The Meaning of Luke 10:24 Explained

Luke 10:24

KJV: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

YLT: for I say to you, that many prophets and kings did wish to see what ye perceive, and did not see, and to hear what ye hear, and did not hear.'

Darby: For I say to you that many prophets and kings have desired to see the things which ye behold, and did not see them; and to hear the things which ye hear, and did not hear them.

ASV: for I say unto you, that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  I tell  you,  that  many  prophets  and  kings  have desired  to see  those things which  ye  see,  and  have  not  seen  [them]; and  to hear  those things which  ye hear,  and  have  not  heard  [them]. 

What does Luke 10:24 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The prophets typically looked forward to the fulfillment of the things that they predicted ( 1 Peter 1:10-12). Kings probably represent the most important people of their day. Even they, with all their advantages, could not see and hear what Jesus" humble disciples could. What they saw was the signs of the advent of Messiah, and what they heard was the good news that the kingdom was at hand.
Jesus" teaching in this pericope glorified the privilege of being a disciple of His. Too often the responsibilities of discipleship make following Jesus appear very threatening and unattractive, but the rewards of discipleship far outweigh its costs (cf. Romans 8:18). In view of this Revelation , disciples of Jesus should feel encouraged to participate wholeheartedly and fully in God"s mission for them. For us that means participation in the execution of the Great Commission ( Luke 24:44-49).

Context Summary

Luke 10:17-24 - The Sources Of Deepest Joy
How triumphant the return of the evangelist! With faces flushed with pride and hearts high with elation, they returned to the Master with their reports. What wisdom it is to talk our work over with Jesus! Even the demons were subject to His Name. He was not surprised. While He had been watching, bearing them up by His intercessions, He had seen an alteration take place in the unseen world. Satan had fallen, as though the work done by these humble men had turned the scale against him. Is it not so still? What we do is of eternal importance.
Then, "in that same hour" it seemed as though the flood-gates of the Savior's soul were flung open for very joy. He rejoiced that babe-like hearts might know the deep things of God; that all things were opened to Him in His humanity as in the ages before He became man; and that He was permitted to reveal the Father to those who loved and obeyed Him. It was for these, and for us, to know things hidden from prophets and kings. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 10

1  Jesus sends out at once seventy disciples to work miracles, and to preach;
13  pronounces a woe against certain cities
17  The seventy return with joy;
18  he shows them wherein to rejoice,
21  and thanks his Father for his grace;
23  magnifies the happy estate of his church;
25  teaches the lawyer how to attain eternal life,
30  and tells the parable of the good Samaritan;
38  reprimands Martha, and commends Mary her sister

Greek Commentary for Luke 10:24

Which ye see [α υμεις βλεπετε]
The expression of υμεις — humeis makes “ye” very emphatic in contrast with the prophets and kings of former days. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 10:24 mean?

I say for to you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see not saw to hear you hear heard
λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν ὅτι πολλοὶ προφῆται καὶ βασιλεῖς ἠθέλησαν ἰδεῖν ὑμεῖς βλέπετε οὐκ εἶδαν ἀκοῦσαι ἀκούετε ἤκουσαν

λέγω  I  say 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
πολλοὶ  many 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: πολύς  
Sense: many, much, large.
προφῆται  prophets 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: προφήτης  
Sense: in Greek writings, an interpreter of oracles or of other hidden things.
βασιλεῖς  kings 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: βασιλεύς  
Sense: leader of the people, prince, commander, lord of the land, king.
ἠθέλησαν  desired 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: θέλω  
Sense: to will, have in mind, intend.
ἰδεῖν  to  see 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: εἶδον 
Sense: to see with the eyes.
βλέπετε  see 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: βλέπω  
Sense: to see, discern, of the bodily eye.
εἶδαν  saw 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: εἶδον 
Sense: to see with the eyes.
ἀκοῦσαι  to  hear 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
ἀκούετε  you  hear 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
ἤκουσαν  heard 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.

What are the major concepts related to Luke 10:24?

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