Luke 9:51-56

Luke 9:51-56

[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,  make ready  for him.  [53] And  not  receive  him,  because  his  face  as though he would go  to  Jerusalem.  [54] And  when his  disciples  James  and  John  this, they said,  Lord,  wilt thou  that we command  fire  to come down  from  heaven,  and  consume  them,  even  [55] But  he turned,  and rebuked  them,  and  Ye know  not  what manner  of spirit  [56] For  the Son  of man  not  come  to destroy  men's  lives,  but  to save  them. And  they went  to  another  village. 

What does Luke 9:51-56 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The first verse ( Luke 9:51) sets the agenda for all that follows until Jesus" Triumphal Entry. It was now time for Jesus to begin moving toward Jerusalem and the Cross. As He did Song of Solomon , He immediately encountered opposition (cf. Acts 20:3; Acts 21:4; Acts 21:11-14), but He accepted it and refused to retaliate against His opponents. Jesus" attitude here recalls His reaction to the opposition He encountered in Nazareth at the beginning of His Galilean ministry ( Luke 4:16-30), and it previews His attitude in His passion. It also contrasts with the disciples" attitude toward others and provides a positive example for reader disciples who sometimes encounter antagonists who are similar to the Samaritans.
It is difficult to make this incident fit into its Lukan context chronologically. Probably our writer was not following a strict sequence of events here but inserted this incident where he did for thematic purposes.