Luke 9 · Verse 51

Luke 9:51

And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
Luke 9:51, King James Version

Luke 9:51 in other translations

BSBAs the day of His ascension approached, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
WEBIt came to pass, when the days were near that he should be taken up, he intently set his face to go to Jerusalem
ASVAnd 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,
YLTAnd it came to pass, in the completing of the days of his being taken up, that he fixed his face to go on to Jerusalem,
DARBYAnd it came to pass when the days of his receiving up were fulfilled, that he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.
BBEAnd it came about that when the days were near for him to be taken up, his face was turned to go to Jerusalem,
WebsterAnd it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

What does Luke 9:51 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Lu 9:51-56. The Period of His Assumption Approaching Christ Takes His Last Leave of Galilee--The Samaritans Refuse to Receive Him.

51. the time was come--rather, "the days were being fulfilled," or approaching their fulfilment. that he should be received up--"of His assumption," meaning His exaltation to the Father; a sublime expression, taking the sweep of His whole career, as if at one bound He was about to vault into glory. The work of Christ in the flesh is here divided into two great stages; all that preceded this belonging to the one, and all that follows it to the other. During the one, He formally "came to His own," and "would have gathered them"; during the other, the awful consequences of "His own receiving Him not" rapidly revealed themselves. he steadfastly set his face--the "He" here is emphatic--"He Himself then." See His own prophetic language, "I have set my face like a flint" (Is 50:7). go to Jerusalem--as His goal, but including His preparatory visits to it at the feasts of tabernacles and of dedication (Joh 7:2, 10; 10:22, 23), and all the intermediate movements and events.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 51. Should be received up. The word here translated "received up" means literally a removal from a lower to a higher place, and here it refers evidently to the solemn ascension of Jesus to heaven. It is often used to describe that great event. See Acts 1:11,22; Mk 16:19, 1Timm 3:16. The time appointed for him to remain on the earth was about expiring, and he resolved to go to Jerusalem and die. And from this we learn that Jesus made a voluntary sacrifice; that he chose to give his life for the sins of men. Humanly speaking, had he remained in Galilee he would have been safe; but that it might appear that he did not shun danger, and that he was really a voluntary sacrifice-- that no man had power over his life except as he was permitted (Jn 19:11)--he chose to put himself in the way of danger, and even to go into scenes which he knew would end in his death.

He steadfastly set his face. He determined to go to Jerusalem, or he set out resolutely. When a man goes toward an object, he may be said to set his face toward it. The expression here means only that he resolved to go, and it implies that he was not appalled by the dangers--that he was determined to brave all, and go up into the midst of his enemies-- to die.

(u) "received up" Mk 16:19, Acts 1:2.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 51 That he should be received up - Bishop Pearce says: "I think the word αναληψεως must signify, of Jesus's retiring or withdrawing himself, and not of his being received up: because the word συμπληρουσθαι, here used before it, denotes a time completed, which that of his ascension was not then. The sense is, that the time was come, when Jesus was no longer to retire from Judea and the parts about Jerusalem as he had hitherto done; for he had lived altogether in Galilee, lest the Jews should have laid hold on him, before the work of his ministry was ended, and full proofs of his Divine mission given, and some of the prophecies concerning him accomplished. John says, Joh 7:1 : Jesus walked in Galilee; for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. Let it be observed, that all which follows here in Luke, to Luk 19:45, is represented by him as done by Jesus in his last journey from Galilee to Jerusalem." He steadfastly set his face - That is, after proper and mature deliberation, he chose now to go up to Jerusalem, and firmly determined to accomplish his design.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 9:51-56
The disciples did not consider that the conduct of the Samaritans was rather the effect of national prejudices and bigotry, than of enmity to the word and worship of God; and through they refused to receive Christ and his disciples, they did not ill use or injure them, so that the case was widely different from that of Ahaziah and Elijah. Nor were they aware that the gospel dispensation was to be marked by miracles of mercy. But above all, they were ignorant of the prevailing motives of their own hearts, which were pride and carnal ambition. Of this our Lord warned them. It is easy for us to say, Come, see our zeal for the Lord! and to think we are very faithful in his cause, when we are seeking our own objects, and even doing harm instead of good to others.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Luke 9:51 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἘγένετοEgenetoIt came to passG1096
δὲdethenG1161
ἐνeninG1722
τῷtōtheG3588
συμπληροῦσθαιsumplērousthaicompletingG4845
τὰςtastheG3588
ἡμέραςhēmerasdaysG2250
τῆςtēsof theG3588
ἀναλήμψεωςanalēmpseōsascensionG354
αὐτοῦautouof HimG846
καὶkaithatG2532
αὐτὸςautosHe himselfG846
τὸtotheG3588
πρόσωπονprosōponfaceG4383
ἐστήρισενestērisensteadfastly setG4741
τοῦtou<the>G3588
πορεύεσθαιporeuesthaito goG4198
εἰςeistoG1519
Ἰερουσαλήμ.IerousalēmJerusalem.G2419

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 9:51

  • Luke 18:31

    Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

  • Luke 13:22

    And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

  • Isaiah 50:5-9

    The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. …

  • Mark 16:19

    So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

  • Acts 1:9

    And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

  • Ephesians 4:8-11

    Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

  • John 16:5

    But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?

  • Ephesians 1:20

    Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

  • 1 Timothy 3:16

    And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

  • John 6:62

    What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

  • Luke 17:11

    And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

  • John 16:28

    I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
that.
24:51; 2Ki 2:1-3,11; Mr 16:19; Joh 6:62; 13:1; 16:5,28; 17:11
Ac 1:2,9; Eph 1:20; 4:8-11; 1Ti 3:16; Heb 6:20; 12:2; 1Pe 3:22
he stedfastly.
12:50; Isa 50:5-9; Ac 20:22-24; 21:11-14; Php 3:14; 1Pe 4:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 9:50

    And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.

  • Luke 9:51

    And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

  • 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.

Read all of Luke 9

Luke 9:51 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y aconteció que, como se cumplió el tiempo en que había de ser recibido arriba, él afirmó su rostro para ir á Jerusalem.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Or il arriva, comme les jours de son assomption s’accomplissaient, qu’il dressa sa face résolument pour aller à Jérusalem;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Es geschah aber, als sich die Tage seiner Aufnahme erfüllten, daß er sein Angesicht feststellte, nach Jerusalem zu gehen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Factum est autem dum complerentur dies assumptionis ejus, et ipse faciem suam firmavit ut iret in Jerusalem.