Church Fathers Commentary Luke 9:51-56

"And it came to pass, when the days were well-nigh come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was [as though he were] going to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw [this], they said, Lord, wilt thou that we bid fire to come down from heaven, and consume them? But he turned, and rebuked them. And they went to another village." — Luke 9:51-56 (ASV)

St. Cyril of Alexandria: When the time was near for our Lord to accomplish his life-giving Passion and ascend to heaven, he determined to go up to Jerusalem, as it is said, And it came to pass...

Titus of Bostra: It was necessary that the true Lamb should be offered there, where the typological lamb was sacrificed. But it is said, he steadfastly set his face; that is, he did not go here and there, traveling through the villages and towns, but kept straight on his way toward Jerusalem.

The Venerable Bede: Let the heathen then cease to mock the Crucified, as if he were a mere man. It is plain that, as God, he both foresaw the time of his crucifixion and, voluntarily going to be crucified, sought with a steadfast face—that is, with a resolute and undaunted mind—the place where he was to be crucified.

St. Cyril of Alexandria: And he sends messengers to prepare a place for him and his companions. When they came to the country of the Samaritans, they were not received, as it follows: And sent messengers before his face; and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him.

St. Ambrose of Milan: Note that he was unwilling to be received by those whom he knew had not turned to him with a simple heart. For if he had wished, he could have made devout those who were not. But God calls those whom he thinks worthy, and he makes religious those whom he wills. The evangelist mentions why they did not receive him, saying, Because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

Theophylact of Ohrid: If one understands that they did not receive him because he had determined to go to Jerusalem, an excuse is found for them. But we must say that the evangelist's words, And they did not receive him, imply that he did not go into Samaria. Instead, as if someone had asked, he later explained why they did not receive him. He did not go to them—not because he was unable, but because he did not wish to go there, preferring Jerusalem instead.

The Venerable Bede: Or, the Samaritans see that our Lord is going to Jerusalem and do not receive him, for, as John shows, the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

St. Cyril of Alexandria: But our Lord, who knew all things before they happened, knew that his messengers would not be received by the Samaritans. Nevertheless, he commanded them to go before him because it was his practice to make all things contribute to the good of his disciples.

He was going up to Jerusalem as the time of his suffering drew near. Therefore, so that they might not be offended when they saw him suffer, he ordained this refusal by the Samaritans beforehand as a kind of prelude, so they would bear in mind that they too must patiently endure when people persecute them.

It was also good for them in another way. For they were to be the teachers of the world, going through towns and villages to preach the doctrine of the Gospel. They would sometimes meet people who would not receive the sacred teaching, not permitting Jesus to stay with them on earth.

He therefore taught them that in proclaiming the divine doctrine, they ought to be filled with patience and meekness, without bitterness, wrath, or fierce hostility against those who had wronged them. But as yet they were not like this. Instead, stirred up with fervent zeal, they wanted to call down fire from heaven on them. It follows: And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, will you that we command fire to come down from heaven...?

St. Ambrose of Milan: For they knew that when Phinehas had slain the idolaters it was counted to him for righteousness, and also that at the prayer of Elijah fire came down from heaven to avenge the injuries done to the prophet.

The Venerable Bede: Holy men well knew that the death which separates the soul from the body was not to be feared. Still, out of consideration for the feelings of those who did fear it, they punished some sins with death. This was so that the living might be struck with a healthy fear, and so that those who were punished with death might receive help not from death itself, but from the sin that would have increased if they had lived.

St. Ambrose of Milan: But let the one who is afraid be avenged; he who is not afraid does not seek vengeance. At the same time, the merits of the prophets are also shown to have been in the apostles, since they claim for themselves the right to obtain the same power for which the prophet was thought worthy. And they rightly claim that fire should come down from heaven at their command, for they were the sons of thunder.

Titus of Bostra: They thought it far more just for the Samaritans to perish for not receiving our Lord than for the fifty soldiers who tried to seize Elijah.

St. Ambrose of Milan: But the Lord is not moved against them, in order to show that perfect virtue has no desire for revenge, nor is there any anger where there is fullness of love. For weakness must not be cast out, but assisted. Let indignation be far from the devout; let the high-minded have no desire for vengeance. Hence it follows: But he turned and rebuked them, and said, You know not what manner of spirit you are of.

The Venerable Bede: The Lord blames them, not for following the example of the holy prophet, but for their ignorance in seeking vengeance while they were still inexperienced. He perceived that they did not desire correction out of love, but vengeance out of hatred. After he had taught them to love their neighbor as themselves, and after the Holy Spirit had been poured into them, these kinds of punishments were not lacking, though they were far less frequent than in the Old Testament. This is because, as he said, the Son of man came not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. It is as if he said that they, who are sealed with his Spirit, must also imitate his actions by determining matters with charity now and judging with justice hereafter.

St. Ambrose of Milan: For we must not always punish the offender, since mercy sometimes does more good, leading the one who punishes to patience and the sinner to repentance. Lastly, those Samaritans who were saved from fire in this instance came to believe all the sooner.