Luke 9:55
But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
Original Language Analysis
στραφεὶς
he turned
G4762
στραφεὶς
he turned
Strong's:
G4762
Word #:
1 of 12
to twist, i.e., turn quite around or reverse (literally or figuratively)
ἐπετίμησεν
and rebuked
G2008
ἐπετίμησεν
and rebuked
Strong's:
G2008
Word #:
3 of 12
to tax upon, i.e., censure or admonish; by implication, forbid
αὐτοῖς
them
G846
αὐτοῖς
them
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
4 of 12
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
5 of 12
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
οἰδατε
Ye know
G1492
οἰδατε
Ye know
Strong's:
G1492
Word #:
8 of 12
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent g3700 and g3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by impl
οἵου
what manner
G3634
οἵου
what manner
Strong's:
G3634
Word #:
9 of 12
such or what sort of (as a correlation or exclamation); especially the neuter (adverbially) with negative, not so
Cross References
Revelation 3:19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.Job 26:4To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?Job 2:10But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.1 Peter 3:9Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
Historical Context
Some manuscripts add 'For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them' (though likely not original, it captures the theological point). Jesus's mission is salvific, not destructive—He saves even those who reject Him. This principle would guide the apostles' later ministry: Paul blessed persecutors (Romans 12:14), and Peter commanded Christians to bless enemies (1 Peter 3:9). The lesson learned in this Samaritan village shaped apostolic ethics.
Questions for Reflection
- How can you distinguish between godly zeal for Christ's honor and fleshly vindictiveness that merely uses religious language to justify wounded pride?
- What does Jesus's rebuke of James and John teach about the danger of assuming that your proximity to truth or doctrinal correctness automatically validates your attitudes and actions?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
But he turned, and rebuked them (ἐπετίμησεν αὐτοῖς, epetimēsen autois)—the verb epitimaō is strong, the same word used for rebuking demons and silencing storms. Jesus treats their vindictive spirit as seriously as demonic opposition. And said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of (οὐκ οἴδατε οἵου πνεύματός ἐστε, ouk oidate hoiou pneumatos este)—they fundamentally misidentified the source of their impulse.
The disciples assumed their zeal for Jesus's honor came from righteous indignation, but Christ exposes it as fleshly vengeance dressed in religious garb. The 'spirit' driving their desire for judgment was not the Holy Spirit but human pride wounded by rejection. This rebuke echoes Jesus's earlier correction of Peter: 'Get thee behind me, Satan... thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men' (Matthew 16:23). Proximity to Jesus doesn't automatically sanctify our motives. Even apostles must distinguish between godly zeal and carnal vindictiveness.