Luke 9 55

Luke 9:55 kjv

But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

Luke 9:55 nkjv

But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.

Luke 9:55 niv

But Jesus turned and rebuked them.

Luke 9:55 esv

But he turned and rebuked them.

Luke 9:55 nlt

But Jesus turned and rebuked them.

Luke 9 verses

Luke 9 55 Meaning

Luke 9:55 presents Jesus' sharp rebuke to James and John, who desired to call down fire from heaven upon a Samaritan village that had rejected Jesus. The core meaning emphasizes that the zeal displayed by the disciples was not aligned with the spirit and purpose of Christ's mission, which is one of salvation and love, not destruction or vengeance. Their desire was rooted in a human spirit of anger and retaliation, a spirit contrary to the divine spirit of grace and mercy that animated Jesus' work.

Luke 9 55 Context

Luke chapter 9 marks a pivotal transition in Jesus' ministry. It begins with Jesus empowering His disciples for mission (Lk 9:1-6) and culminates with His resolute journey towards Jerusalem and His ultimate suffering and resurrection (Lk 9:51). The Transfiguration occurs (Lk 9:28-36), revealing His divine glory, yet followed by His consistent emphasis on the cross and service. Immediately preceding this verse, Jesus "resolutely set His face to go to Jerusalem" (Lk 9:51), signalling His firm commitment to His sacrificial mission. As He traveled through Samaria, a village refused to receive Him because His face was set towards Jerusalem (Lk 9:52-53). This rejection deeply offended James and John, known as the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17), leading to their vengeful suggestion. The historical context involves the deep-seated animosity between Jews and Samaritans, often leading to mutual rejection. Jesus' choice to pass through Samaria, despite potential hostility, underscores His universal mission that transcends ethnic barriers.

Luke 9 55 Word analysis

• But He (Αὐτὸς δὲ - Autos de): "He" here refers to Jesus, placing emphasis on His specific action and counter-response to the disciples. "But" (δὲ - de) indicates a contrast, highlighting that Jesus' reaction was different from, and corrective to, the disciples' proposed action.

• turned (στραφείς - strepheis): From the verb strephō. It signifies a decisive and deliberate turn, indicating Jesus physically turned towards James and John, making eye contact. This physical act underlines the significance of His ensuing rebuke. It's not a casual glance but a direct confrontation.

• and rebuked (ἐπετίμησεν - epetimēsen): From epitimō. This Greek word implies a strong and authoritative reproof, a censure, or a strong warning. Jesus often used this word to command demons (e.g., Lk 4:35, 4:41) and the forces of nature (Lk 8:24). Using it against His disciples highlights the seriousness of their error and the profound incompatibility of their spirit with His. It signifies that their thought process was from a wrong source or attitude.

• them (αὐτοῖς - autois): Refers directly to James and John.

• and said (εἶπεν - eipen): Introduced the critical explanation and corrective teaching that followed the rebuke.

• You do not know (οὐκ οἴδατε - ouk oidate): "You do not know" points not to a mere lack of information, but a fundamental lack of understanding or spiritual discernment regarding their motives and the nature of God's work. They had intellectual knowledge of God's power (as Elijah demonstrated) but lacked spiritual insight into its proper application in the new covenant of grace. It's a statement about their spiritual blindness to the true essence of their calling and Christ's mission.

• of what manner of spirit (ποίου πνεύματος - poiou pneumatos): This is highly significant. Poios means "what kind of," "of what sort." Pneuma can refer to wind, breath, or spirit (divine or human). Here, "spirit" refers to the animating principle, disposition, or underlying motive that was driving James and John. Jesus points out that their desire for vengeance stemmed from a spirit contrary to His own—a spirit of carnal judgment, anger, and retaliation, rather than the Spirit of love, grace, and patience that defines His Kingdom. It contrasts with the Holy Spirit and represents a human, even devilish, influence (Mk 8:33, where Jesus rebuked Peter for thinking as humans do).

• you are of (ἐστέ - este): Directly connects their desire and action to the kind of "spirit" from which they were operating. It means "you exist out of," or "you are derived from," suggesting their very being in that moment was actuated by that improper disposition.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "But He turned and rebuked them": This phrase immediately sets Jesus apart from the disciples' impulse. His physical turning emphasizes the decisiveness and directness of His authoritative correction, indicating their suggestion was a serious error.
  • "You do not know of what manner of spirit you are of": This statement is the crux of the rebuke. It exposes a profound spiritual misconception at the heart of the disciples' thinking. Their understanding of power and justice was based on the Old Covenant punitive approach, exemplified by Elijah, whereas Jesus was ushering in a New Covenant defined by grace, salvation, and patient love. They were operating out of a spirit of earthly retaliation rather than the divine spirit of selfless love and mercy that marked Christ's mission. This serves as a warning for all who claim to follow Christ: that actions, even those with good intentions or zealous outward appearance, must flow from a Christ-like inward disposition.

Luke 9 55 Bonus section

While many ancient Greek manuscripts, including some early ones (e.g., Papyrus 75, Codex Sinaiticus, Vaticanus), omit parts of verse 55 ("You do not know of what manner of spirit you are") and all of verse 56 ("For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them"), their inclusion in the vast majority of later manuscripts and prominent versions (like the King James Version, New King James Version) profoundly shapes the understanding of this passage. Even if textually debated by scholars concerning their original presence, these phrases beautifully articulate the consistent teaching of Jesus throughout the Gospels regarding His non-violent, salvific mission and the spirit His disciples are to embody. They summarize the divine philosophy behind Jesus' rebuke, explaining why the disciples' desire for vengeance was so fundamentally wrong and contrary to the new era ushered in by Christ. Thus, while textual criticism notes the variation, the theological message embedded in the fuller reading is highly consistent with the entirety of Jesus' ministry.

Luke 9 55 Commentary

Luke 9:55 encapsulates a profound truth about the nature of Christ's kingdom and the spirit of His followers. The "Sons of Thunder," James and John, influenced by historical animosity and zealous for their Lord, acted out of a misunderstanding of Jesus' mission. They sought to invoke destructive power, akin to Elijah's fire on Mount Carmel, to punish the Samaritans' rejection. Jesus' sharp rebuke reveals that while their zeal might have seemed righteous, its source was a spirit of human vengeance and intolerance, not the Spirit of God.

Christ's purpose was fundamentally to seek and save, not to condemn or destroy (as Luke 9:56, found in many important ancient manuscripts, explicitly clarifies). The divine "spirit" (πνεῦμα - pneuma) guiding Jesus was one of sacrificial love, mercy, and patient persuasion. For His disciples to call for fire was to act in complete opposition to this core principle. This incident highlights a foundational distinction between the Old Covenant display of divine judgment and the New Covenant era of divine grace through Christ. It is a critical lesson for discipleship, demonstrating that true spiritual power lies in conforming one's disposition and actions to the very character of Jesus—marked by love for enemies, endurance of rejection, and a mission of reconciliation rather than destruction. Believers are called to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit, reflecting Jesus' meekness and lowliness, not an angry zeal.