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.
Luke 10:24 nkjv
for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it."
Luke 10:24 niv
For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."
Luke 10:24 esv
For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."
Luke 10:24 nlt
I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, but they didn't see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn't hear it."
Luke 10 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 13:16-17 | But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see... | Parallel saying by Jesus, emphasizing the disciples' blessed state. |
| 1 Pet 1:10-12 | Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully... They ministered not to themselves but to you... | Old Testament prophets eagerly investigated and wrote about salvation for future generations. |
| Heb 11:13 | These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles... | OT saints looked forward to, but did not fully experience, God's ultimate fulfillment. |
| Heb 11:39-40 | And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. | Highlights the incompleteness of the old covenant era compared to the new in Christ. |
| John 1:14 | And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. | The disciples literally saw God incarnate, a unique privilege. |
| John 12:41 | Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. | Refers to Isaiah's prophetic vision of Christ, connecting OT prophecy to Christ's glory. |
| Isa 9:6-7 | For to us a child is born, to us a son is given... and of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end... | Prophetic foretelling of the Messiah's birth and reign. |
| Isa 11:1-2 | There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit... And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him... | Isaiah's vision of the Spirit-filled Branch (Messiah). |
| Dan 7:13-14 | I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man... and to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom... | Daniel's vision of the Son of Man's coming and universal dominion. |
| Ps 2:7-8 | He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession." | Royal Psalm hinting at the Messianic King's divine Sonship and dominion. |
| Ps 110:1 | The Lord says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool." | David's prophetic acknowledgment of the Messiah as his superior Lord. |
| Jer 31:31-34 | "Behold, days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah..." | Prophecy of the New Covenant, now inaugurated through Jesus. |
| Acts 2:16-36 | This is what was uttered through the prophet Joel... David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, "The Lord said to my Lord..." | Peter's Pentecost sermon, linking Old Testament prophecy (Joel, David) to Jesus' fulfillment. |
| Eph 3:5-6 | This mystery was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. | The mystery of Gentile inclusion, not fully revealed until the NT era. |
| Matt 11:11 | Truly, I tell you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. | The unique position of those who experience the inaugurated Kingdom directly. |
| 2 Cor 3:12-16 | Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end... | The New Covenant offers greater clarity and direct access to God's glory than the Old. |
| Luke 10:23 | Then turning to the disciples he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!" | Immediate context, showing Jesus' direct blessing to His disciples for their insight. |
| Luke 1:76-79 | And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways... to give light to those who sit in darkness... | Zechariah's prophecy about John the Baptist preparing the way for the coming Light, the Messiah. |
| Mal 4:5-6 | "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes..." | Prophecy of Elijah's return before the day of the Lord, interpreted as John the Baptist preparing for Christ. |
| Amos 9:11 | "In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old..." | Prophetic anticipation of the restoration of David's kingdom, fulfilled in Christ's spiritual rule. |
| Zech 9:9 | Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey... | Prophecy of Messiah's triumphal entry, a direct anticipation of Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem. |
| 2 Sam 7:12-16 | I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. | God's promise to King David concerning a perpetual dynasty and an eternal kingdom, pointing to Christ. |
Luke 10 verses
Luke 10 24 Meaning
Luke 10:24 reveals the immense privilege bestowed upon Jesus' disciples: they were witnesses to the living manifestation of God's Kingdom on earth, a reality anticipated by generations of righteous men. This verse emphasizes that prophets and kings of old, despite their spiritual insights and positions of authority, longed deeply to experience the very events the disciples were currently seeing and hearing firsthand – the direct presence and ministry of the Messiah. They saw and heard through prophetic vision, but not in incarnate reality.
Luke 10 24 Context
Luke 10:24 is part of Jesus' teaching to His disciples following their return from a successful mission where they were sent out in pairs (Luke 10:1-20). The preceding verses describe the seventy-two disciples joyfully reporting their victories over demons, to which Jesus responds by correcting their focus from power to salvation (Luke 10:17-20). He then praises the Father for revealing these truths to the humble and not the wise (Luke 10:21-22), immediately followed by privately blessing the disciples for what they are seeing and hearing (Luke 10:23). This sets the stage for verse 24, where Jesus further expounds on the profound significance of their unique position. Historically, this period marks the intensive public ministry of Jesus, demonstrating the inauguration of God's promised kingdom through signs, wonders, and teaching, inviting a response of repentance and faith. The verse draws a clear distinction between the longing of previous generations under the Old Covenant and the present reality of the New Covenant being ushered in by Christ's presence.
Luke 10 24 Word analysis
For (γάρ - gar): A particle indicating cause or reason. It explains why the disciples are blessed (from Luke 10:23) by further elaborating on the profound significance of their experience.
