Luke 9:2 Komentář

In this chapter we have, I. The commission Christ gave to his twelve apostles to go out for some time to preach the gospel, and confirm it by miracles (Luk 9:1-6). II. Herod's terror at the growing greatness of our Lord Jesus (Luk 9:7-9). III. The apostles' return to Christ, his retirement with them into a place of solitude, the great resort of people to them notwithstanding, and his feeding five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes (Luk 9:10-17). IV. His discourse with his disciples concerning himself and his own sufferings for them, and their for him (Luk 9:18-27). V. Christ's transfiguration (Luk 9:28-36). VI. The cure of a lunatic child (Luk 9:37-42). VII. The repeated notice Christ gave his disciples of his approaching sufferings (Luk 9:43-45). VIII. His check to the ambition of his disciples (Luk 9:46-48), and to their monopolizing the power over devils to themselves (Luk 9:49, Luk 9:50). IX. The rebuke he gave them for an over-due resentment of an affront given him by a village of the Samaritans (Luk 9:51-56). X. The answers he gave to several that were inclined to follow him, but not considerately, or not zealously and heartily, so inclined (Luk 9:57-62).

Then he called his twelve disciples together,.... The Persic version reads, "all his twelve disciples", the other nine, besides the three that were with him, when he raised Jairus's daughter, recorded in the foregoing chapter; the Vulgate Latin, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions read, "the twelve apostles", for so Christ had named his disciples; See Gill on Mat 6:13. The Syriac version only reads, "his own twelve"; and this is agreeably to Luke's way of speaking; see Luk 8:1. And gave them power and authority over all devils; that is, all kinds of devils, particularly to cast them out of the bodies of men, possessed by them: and to cure diseases; of all sorts.

And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God,.... The Gospel, which gives an account of the kingdom of the Messiah; of his kingly office and power; of his church, which is his kingdom, and of the government of it, by the ministration of the word, and the administration of ordinances; of the kingdom of grace in the hearts of Christ's subjects, and the nature of it; and of the kingdom of glory, and what is the saints' meetness for it, and right unto it: and to heal the sick; of every disease of body, and thereby confirm their mission and commission from Christ, to preach the Gospel; and recommend it to men.

The Lord and Savior, not very long after the beginning of his preaching, called the twelve apostles. He gave the name of apostles to them alone of all his disciples as a special honor. Later he proclaimed seventy others and sent them also out two by two in advance of himself into every place and city where he himself was to come.

The grace bestowed upon the holy apostles is worthy of all admiration. But the bountifulness of the Giver surpasses all praise and admiration. He gives them, as I said, his own glory. They receive authority over the evil spirits. They reduce to nothing the pride of the devil that was so highly exalted and arrogant. They render ineffectual the demon’s wickedness. By the might and efficacy of the Holy Spirit, burning them as if they were on fire, they make the devil come forth with groans and weeping from those whom he had possessed.…He glorified his disciples, therefore, by giving them authority and power over the evil spirits and over sicknesses. Did he honor them without reason and make them famous without any logical cause? How can this be true? It was necessary, most necessary, that they should be able to work miracles, having been publicly appointed ministers of sacred proclamations. By means of their works, they then could convince men that they were the ministers of God and mediators of all beneath the heaven. The apostles then could invite them all to reconciliation and justification by faith and point out the way of salvation and of life that is this justification.

Now let us hear what is commanded when the preachers are sent. "Go and preach, saying: The kingdom of heaven is at hand." This, dearest brothers, even if the Gospel were silent, the world proclaims. For its ruins are its voices. For the world, which has fallen from its glory after being worn down by so many blows, shows us, as it were, from close at hand, another kingdom that follows. It is already bitter even to those by whom it is loved. Its very ruins proclaim that it should not be loved. For if a shaken house threatened to collapse, whoever lived in it would flee; and one who had loved it while it stood would hasten to withdraw as quickly as possible from it as it falls. If therefore the world is falling and we embrace it by loving it, we wish to be crushed rather than to dwell in safety, because no reasoning separates us from its ruin when love binds us to its sufferings. It is easy, therefore, now when we see all things destroyed, to separate our heart from love of it. But this was most difficult at that time when they were sent to preach the invisible kingdom of heaven while they saw earthly kingdoms flourishing far and wide on every side.

Hence also miracles were added to the holy preachers, so that the power displayed might give faith to their words, and that those who preached new things might do new things. When the world was flourishing, when the human race was increasing, when the flesh was subsisting long in this life, when the abundance of things was overflowing, who upon hearing would believe that there was another life? Who would prefer invisible things to visible things? But when the sick were returning to health, when the dead were rising to life, when lepers were receiving cleanliness of flesh, when demoniacs were snatched from the power of unclean spirits, with so many visible miracles performed, who would not believe what he heard about invisible things? For visible miracles shine forth for this purpose: that they may draw the hearts of those who see them to faith in invisible things, so that through what is done wondrously on the outside, what is within may be perceived to be far more wondrous.

Christ sends his apostles to preach and work miracles, Luk 9:1-6. Herod, hearing of the fame of Jesus, is perplexed; some suppose that John Baptist is risen from the dead; others, that Elijah or one of the old prophets was come to life, Luk 9:7-9. The apostles return and relate the success of their mission. He goes to a retired place, and the people follow him, Luk 9:10, Luk 9:11. He feeds five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes, Luk 9:12-17. He asks his disciples what the public think of him, Luk 9:18-21. Foretells his passion, Luk 9:22. Shows the necessity of self-denial, and the importance of salvation, Luk 9:23-25. Threatens those who deny him before men, Luk 9:26. The transfiguration, Luk 9:27-36. Cures a demoniac, Luk 9:37-43. Again foretells his passion, Luk 9:44, Luk 9:45. The disciples contend who shall be greatest, Luk 9:46-48. Of the person who cast out devils in Christ's name, but did not associate with the disciples, Luk 9:49, Luk 9:50. Of the Samaritans who would not receive him, Luk 9:51-56. Of the man who wished to follow Jesus, Luk 9:57, Luk 9:58. He calls another disciple who asks permission first to bury his father, Luk 9:59. Our Lord's answer Luk 9:60-62.

To preach the kingdom of God - For an explication of this phrase, see on Mat 3:1 (note).

MISSION OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES. (Luk 9:1-6) power and authority--He both qualified and authorized them.