Luke 9:55

καὶ εἶπεν … ὑμεῖς. D. Rec[194] omitted by אABCL La[195] Ti[196] Probably tampered with for dogmatic reasons.

[194] Rec. The Textus Receptus.
[195] La. Lachmann.
[196] Ti. Tischendorf.

55. [οὐκ οἴδατε οἵου πνεύματός ἐστε ὑμεῖς.] ‘Ye know not of what spirit ye are, Ye.’ This does not mean, ‘Ye know not how unlike your spirit is to that of Elias;’ but ‘your spirit is that of Elias, and is not now commendable.’ Βία ἐχθρὸν θεῷ. The whole of this passage down to “save them” is omitted in אABC, and other manuscripts; but it is impossible to doubt its genuineness, because it breathes a spirit far purer, loftier, and rarer than is ever discernible in ecclesiastical interpolations. It was omitted on the same grounds as the words in the last verse, because it was regarded as ‘dangerous’ to the authority of the O. T. It is quite impossible to believe that the narrative abruptly ended with the unexplained, “He rebuked them.” Ecclesiastical censurers have failed to see that “religionis non est religionem cogere” (Tert. ad Scap. 2), and that, as Bp. Andrewes says, “The times require sometimes one spirit, sometimes another, Elias’ time Elias’ spirit.” The Apostles learnt these truths better when they had received the Holy Ghost (Romans 12:19; James 1:19-20; James 3:16-17; John 3:17; John 12:47). They learnt that the spirit of Jesus was the spirit of the dove; and that there is a difference between Carmel and Hermon, between Sinai and Kurn Hattîn. It is possible that the words may be a question—Know ye not that yours (emphatically placed last) is the spirit of Elijah, not of Christ? Our Lord quoted Psalms 22:31 on the Cross, and yet prayed for His enemies. Bengel.