I tell you (λέγω ὑμῖν - legō hymin): Jesus' authoritative declaration, emphasizing the truth and weight of His statement. It signifies a solemn, significant pronouncement.
that many (ὅτι πολλοὶ - hoti polloi): "Many" underscores the significant number and variety of figures from the past who shared this deep yearning. It highlights the widespread and sustained anticipation throughout Israel's history.
prophets (προφῆται - prophētai): God's spokespersons, through whom He revealed His will and future plans, especially concerning the Messiah's coming. They saw glimpses through divine revelation but longed for the direct, tangible fulfillment. Their "seeing" was visionary, their "hearing" was divinely inspired communication.
and kings (καὶ βασιλεῖς - kai basileis): Refers especially to righteous kings, particularly from David's lineage, who ruled over Israel and often received messianic promises or yearned for God's full reign. They oversaw an earthly kingdom but anticipated the perfect heavenly King.
desired (ἐπεθύμησαν - epethymēsan): Strong word for "eagerly longed," "coveted," or "desired intensely." It conveys a deep, persistent, almost aching desire.
to see (ἰδεῖν - idein): Pertains to visual perception, but here it encompasses experiential knowledge and direct observation. They longed to witness the actual historical events of the Messiah's life, teachings, miracles, and the physical manifestation of His person and power.
what you see (ἃ βλέπετε - ha blepete): Refers to the current, present reality being witnessed by the disciples: Jesus' incarnate presence, His miracles, teachings, healings, exorcisms, and the dawning of the Kingdom of God. This is an active, ongoing perception.
and did not see it (καὶ οὐκ εἶδον - kai ouk eidon): Emphasizes that despite their prophecies and hopes, they did not physically or experientially witness these things during their lifetimes. Their understanding was anticipatory, not experiential.
and to hear (καὶ ἀκοῦσαι - kai akousai): Refers to auditory perception, here signifying receiving and understanding direct teachings and revelation. They longed to hear Jesus' own words with their own ears.
what you hear (ἃ ἀκούετε - ha akouete): Refers to the actual teachings of Jesus, His authoritative proclamations, parables, and direct revelation of God's character and plan of salvation, spoken directly into their ears.
and did not hear it (καὶ οὐκ ἤκουσαν - kai ouk ēkousan): Reiterates that they did not have the direct, unmediated experience of hearing the Messiah's teachings.
"many prophets and kings desired to see... and to hear...": This phrase highlights the cumulative, centuries-long yearning within Israel for the Messianic era. It emphasizes that those who received significant divine revelation still yearned for its ultimate fulfillment in history. This points to the eschatological climax of God's plan occurring in Jesus' ministry.
"what you see, and did not see it... what you hear, and did not hear it": This contrasting parallelism sharply defines the unique privilege of the disciples. They are experiencing the "already" of God's Kingdom in a way that even the greatest figures of the Old Testament could only anticipate from afar.
Luke 10 24 Bonus section
- This verse can be seen as an indirect warning or lament against those in Jesus' own generation who did see and hear but rejected Him. The Pharisees and Sadducees had the same opportunity as the disciples but lacked the spiritual discernment or humble hearts to embrace the truth. Their rejection stands in stark contrast to the centuries of eager anticipation by those who came before them.
- The emphasis on "seeing" and "hearing" points to the fundamental ways in which God reveals Himself: through observation of His works (miracles, life of Jesus) and through reception of His Word (Jesus' teachings). The New Covenant believers are privileged to experience a fuller and clearer revelation than those under the Old Covenant.
- The "kingdom of heaven" or "kingdom of God" is implicitly the "what you see" and "what you hear." It refers to the present reign of God inaugurated in Christ, as distinct from merely a future eschatological event.
Luke 10 24 Commentary
Luke 10:24 unveils a profound truth about the turning of the ages and the culmination of God's redemptive plan in Christ. Jesus underscores the unparalleled privilege granted to His disciples: they stood at the precipice of centuries of longing and expectation. Old Testament prophets, who often endured suffering to relay God's messages, yearned for the actual advent of the Deliverer and the establishment of His kingdom. Kings like David, to whom great promises of a perpetual dynasty were made, longed to see the perfect Davidic ruler. These figures received spiritual glimpses, divine revelations, and often prophesied concerning the coming Christ and the New Covenant, but their understanding was by faith, their sight through types and shadows.
The disciples, however, were not seeing prophetic visions; they were beholding the reality of the Son of God walking among them, demonstrating divine power, teaching with absolute authority, and inaugurating God's promised reign. They heard directly the words of eternal life, the parables of the kingdom, and the definitive interpretation of the Law and Prophets. This direct encounter with the incarnate Christ—His life, teachings, miracles, and even His suffering—was the ultimate fulfillment of what countless generations had yearned for. This highlights the immense grace and unparalleled blessing on the disciples, reminding them of the significance and responsibility of their unique historical position. Their firsthand experience of God's Kingdom breaking into the world demanded a response of deep gratitude and faithfulness.