes: see note on Mt 23:23-24.
- Luke 11:44 Like unmarked graves: as Passover drew near, Jews used to whitewash tombs in order to avoid touching them inadvertently, which would have caused a legal uncleanness (see Num 19:16).
- Luke 11:51 Abel... Zechariah: these two names recall the first and the last slayings recounted in the Hebrew Bible (see Gen 4:1-16; 2Chr 24:17-22). What is being recalled is therefore the entire history of murders committed against men of God in the course of the Old Testament.
- Luke 12:1 True disciples do not let the message become altered and are not afraid to bear clear witness to the Gospel, to confess their faith in Jesus. Persecutions should not intimidate them; indeed, it is better to be condemned by opinion than to lose God. Believers are certain that the Lord will never abandon them; they rely on the help of the Spirit to proclaim simply and without alteration the essence of the message (see Acts 4:8; 5:12; 7:55).
- Luke 12:10 Everyone who speaks... against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven: the meaning of this verse is obscure. Perhaps the meaning is that when Jesus was alive, people could be excused from failing to recognize him as the Savior, but such an excuse will no longer be possible once his mission has been confirmed by the power of the Spirit at Pentecost.
- Luke 12:13 The Law of Moses dealt with temporal questions (see Ex 2:14; Acts 7:27), and the rabbis willingly offered their opinions. Jesus has not come to sustain us in our personal interests but to save us. The Gospel does not foster greed in any form; it demands detachment from earthly goods. This episode serves as an introduction to a series of teachings concerning money, an important theme for the Gospel of Luke.
- Luke 12:15 The desire for and the satisfaction in accumulating riches closes one to God and deprives one of lucidity. The goods of earth do not have a vocation for eternity. The spiritual future of human beings is more important. The Word and Life of Jesus are sustained by this conviction.
- Luke 12:22 When the concern for earthly goods rules one’s whole life, and even one’s prayer, we have become enslaved to them. Christ’s disciples remain free: they trust in God. Jesus does not preach unconcern but concern for what is essential: to accept the kingdom and to live the Gospel.
- Luke 12:32 This recommendation to be detached from one’s goods and to give them to those in need is more pressing in Luke. The true treasure of the kingdom is to be detached from money.
- Luke 12:35 The Jews were wont to ask: “When will the kingdom come?” Christians asked: “When will the Lord return?” When forced to be vigilant, attention inevitably wanes. But the Lord is near, and our life is with him; we must not be sleeping when he returns.
- Luke 12:35 Vigilant servants are bound to work and to be ready even into the night. The disciples are to be focused on meeting their Lord, who will be their joy.
- Luke 12:38 Second watch: i.e., between 9:00 P.M. and midnight. Third: i.e., between midnight and 3:00 A.M. See note on Mt 14:25.
- Luke 12:39 See note on Mt 24:45-51.
- Luke 12:41 When Peter poses this question, he is answered by a parable summoning all leaders of the community to faithful vigilance.
- Luke 12:49 The allusion is to the baptism in fire and the Spirit that begins on Pentecost (see Lk 3:16; Acts 2:3, 19) and also to the Passion that is to cleanse the people of their sins (see Mk 10:38).
- Luke 12:51 The Gospel brings not security but the division (see Lk 2:34-35) that, according to Micah (7:6), is a prelude to the last times.
- Luke 12:54 Understanding the signs of the times means recognizing the time of salvation, the time of Jesus. No concern is more important than this, for one’s very salvation is in question.
- Luke 12:57 One must put one’s life in order before the judgment, for afterward it will be too late. We are urged to settle disputes quickly in accord with Gospel values. Matthew will turn this text into an inducement to fraternal charity (Mt 5:25-26).
