Luke 9:46-50

§ 79. THE DISCIPLES CONTEND WHO SHOULD BE GREATEST, Luke 9:46-50 .

Matthew 18:1-35; Mark 9:33-50. See notes on parallel sections.

We have now (Luke 9:51) arrived at an extended passage, (including Luke 9:51 to Luke 18:15,) which may be called THE GREAT LUKEAN SECTION; comprising Luke’s largest independent contribution to Gospel history. Commentators have generally looked upon this entire section as simply a miscellaneous collection of narratives and discourses, put in this place because the evangelist knew no better time and locality to assign them. Our Historical Synopsis (vol. i, pp. 9-16) is constructed according to the Harmony of Newcome, and we prefer to allow it to remain. But we incline to prefer, so far as this part of the Gospels is concerned, the later plan of Wieseler, by which the whole is brought into a beautiful harmony, especially with John, and a more spirited narrative life is infused into the entire passage.

There are in this section three notices of Jesus’s travels, (namely, Luke 9:51; Luke 13:22; Luke 17:11,) which divide the passage into three parts. Supposing the first to correspond with the going to the FEAST OF TABERNACLES, (John 7:14,) the second to the going, after the Feast of Dedication, from Perea to Bethany, to raise Lazarus, and thence to his retirement to Ephraim; and the third to his departing from Ephraim westward to the Jordan, to join the caravans, on their way TO HIS LAST PASSOVER at Jerusalem, and we shall have a beautiful harmony which will be verified by the details. These three points divide this whole Lukean section into three parts: first, the period before arriving at the Feast of Tabernacles, (Luke 9:51 to Luke 10:16;) second, the interval between the Feast of Tabernacles and the Feast of Dedication, (Luke 10:17 to Luke 13:21;) third, the interval between the Feast of Dedication and the Lord’s Last Passover. Hence we have the following:

HARMONY.

Before the Feast of Tabernacles

Jesus having been for some time driven from Judea into Galilee, John 7:1.

being advised by his brothers to go to the Feast of Tabernacles, John 7:2-9.

leaves Galilee for the last time Matthew 19:1.

and sets his face towards Jerusalem Luke 9:51.

Having secretly sent messengers to pioneer his way through Samaria Luke 9:52-56.

after rejecting some unsuitable candidates Luke 9:57-62.

he selects and sends forth the SEVENTY Luke 10:1-16.

and arrives at Jerusalem in the midst of THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES, John 7:14.

Between the Feast of Tabernacle and the Feast of Dedication

Debates and discourses ensue at the Feast of Tabernacles John 7:15 to John 10:21.

On leaving he receives the return of the Seventy Luke 10:17-24.

and prosecutes a ministry in Judea Luke 10:25 to Luke 13:21.

Again he is in Jerusalem at THE FEAST OF DEDICATION; John 10:22-38.

Between the Feast of Dedication and the Last of Passover

but, driven by persecution, takes refuge in Peraea; John 10:39-42.

whence, returning towards Jerusalem, Luke 13:22.

he lingers, preaches, and travels three days, Luke 13:23 to Luke 17:10.

and arriving at Bethany, raises Lazarus John 11:1-53.

and retires to Ephraim for refuge John 11:54.

Thence travelling on the border land of Samaria and Galilee towards the Jordan, in order to join the Passover caravans for Jerusalem, Luke 17:11.

teaching and working miracles he comes to Jericho, Luke 17:12 to Luke 18:35.

on his way to his last PASSOVER at Jerusalem.

We affirm not this Harmony to be (what no Harmony over yet constructed is) demonstrably a programme of the true order of facts; but it incurs, perhaps, no more difficulties, and produces far happier adjustments, than any we have as yet examined.