Luke 9:55

But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. BUT HE TURNED, AND REBUKED THEM, AND SAID, YE KNOW NOT WHAT MANNER OF SPIRIT YE ARE OF. 'The thing ye demand, though in keeping with the legal, is unsuited to the genius of the evangelical dispensation.' The sparks of unholy indignation would seize readily enough on this example of Elias; but our Lord's rebuke, as is plain from , is directed to the principle involved rather than the animal heat which doubtless prompted the reference....

55._You know not of what spirit you are _By this reply he not only restrained the unbridled fury of the two disciples, but laid down a rule to all of us not to indulge our temper. For whoever undertakes any thing, ought to be fully aware that he has the authority and guidance of the Spirit of God, and that he is actuated by proper and holy dispositions. Many will be impelled by the warmth of their zeal, but if the spirit of prudence be wanting, their ebullitions end in foam. Frequently, too, it happens, that the impure feelings of the flesh are mingled with their zeal, and that those who appear to be the keenest zealots for the glory of God are blinded by the private feelings of the flesh. And therefore, unless our zeal be directed by the Spirit of God, it will be of no avail to plead in our behalf, that we undertook nothing but from proper zeal. But the Spirit himself will guide us by w...

51-56 The disciples did not consider that the conduct of the Samaritans was rather the effect of national prejudices and bigotry, than of enmity to the word and worship of God; and through they refused to receive Christ and his disciples, they did not ill use or injure them, so that the case was widely different from that of Ahaziah and Elijah. Nor were they aware that the gospel dispensation was to be marked by miracles of mercy. But above all, they were ignorant of the prevailing motives of their own hearts, which were pride and carnal ambition. Of this our Lord warned them. It is easy for us to say, Come, see our zeal for the Lord! and to think we are very faithful in his cause, when we are seeking our own objects, and even doing harm instead of good to others....

Verse 55. _YE KNOW NOT WHAT MANNER OF SPIRIT YE ARE OF._] Ye do not consider that the present is a dispensation of infinite _mercy_ and _love_; and that the design of God is not to _destroy_ sinners, but to give them space to repent, that he may _save_ them unto _eternal life_. And ye do not consider that the zeal which you feel springs from an evil principle, being more concerned for your own honour than for the honour of God. The disciples of that Christ who died for his enemies should never think of _avenging_ themselves on their persecutors....

YE KNOW NOT WHAT MANNER OF SPIRIT YE ARE OF - You suppose that you are actuated by a proper love for me; but you know not yourselves. It is rather a love of revenge; rather revengeful feelings toward the “Samaritans” than proper feelings toward “me.” We learn here: * That “apparent” zeal for God may be only improper opposition toward our fellow-men. * That people, when they wish to honor God, should examine their spirit, and see if there is not lying at the bottom of their professed zeal for God some bad feeling toward their fellow-men. * That the highest opposition which Jesus met with was not inconsistent with “his” loving those who opposed him, and with his seeking to do them good....

EXPOSITION LUKE 9:1 _The Master sends out the twelve on a mission_. LUKE 9:1 THEN HE CALLED HIS TWELVE DISCIPLES TOGETHER. The Galilee ministry was just over; _outwardly_ it had been a triumphant success; vast crowds had been gathered together. The Master was generally welcomed with a positive enthusiasm; the people heard him gladly. Here and there were visible, as in the eases of the woman who touched him and the synagogue ruler who prayed him to heal his little daughter, just related (Luke 8:1.), conspicuous examples of a strange or mighty faith; but the success, the Master knew too well, was only on the surface. The crowds who to-day shouted "Ho

BUT HE TURNED AND REBUKED THEM,.... He turned himself about to them, and looking upon them with a stern countenance, sharply reproved them for their intemperate zeal, their passion of wrath, and anger, and desire of revenge: AND SAID, YE KNOW NOT WHAT MANNER OF SPIRIT YE ARE OF; or do not consider that this is not the true spirit of zeal, but of anger and revenge; and is not agreeable to the spirit of the meek and humble followers of Christ, or to the Spirit of God, and those gifts of his bestowed on them, nor to the spirit of the Gospel dispensation: so good men, for want of attention, may not know sometimes from what spirit they act; taking that for a good one, which is a very bad one; being covered with specious pretenses of love and zeal, and the examples of former saints; not observing the difference of persons; times, and things....

Our Lord had been on the mountain, and had been transfigured; and when he came down, the first person that he met was the devil, with whom he had to come in contact. Whenever you or I get up on the mountain-top, and have a very happy and delightful experience, we may expect to be in a battle before long. Our joy is, however, a preparation for the conflict; it nerves our spirit, and makes us strong to meet the great enemy of our souls. Luke 9:37. _And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him. And, behold, a man of the company cried out saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him. And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not._...

LUKE 9:55-56 auvtoi/j {A} The additions to ver. Luke 9:55 (kai. ei=pen( Ouvk oi;date poi,ou pneu,mato,j evste) and to ver. Luke 9:56 (o` ga.r ui`o.j tou/ avnqrw,pou ouvk h=lqen yuca.j avnqrw,pwn avpole,sai avlla. sw/sai) are somewhat less well attested than the addition to ver. Luke 9:54 (see the comment on ver. 54). The addition to ver....

IV. THE JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM -- CHAPTER 9:51-19:27 CHAPTER 9:51-62 _ 1. His Face Set Toward Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51)_ 2. The Rejected Messengers and His Rebuke. (Luke 9:53) 3. Tests of Discipleship. (Luke 9:57 .) The fifty-first verse marks a new part in this Gospel. The time was come; His hour was approaching. As the perfect Man we have seen Him. As babe, as child, as man in all His loveliness we have seen Him and now the compassionate, loving One, He, who always pleased God in a perfect obedience “steadfastly set His face to go up to Jerusalem.” Coming from Galilee the messengers entered into a village of the Samaritans, who would not receive Him because His face was set toward Jerusalem, the city th