Luke 9:51-56

James and John desire to call down fire upon a Samaritan village (peculiar to Lk). Though James and John did not gain their title 'Boanerges' (Mark 3:17) from this incident, yet it undoubtedly illustrates the character of the 'Sons of Thunder' on its weaker side. Their desire for vengeance was a fault, but a generous one. They resented, not a personal slight, but an insult to the Master whom they had now come to regard as greater than Moses or Elijah or any OT. saint. They were right to be angry, but they were wrong in their anger to forget mercy, and to desire to destroy rather than to save sinners.