Luke
Chapter 9
Mission of the Twelve
He gave them these instructions:
And wherever they don’t welcome you, leave the town and shake the dust off your feet; it will serve as a testimony against them.
So they set out and traveled through the villages, spreading the good news and healing people everywhere.
King Herod heard all that was happening and was confused, for people said:
“This is John, raised from the dead.”
As for Herod, he said:
“I had John beheaded. Who is this man, about whom I hear such wonders?”
And he was eager to see him.
On their return, the apostles told Jesus everything they had done. Then he took them with him, and they withdrew alone to a town called Bethsaida.
But the crowd heard about this and caught up with him. So he welcomed them and began speaking about the kingdom of God, healing those who needed it.
The day was coming to an end, and the Twelve approached to tell him:
“Send the crowd away and let them go into the nearby villages and farms to find lodging and food, for we are in a remote place.”
But Jesus replied:
“You, yourself, give them something to eat.”
They answered:
“We only have five loaves and two fish. Do you want us to go and buy food for all this crowd?”
For there were about five thousand men.
Then Jesus said to his disciples:
“Make them sit down in groups of fifty.”
They ate until everyone was full, and when they collected the leftovers, twelve baskets were filled with broken pieces.
One day, while Jesus was praying alone, not far from his disciples, he asked them:
“What do people say about me?”
And they answered:
“Some say that you are John the Baptist; others say that you are Elijah, and still others, that you are one of the prophets of old, risen from the dead.”
Again, Jesus asked them:
“But who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered:
“The Messiah of God.”
Then Jesus spoke to them, giving them strict orders not to tell this to anyone.
And he added:
“The Son of Man must suffer many things. He will be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law, and he will be put to death. Then, after three days, he will be raised to life.”
Jesus also told everyone:
“If you want to be my follower, deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow me!
What does it profit you to gain the whole world but lose or forfeit yourself?
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and the glory of his Father with his holy angels.
I tell you the truth, some here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”
The Transfiguration
When Moses and Elijah were about to leave, Peter—uncertain of what to say—said to Jesus:
“Master, how good it is for us to be here! Let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
Then these words came from the cloud:
“This is my Son, my Beloved; listen to him.”
After the voice spoke, Jesus was there alone. The disciples kept this to themselves at the time, telling no one of anything they had seen.
A man in the crowd called out:
I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”
Jesus answered:
“You faithless people! How disoriented you are! How long must I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”
And everyone who saw it was amazed at God’s marvelous work.
Listen, and remember what I tell you now: The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men.”
But the disciples didn’t understand what he meant; something prevented them from grasping it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.
One day, the disciples were arguing about which of them was the most important.
Then he said to them:
“Whoever welcomes this little child in my name, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me. And listen: the one who is found to be the least among you all is the one who is the greatest.”
Then John spoke up:
“Master, we saw someone who drives out demons by calling upon your name, and we tried to forbid him because he doesn’t follow you with us.”
But Jesus said:
“Don’t forbid him. He who is not against you is for you.”
and they went on to another village.
As Jesus and his disciples continued their journey, a man said to Jesus:
“I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus responded:
“Foxes have dens and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”
To another, Jesus said:
“Follow me!”
But he replied:
“Let me go back now, because I want to bury my father first.”
And Jesus said to him:
“Let the dead bury their own dead; as for you, leave them behind and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Another said to him:
“I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family.”
And Jesus said to him:
“Whoever has put his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God.”
Commentaries
Mission of the Twelve.
The three synoptic gospels agree that Jesus sends the Twelve to preach that the kingdom of God is near (cf. Mt 10:1-15). The first thing that stands out in Luke’s account is the authority with which he invests his apostles; they must do what they have seen and proclaim what they have heard from Jesus himself: the message of the kingdom of God. Another key point is their personal detachment and how they must go out; they must even evangelize with their own lifestyle, humbly relying on the generosity of others, graciously accepting their hospitality, but also leaving a record of possible rejections by shaking the dust from their feet in places where they were not well received.
Herod’s Interest.
While the twelve are on a mission, Luke takes the opportunity to tell us about Herod’s curiosity regarding Jesus. Herod’s concern isn’t due to questions of faith or conscience but rather to the conflicting comments and opinions of the people. There are two main issues: 1. At this point, there is still no clear understanding of Jesus’ identity. 2. Luke uses Herod’s own words to communicate the news of John’s death. The evangelist avoids narrating the full story and the circumstances of that death as Mark does (cf. Mk 6:14-29).
Feeding the Five Thousand.
