Luke 9

(1)  Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
(2)  And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
(3)  And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
(4)  And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.
(5)  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.
(6)  And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.
(7)  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;
(8)  And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.
(9)  And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.
(10)  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.
(11)  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.
(12)  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.
(13)  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.
(14)  For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.
(15)  And they did so, and made them all sit down.
(16)  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.
(17)  And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.
(18)  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?
(19)  They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.
(20)  He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.
(21)  And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;
(22)  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.
(23)  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.
(24)  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
(25)  For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
(26)  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.
(27)  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.
(28)  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.
(29)  And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
(30)  And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
(31)  Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
(32)  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.
(33)  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.
(34)  While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
(35)  And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
(36)  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.
(37)  And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.
(38)  And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.
(39)  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.
(40)  And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.
(41)  And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.
(42)  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.
(43)  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,
(44)  Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
(45)  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.
(46)  Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
(47)  And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,
(48)  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.
(49)  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.
(50)  And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
(51)  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,
(52)  And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
(53)  And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
(54)  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?
(55)  But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
(56)  For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
(57)  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.
(58)  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.
(59)  And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
(60)  Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
(61)  And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
(62)  And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

Study Questions

read more

1. Had the disciples received the Holy Spirit now? Verse 1. (See John 7:39 and Acts 2:1-4)

2. What was the mission of the disciples in this third circuit of Galilee? Verse 2.

3. What were the disciples to take on their journey? Verse 3.

4. What were Jesus’ instructions to the disciples about the places where they stayed on their journey? Verse 4.

5. If the disciples were rejected, what were they to do? Verse 5.

6. What did the disciples do when they left Jesus? Verse 6.

7. Why was Herod the tetrarch perplexed about the identity of Jesus? Verses 7-8.

8. What would be the reason Herod might not think Jesus was John? Verse 9.

9. Why did Jesus take the apostles to a distant place? Verse 10. (See Mark 6:31)

10. Although it was not the object of His mission, what did Jesus do when the people followed Him? Verse 11.

11. What was the disciples’ solution for a place for the multitude to stay and have something to eat? Verse 13.

12. Why was it short-sighted for the disciples to think only of buying food? Verse 13.

13. How do you think the gospel writers knew how many people Jesus fed? Verses 14.

14. Can you think of two examples in what Jesus did that we should emulate? Verses 16-17.

15. This is obviously the scene at Caesarea Philippi. What do we learn from Luke about Jesus’ reason for being there? Verse 18.

16. What was the disciples’ answer to Jesus’ question about what the people were saying about Him? Verse 19.

17. Do you think Peter gave his opinion or stated what he believed to be a fact? Verse 20.

18. Do you think Jesus charged the disciples to tell no man that Jesus was the Christ because:
(a) the people were not ready to receive it;
(b) because the disciples were unprepared to proclaim it; or
(c) both (a) and (b)?

19. What does Jesus predict about what will happen to Him at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes? Verse 22.

20. What three things does Jesus demand of those who would follow Him? Verse 23.

21. What does Jesus say will happen to the one who loses his life for Jesus’ sake? Verse 24.

22. Why wouldn’t it be an advantage to gain the whole world? Verse 25.

23. What will Jesus’ attitude be when He comes in glory toward those who are ashamed of His words? Verse 26.

24. Are some of the apostles still living or has the kingdom of God come? Verse 27.

25. Why did Jesus go up into the mountain and what happened when He did? Verses 28-29.

26. Who were the two men who appeared with Jesus in glory and about what were they talking? Verses 30-31.

27. What was Peter’s suggestion and what was wrong with it? Verses 32-33.

28. What lesson do you think God intended for Peter and all others to get? Verses 34-35.

29. Why do you suppose the disciples didn’t tell the people who met them about the wonderful thing they saw on the mountain? Verses 36-37.

30. What disease is suggested to your mind by the physical ailments produced by the demon that possessed the father’s son? Verses 38-39.

31. Do you think Jesus addressed His rebuke to the disciples alone over their failure to cast out the demon or to their whole multitude because of their unbelief? Verses 40-41.

32. What did Jesus do that turned unbelief and infidelity into amazement and wondering? Verses 42-43.

33. Do you think the disciples were afraid to ask Jesus about His prediction because they were in awe of Him or because they really didn’t want to know the implications of it? Verses 44-45.

34. Do you think Jesus’ announcement to Peter at Caesarea Philippi and His choice of Peter, James, and John to accompany Him on the mountain may have started the dispute about which disciple is greatest? Verses 46-47.

35. How did Jesus solve the dispute among the disciples? Verse 48.

36. What character flaw was John guilty of in forbidding the one who was casting out in Jesus’ name? Verse 49.

37. Why did Jesus not consider the one casting out demons in His name a threat in any way? Verse 50.

38. Why did Jesus choose a secret, speedy route through Samaria to go to Jerusalem for the feast instead of crossing Jordan into Perea as the Jews usually did? Verses 51-52. (See John 7:4-10)

39. Do you think the Samaritans would have received Jesus if He had come on a preaching tour? Verse 53.

40. Can you think of any reason from this incident that may have induced Jesus to surname James and John “Boanerges’” the sons of thunder? Verse 54.

41. Did Jesus approve of their response to what they perceived as an insult to Jesus? Verse 55.

42. Why was their proposal contrary to the spirit of Christ? Verse 56.

43. What was the proposal of the man Jesus met in the way? Verse 57.

44. Why did Jesus respond to his proposal by talking about foxes and birds? Verse 58.

45. Do you think the man Jesus called simply wanted to have a funeral for his father or is he proposing to wait until after his father’s death to answer the call? Verse 59.

46. Can the literally dead bury the literally dead? How can the dead bury their dead? Verse 60.

47. Did Jesus forbid this volunteer to simply hug and kiss his relatives before starting out or was He concerned about the pressures the man would encounter at home? Verse 61.

48. What problem would be produced by a man looking back while plowing and what is Jesus’ application of this metaphor? Verse 62.