Luke 9:57 kjv
And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
Luke 9:57 nkjv
Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go."
Luke 9:57 niv
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
Luke 9:57 esv
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
Luke 9:57 nlt
As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, "I will follow you wherever you go."
Luke 9 57 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 8:19 | Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” | Direct parallel passage to Luke 9:57. |
| Matt 8:20 | Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” | Jesus' response in the parallel context. |
| Luke 9:23 | Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." | Defines true daily discipleship. |
| Luke 14:25-27 | Great multitudes went with Him… If anyone comes to Me and does not hate… cannot be My disciple. | Counting the cost of discipleship. |
| Luke 14:28-33 | For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost…? | Parable on calculating the cost before committing. |
| Matt 10:37-39 | He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me… | Priorities and sacrifice in discipleship. |
| John 12:25-26 | He who loves his life will lose it… If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me… | Self-denial and loss of earthly life for Christ. |
| Phil 3:7-8 | But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ… | Paul's willingness to give up everything for Christ. |
| 1 Pet 2:21 | For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example… | Following Christ involves suffering. |
| Mark 8:34 | And calling the crowd to Him with His disciples, He said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself…" | Cost of following Christ. |
| Matt 7:21 | Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father… | Superficial confession vs. true obedience. |
| Prov 20:25 | It is a snare to say rashly, "It is holy!" And after vows to make inquiry. | Warning against hasty and unreflective vows. |
| John 8:12 | Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness…” | Following Jesus leads to spiritual enlightenment. |
| John 10:27 | My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; | True followers have a personal relationship with Him. |
| Gen 12:1 | The Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country… to the land that I will show you." | Call to radical obedience and journey into unknown. |
| Heb 11:8-10 | By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out… for he was looking for the city which has foundations… | Faith-filled journey without a permanent earthly home. |
| Heb 13:13-14 | Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. | Embrace hardship and lack of permanent earthly home for Christ. |
| Deut 8:2 | Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years… | God testing hearts in journeying. |
| Luke 9:51 | When the days were approaching for His ascension, He resolutely set His face to go to Jerusalem. | Context of Jesus' resolute journey of suffering. |
| 1 John 2:6 | He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. | Emulation of Christ's life and example. |
Luke 9 verses
Luke 9 57 Meaning
Luke 9:57 introduces a man who enthusiastically declares his readiness to follow Jesus "wherever you go." This statement, seemingly full of unwavering devotion, highlights an unexamined and perhaps superficial understanding of discipleship. It reveals a zeal that precedes an accurate grasp of the severe demands and inherent suffering associated with truly following Christ. Jesus' subsequent response (in Luke 9:58) immediately corrects this perception by speaking of His own lack of a fixed dwelling, thereby implying that His followers must be prepared for discomfort, deprivation, and rootlessness.
Luke 9 57 Context
Luke 9:57 is situated within a pivotal section of Luke's Gospel (9:51-18:14), often referred to as Jesus' "Journey to Jerusalem" or "Travel Narrative." This segment emphasizes discipleship and the cost of following Christ as Jesus intentionally sets His face towards Jerusalem, where He will suffer and be glorified.Immediately preceding this verse, Jesus faces rejection from a Samaritan village (9:51-56), which foreshadows the hardships of His journey and ministry. The interactions in verses 57-62 present three distinct types of potential disciples, each revealing a flawed understanding of what it truly means to follow Jesus. This first individual represents initial enthusiasm unanchored by a realistic understanding of the radical demands of discipleship, specifically a lack of a stable home and earthly security. The road, hodos, is a recurring theme, symbolizing both Jesus' physical journey and the "way" of life for His followers.
Luke 9 57 Word analysis
- As they were walking along: Greek: Poreuomenōn de autōn (πορευομένων δὲ αὐτῶν). The participle Poreuomenōn is imperfect, denoting an ongoing action – "as they journeyed" or "while they were on their way." This emphasizes the continuous, purposeful journey of Jesus towards Jerusalem, inviting others to join His path.
- along the road: Greek: en tē hodō (ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ). The word hodos signifies more than just a physical road; in biblical thought, "the Way" often refers to a manner of life, a moral course, or spiritual journey (e.g., the "Way of the Lord"). Following Jesus on this road implies embracing His path, including His suffering and purpose.
- a man said: Greek: eipen tis pros auton (εἶπέν τις πρὸς αὐτόν). The phrase tis ("someone" or "a certain man") denotes an unnamed individual, suggesting that his response might be representative of many and that his anonymity allows the focus to remain on the nature of his offer rather than his personal identity. His self-initiated declaration contrasts with Jesus' usual invitation to follow.
- to him: pros auton (πρὸς αὐτόν). Referring to Jesus.
- I will follow you: Greek: Akolouthēsō soi (ἀκολουθήσω σοι). Akoloutheō means "to follow closely," often with the connotation of being a disciple or attendant. The future active indicative Akolouthēsō conveys a strong, definite, and personal commitment – "I certainly will follow you."
- wherever you go: Greek: hopou ean aperchē (ὅπου ἐὰν ἀπέρχῃ). This phrase uses a indefinite relative with a subjunctive, expressing a limitless and unreserved commitment: "to whatever place you may go," or "absolutely anywhere you depart for." It sounds like boundless devotion, but Jesus' response exposes the man's implicit lack of understanding of where Jesus was truly going (to suffering and death, without worldly comforts). It is a hyperbolic statement, signaling a readiness that needs qualification.
Words-group analysis
- As they were walking along the road: This phrase establishes the setting as a journey, a recurring theme in Luke's Gospel, where the journey itself becomes a metaphor for the Christian life. Discipleship is not static; it is a dynamic movement with Christ.
- a man said to him, 'I will follow you wherever you go': This whole statement showcases fervent, spontaneous enthusiasm. While the intention might be noble, its comprehensive nature ("wherever you go") coupled with its unsolicited nature suggests a lack of serious contemplation regarding the severe realities of such a commitment, which Jesus addresses immediately after. It's a testament to the allure of Jesus' teaching and presence, but also highlights the potential for superficial discipleship driven by emotion or a misunderstanding of the Messiah's kingdom.
Luke 9 57 Bonus section
The placement of this encounter after the Samaritan rejection underscores the unpredictable and often uncomfortable nature of following Jesus. The Lord's journey towards Jerusalem is fraught with opposition and suffering, a "way" that true disciples must also be prepared to walk. This encounter is not a rejection of the man's desire but a sobering clarification of what discipleship truly entails, challenging common societal expectations of the Messiah and His followers.
Luke 9 57 Commentary
This verse encapsulates a crucial moment of initial enthusiasm for discipleship. The man's declaration, "I will follow you wherever you go," while appearing commendably devoted, betrays a lack of understanding regarding the radical demands of truly following Christ. In a culture where itinerancy was not the norm for a respected teacher, following someone without a fixed abode (as Jesus alludes to in the next verse) implied severe hardship and separation from conventional societal anchors like family and home. The man likely envisioned a path of honor or earthly gain alongside the Messiah, similar to polemical views that Jesus would establish a triumphant earthly kingdom. This unbridled pledge contrasts sharply with Jesus' teachings on counting the cost, indicating a need for potential followers to look beyond initial zeal and consider the full extent of commitment required—one that includes self-denial, suffering, and a relinquishing of worldly securities for the sake of the Kingdom.