All of Jesus’ activity, including his words and actions, centers on establishing the kingdom of God on earth. The purpose of sending out the Twelve was also aimed at this goal. However, this establishment cannot be limited to simply proclaiming a spiritual reality; the kingdom of God must also begin to be ‘seen’ in some way. Therefore, Jesus’ actions and signs serve to make the reality of the kingdom visible and tangible. If we can speak of a miracle here, it is not just the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes that Jesus performed, but the miracle that fosters detachment, sharing, generous openness, and solidarity with others—that is what a disciple of Jesus must consistently promote.
Peter’s Confession.
As Jesus’ ministry in Galilee concludes, it is clear that his fame has spread across the region; however, Jesus is left with a doubt: Have the people, the crowds who have seen and heard him, truly understood who he is? Where are they now, what have they become, and what are those who have heard him doing? Peter responds on behalf of all of them; for them, Jesus is the Messiah of God, the Anointed One. The direct question also challenges us. Luke records Jesus’ prohibition to his disciples about spreading the news of his identity (cf. Mk 8:30; Mt 16:20), but he leaves out the dialogue with Peter that ends with a harsh rebuke when the disciple opposes Jesus’ decision to accomplish his mission through the way of the cross (cf. Mk 8:32ff; Mt 16:22ff).
First Announcement of the Passion and Resurrection – Conditions for Being a Disciple.
Jesus immediately explains the fate that awaits him and what this means for his disciples’ lives. Anyone who wants to follow him can’t avoid the path he is on. The true disciple must embrace the Master’s plan and way of life: he denies himself, meaning he doesn’t act on impulse or tailor reality to suit his own interests.
The Transfiguration of Jesus.
The transfiguration of Jesus is linked to his passion, death, and resurrection, illustrating his close connection to Scripture and baptism. The appearance of Moses and Elijah confirms and endorses Jesus’ mission, representing the Law and the Prophets. The voice from the cloud during the transfiguration reaffirms Jesus’ baptism, much like the event at the Jordan, where the Father affirms and supports Jesus’ choice with his own words. Therefore, by embracing the path of suffering and pain, Jesus receives the Father’s approval, and this extends to all who choose to follow him as disciples.
Heals an Epileptic Child.
Luke summarizes the detailed account that Mark describes (Mk 9:14-29). He emphasizes the words of the child’s father, who had previously asked Jesus’ disciples for help without success. Jesus explains that their lack of faith is why they couldn’t free the child. Even though the disciples had already been given authority to cast out demons (9:1), what went wrong? According to Mark, the key to understanding this is that “this kind can come out only by prayer” (Mk 9:29).
Second Announcement of the Passion and Resurrection.
The admiration and wonder at the end of the previous passage serve as a backdrop for Jesus to proclaim his next destiny once again. Let us not be misled; all the applause and collective displays of joy cannot divert Jesus from the path he has chosen for his life. The disciples do not understand anything he says; they prefer to stay in ignorance out of fear of asking him.
Who Is the Greatest? – The Anonymous Exorcist.
This passage highlights two key instructions. The first concerns understanding the kingdom. The disciples have understood nothing of Jesus’ teachings nor grasped the true nature and dynamics of the kingdom, as they still rely on titles, social status, and bureaucratic roles. The second instruction pertains to those who preached and performed signs in Jesus’ name. Jesus’ criterion is clear and straightforward: “do not stop them” (50). God, his love, his mercy, and his fatherhood are greater than any group or community, regardless of denomination.
The Way to Jerusalem.
Luke marks the start of a new phase in Jesus’ public ministry. From a human perspective, this beginning could be seen as Jesus’s slow decline, as he becomes more isolated and fewer people surround him. He is even refused entry into a Samaritan village (53), and Herod seeks to kill him (13:31-33). At critical moments in his life, even his own disciples—those he had chosen for himself (5:1-11)— abandon and deny him (22:56-60). However, from the divine plan’s perspective, it marks the beginning of the road to glory. Jesus does not seek pain or suffering, but he does not avoid them. He faces them knowing he might be defeated, but also knowing that if he doesn’t, stubbornness and evil forces will continue to control humanity.
Demands of Discipleship.
Here we see three examples of discipleship. In the first, a volunteer offers to follow Jesus (57ff); the Master’s response is clear: following him does not provide material or social benefits. In the second case, it is Jesus who calls (59ff), and the person called is willing to follow, but he sets a condition: to bury his father first. The Master’s response is radical: “Let the dead bury their dead; you go and proclaim the kingdom of God” (60). If one of the effects of establishing the kingdom of God is justice, solidarity, and brotherhood, then there will already be those who take care of their parents. In the third case, Jesus also calls, and there is an excuse: saying goodbye to his parents. Jesus sees a risk; he is not opposed to this loyal filial attitude, but he knows that, often, family—especially in those days—was a significant obstacle to children’s spontaneous exercise of freedom.