John Calvin Commentary Luke 9:52

"and sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him." — Luke 9:52 (ASV)

And he sent messengers. It is probable that our Lord was, at that time, attended by a great multitude of followers, for the messengers were not sent to prepare a splendid banquet or to select some magnificent palace, but only to tell that a vast number of guests were approaching.

They, in turn, when excluded and repulsed, waited for their Master. From this, we also learn, as I remarked in the second place,⁵⁸⁸ that when people differ among themselves about the doctrines of religion, they readily break out into hatred of each other. For it was evidence of very bitter hatred to withhold food from the hungry and lodging from those who were fatigued.

But the Samaritans had such a dislike of, and enmity toward, the Jewish religion that they regarded all who followed it as unworthy of any kindness. Perhaps also, they were tormented with vexation at being despised, for they knew that their temple was detested by the Jews as profane, and that they were considered to be spurious and corrupt worshippers of God.

But as the superstition, once adopted, kept so firm a hold on them, they strove, with wicked emulation, to maintain it to the very end. Eventually, the contention grew so heated that it consumed both nations in one conflagration, for Josephus assures us that it was the torch that kindled the Jewish war.

Now, although Christ might easily have avoided that dislike, he chose instead to profess himself to be a Jew, rather than secure lodging by an indirect denial.

⁵⁸⁸ See our Author’s observations above on above on Luke 9:51..