Luke 9 52

Luke 9:52 kjv

And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.

Luke 9:52 nkjv

and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him.

Luke 9:52 niv

And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him;

Luke 9:52 esv

And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him.

Luke 9:52 nlt

He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival.

Luke 9 verses

Luke 9 52 Meaning

Luke 9:52 describes the initial step in Jesus' final journey towards Jerusalem. Having resolutely decided to go there, He dispatched messengers ahead of Himself into a Samaritan village. Their purpose was to make preparations for His arrival, securing necessary hospitality and provisions. This act demonstrates Jesus' deliberate approach and His willingness to engage with Samaritans, a people traditionally at odds with Jews.

Luke 9 52 Context

Luke 9:52 occurs at a pivotal point in Luke's Gospel, marking the beginning of Jesus' "travel narrative" (9:51-19:27). Luke 9:51 states that Jesus "steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem," indicating His resolute determination to fulfill His divine purpose, which culminates in His crucifixion and resurrection. This journey through Samaria, a deviation from the usual longer route through the Jordan Valley that avoided Samaritan territory due to intense animosity, signals Jesus' intentional breaking of social and ethnic barriers. The Samaritans were a mixed race people, descended from intermarriage between Jews and Assyrians, and worshipped God on Mount Gerizim, not Jerusalem, leading to deep-seated hatred from orthodox Jews. Jesus sending messengers into their village to prepare for His stay thus immediately sets up a scene of confrontation and rejection, highlighting both His universal mission and the spiritual blindness that would oppose it.

Luke 9 52 Word analysis

• And sent (καὶ ἀπέστειλεν - kai apesteilen): From the Greek verb ἀποστέλλω (apostellō), meaning "to send away, send forth, dispatch." This is the root of the English word "apostle," signifying someone sent with a specific mission or authority. The active voice emphasizes Jesus' deliberate action and commissioning power.
• messengers (ἀγγέλους - angelous): While this Greek word often translates as "angels," in this context, it clearly refers to human messengers, as evidenced by their subsequent actions of entering a village and seeking preparations. The choice of word, however, might subtly highlight the divine authority with which they were sent, similar to how angels are God's messengers.
• before his face (πρὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ - pro prosopou autou): Literally "before His face" or "before His presence." This idiom indicates that the messengers were sent as an advance party, preceding Jesus and paving the way for His immediate arrival. It reflects the customary practice of dignitary travel.
• and they went (καὶ πορευθέντες - kai poreuthentes): Emphasizes their immediate obedience to Jesus' commission. The aorist participle indicates their action of going as a direct consequence of being sent.
• and entered (εἰσῆλθον - eiselthon): From the Greek verb εἰσέρχομαι (eiserchomai), meaning "to come into, enter." This specifies their successful entry into the village, fulfilling the first part of their mission.
• into a village of the Samaritans (εἰς κώμην Σαμαριτῶν - eis kōmēn Samaritōn): This detail is highly significant. Samaritans were despised by Jews, making Jesus' intention to pass through and stay in their territory radical and challenging to prevailing norms. It demonstrates Jesus' mission extends beyond traditional boundaries, to a people often seen as outsiders.
• to make ready for him (ἑτοιμάσαι αὐτῷ - hetoimasai autō): From the Greek verb ἑτοιμάζω (hetoimazō), meaning "to prepare, make ready, provide." The purpose of their mission was practical: to secure lodging, food, and hospitality. This underscores Jesus' humanity and His reliance on typical travel arrangements, yet it also highlights the challenge He posed by expecting hospitality from Samaritans.

Luke 9 52 Bonus section

The choice of "Samaritans" is not coincidental in Luke's Gospel. Luke frequently highlights Jesus' compassion for the marginalized and outcasts (tax collectors, women, poor, Samaritans, lepers). The immediate context of their refusal in Lk 9:53 provides a stark contrast to other instances where Samaritans positively respond to Jesus (Jn 4:1-42, the Samaritan woman and her village; Lk 17:11-19, the thankful Samaritan leper; Lk 10:25-37, the Parable of the Good Samaritan). This contrast underscores the unpredictable nature of human response to Christ and the radical nature of His grace offered even to those who reject Him. The incident immediately leads into the "Sons of Thunder" desiring to call down fire, which Jesus rebukes, further emphasizing that His mission is salvific, not destructive (Lk 9:54-56). The detail of sending "messengers before His face" directly echoes Old Testament prophecy (Mal 3:1) and the ministry of John the Baptist, positioning Jesus' journey as the fulfillment of divine intention, marked by a pre-arranged advance.

Luke 9 52 Commentary

Luke 9:52 marks a critical turning point in Jesus' earthly ministry, as His decisive journey towards Jerusalem commences. By sending an advance party into a Samaritan village, Jesus intentionally bypassed the traditional Jewish route, thus demonstrating His mission transcended established ethnic and religious animosities. The "messengers" (who may have been specific disciples) were sent not with a message of judgment, but with a practical request for hospitality, indicating Jesus' desire to engage even with those traditionally considered adversaries. This act was profoundly counter-cultural, challenging Jewish prejudice and setting the stage for the Samaritans' eventual refusal, which itself foreshadows the broader rejection Jesus would face. Despite this rejection, Jesus' willingness to outreach to Samaritans is a consistent theme in Luke and John's Gospels, emphasizing the universal scope of God's redemptive plan that extends beyond Israel. The very act of sending messengers to prepare signifies the impending advent of the King, highlighting the urgent and important nature of His arrival and mission.

Examples:

• Hospitality Challenge: If Jesus, the Lord, required practical preparations, how much more should believers ensure the logistical needs are met when serving or hosting others for gospel purposes (e.g., church event planning, welcoming visitors).
• Crossing Boundaries: Jesus initiated interaction with a despised group. This serves as a model for believers to step out of their comfort zones to reach people from different cultural, social, or ethnic backgrounds with the message of the gospel, even if it means challenging existing prejudices.