Luke 9:1-6

Luke 9:1-6

[1] Then  his  twelve  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  [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  not  receive  when ye go  out of  that  city,  shake off  the very  dust  from  feet  for  a testimony  against  them.  [6] And  they departed,  and went  through  the towns,  preaching the gospel,  and  healing  every where. 

What does Luke 9:1-6 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

This is another "sandwich" or chiastic section in design (cf. Luke 8:40-56). This structural device usually gives unity to the whole section and focuses attention on the central part of it. First, Jesus sent the Twelve on an evangelistic mission throughout Galilee. Luke filled in the period of their mission proper with information about how Herod Antipas and the people perceived Jesus. Third, the writer recorded the return of the Twelve to their Master. The whole mission prefigured the later mission of these and other disciples to the ends of the earth that Acts records. The lessons that Jesus taught about dependence on God and rejection by men apply to the church"s mission in the present dispensation. Jesus" instructions to His missionaries, rather than the activities of the missionaries, are the core of this pericope. However the reader must carefully distinguish the basic principles that Jesus taught from the specific directions that He meant for this particular mission and no other.