Luke 9:53Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What is implied by the phrase ‘But they did not welcome Him there, for He was on His way to Jerusalem’? Does this not suggest that their refusal stemmed from His intention to go to Jerusalem? If we accept this interpretation, can we not conclude that those who rejected the Lord were not at fault? One might argue that the Evangelist states they did not receive Him, and He did not pass through Samaria. This raises the question, ‘Why did they not accept Him despite His wish, and why did He refrain from entering?’ In response, the Evangelist clarifies that it was not a matter of inability on His part to enter, but rather that He chose not to go there, having resolved to proceed directly to Jerusalem. For had the Lord not had this purpose, He would certainly have entered the Samaritan village, regardless of their lack of desire for His presence.

As they arrived in a Samaritan village, the inhabitants did not extend a warm welcome. The disciples, blessed by His presence, felt a deep sense of indignation, not for their own sakes but because their Lord, the Savior of all, was not honored there. Referring to the earlier context, we ask why this occurred. He was en route to Jerusalem, with the hour of His suffering approaching. He was to face contention from the Jews, shameful treatment from the scribes and Pharisees, and bear the afflictions they would impose through their acts of violence and arrogance. To prepare His followers for this reality, and to ensure they would not be disheartened by witnessing His own sufferings, He aimed to teach them resilience during times of contempt, even if they themselves faced disdain.

Upon their arrival in the village of Samaria to secure accommodations for Him, He was not welcomed there, as He appeared to be on His way to Jerusalem. The animosity between Samaritans and Jews was intense, leading them to harbor resentment towards one another. They engaged in fierce disputes over the law and had historically persecuted each other; for instance, upon their return from Babylon, the Samaritans obstructed the Jews in their efforts to rebuild the temple. When the Samaritans sought to collaborate in this endeavor, they were met with the response, “You shall not build with us the house of our God” (1 Ezra 4:3). Additionally, the Pharisees, aiming to wound the Lord's spirit, insulted Him by asking, “Are you not a demon and a Samaritan?” (John 8:48).

Christ admonished His disciples for desiring to call down fire upon those who rejected Him. Through this, He illustrated that it is not always necessary to seek retribution for sin; often, mercy proves to be more beneficial—both in developing patience within oneself and guiding the sinner towards repentance. Notably, the Samaritans, whose village the Lord spared from destruction, soon came to believe. It is also important to understand that Christ did not want to be embraced by those who—knowing their hearts—had not truly repented. Had He wished, He could have transformed them from unbelievers into believers. The evangelist remarks: "Because He had the appearance of traveling to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:53).

His countenance directed the path to Jerusalem. The term ‘His countenance’ is used in place of “He Himself,” with the entirety of His being referenced through a part. They did not accept Him, as He was journeying toward Jerusalem, the city of their adversaries. The Samaritans held animosity toward the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

The countenance of a servant of God reveals his spiritual abundance. There was a time when I noticed a bishop in the church whose expression captivated me. This brought to mind the Gospel passage: And His face, as if He were coming to Jerusalem (Luke 9:53). Truly, this bishop embodied a life of ascetic devotion and consistently progressed toward his spiritual destination. In contrast, the visage of a wicked individual mirrors his inner turmoil. It is particularly disheartening that there are times when genuinely good individuals become neglectful of their lives, merely going through the motions each day without reflecting on their choices, ultimately leading to their downfall.

As the Lord departed from Galilee to complete His journey to Jerusalem, He aimed to revisit Samaria, recalling His previous visit after the first Passover of His ministry. However, this occasion was met with a different reception. Previously, He had been traveling from Jerusalem, and now His direction was toward the city, which stirred up the existing prejudices and emotions of the people against Him. Two of His apostles were eager to call down heavenly fire upon the unwelcoming inhabitants, akin to the actions of Elijah. Yet, the Lord, having instructed them on the distinction between the spirit and timing of Elijah and the current moment they were in, restrained their fervent desire for vengeance. This episode exemplified the compassionate nature of the Divine Shepherd, as it seemed to preface the events that would ultimately lead to the death of the God-Man.

As Jesus embarked on His mission, He dispatched messengers ahead of Him, specifically some of His disciples, to announce His arrival and prepare the towns for a warm reception. This was particularly important, considering the animosity the Samaritans held towards the Galileans when they traveled to Jerusalem for the festivals. At this moment, Jesus was not hindered by any Samaritan locality, as He appeared to be on His way to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. James and John, feeling protective of their Master’s reputation, became furious at the unwelcoming response of one village and requested the Lord's consent to call down fire from heaven to punish them, similar to the actions of Elijah against his adversaries (4 Kings 1:9-12).

The dismissal of Jesus in Samaria; the intent of James and John to retaliate against the Samaritans is unclear regarding how the messengers carried out their task. However, when Jesus and His disciples arrived in the Samarian village where they sought to find rest, the Samaritans denied them the customary welcome, as they appeared to be travelers heading to Jerusalem, that is, Jews.

Following the tradition, the Savior chose to travel through Samaria, a region where the foundations of the Gospel had previously been laid, and where hearts were open to His message. However, Christ also had to confront the depth of animosity that could exist between different tribes and faiths (Luke 9:52-56). Upon arriving at the first village in Samaria, the weary travelers were seeking a place of rest, but the Samaritans, harboring their longstanding hatred for the Jews, turned them away and refused to offer hospitality.

One of the significant disputes between the Samaritans and the Jews revolved around the location of authentic worship of God (cf. Jn. 4:20). The Jews maintained that true worship could only occur in Jerusalem, specifically in the temple there. In contrast, the Samaritans constructed their own temple on Mount Gerizim, asserting that genuine worship was conducted in that place. The Samaritans were aware of Christ and likely had heard Him proclaimed as the awaited Messiah; they would have likely welcomed Him had He chosen to visit their temple. However, since “He had the appearance of travelling” toward Jerusalem rather than to them, they rejected Him due to their profound animosity toward the Jews.