Perfecting the Art of Rebuke: Reflection on Luke Chapter 9

This post accompanies my video reading of Luke Chapter 9 published on YouTube. You can view it here.

Video Reading Luke Chapter 9

What is perfect rebuke?

Picking up on the theme I mentioned in my post reading video reflection, I'm considering the nature of Jesus's righteous rebuke. It may be a little misleading to class this as a universally recognised theme for this chapter. It's merely the theme that sprung out and fascinated me personally. That's really what my reflection here on this blog is all about, I'm sharing my personal journey of understanding. I'm going to pick up on things that relate to where I am on my journey and the things I'm trying to get firm in my head.

I guess the basis of my thought comes from considering the perfect nature of Christ and that thought was provoked by the testimony of the transfiguration. A foretaste of the majesty and glory of our resurrected Lord. This is the truth we share as faithful witnesses.

16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. (2 Peter 1:16-18 (KJV))

Whilst narrating the chapter for the video I struggled to know what tone of voice was appropriate when relaying rebuke. How would Jesus have sounded when rebuking His disciples? It causes me to think about the nature of perfect rebuke as an example of the emotional perfection of Jesus. Jesus is an example to us all and I considered this a moment to consider not only the tone but when and on what occasions rebuke may be appropriate. Jesus provides an example of when failing to rebuke could cause a person to continue down the wrong path. When Jesus rebuked His disciples His intention is that they understand their errors and address them.

44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. (Luke 9:44 (KJV))

We know from verse 45 of this chapter that the disciple's did not fully understand what Jesus was saying at the time but they would indeed remember every word Jesus spoke to them and share them so that we too would hear the lesson.

Who of us has not been the recipient of unrighteous rebuke? The kind that is foist upon us out of malice but more often simply as the result of a lack of empathy or compassion on the part of the rebuker. That sort of rebuke can have a paralysing effect, rather than motivating us to repent and do better it can cause us to retreat, shrink and simply stop trying.

Jesus didn't want His disciples to retreat, shrink into themselves and stop trying. Jesus used his righteous rebuke to teach His disciples so that they would be better equipped for ministry after He was no longer with them in the flesh. The 12 were often tempted to be driven by their worldly characters but Jesus had a perfect empathy and compassion for their weaknesses. He didn't leave them at the mercy of their temptations, he used His perfectly directed rebuke to renew their spirit and redirect their characters. He would subsequently send the Holy Spirit to be their guide to all He taught and commanded.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:3 (ESV))

I'll draw a line under my personal reflection and jump into some respected and published commentary for more insight and clarity.

Enduring Word Commentary

This is a very full verse by verse commentary that is packed full of interesting clarity and context. I'll share just a few snippets that I found useful. The first helpfully reminds us that when God calls any of us to serve Him, He always equips us with what we need.

b. And gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases: Jesus did not only call the twelve. He also gave them power to do what He had called them to do. The same principle holds true today: whom God calls, God equips. The equipping may not be completely evident before the ministry begins, but it will be evident along the way.

One of the reasons I often go to this commentary is that I always learn something that adds a layer of clarity to the scripture I'm reading. Here, I learnt something that sheds light on Jesus's instruction that the disciples were not to take anything with them when He sent them out. These nuggets of information often help us to see the bigger picture more clearly.

i. There was a rule among the rabbis of the day that you could not enter the temple area with a staff, shoes, or a moneybag, because you wanted to avoid even the appearance of being engaged in any other business than the service of the Lord. The disciples were engaged in such holy work (preaching the gospel and bringing God’s healing) that they could not give the impression that they have any other motive.

Here's another golden nugget that gave me a better understanding of why Jesus told His disciples to shake the dust from their feet upon leaving a city that didn't receive them. The significance here is that the 12 disciples have been sent out to preach the Gospel in Jewish towns and cities. Jesus is shining a light on hypocrisy in the light of Jewish custom.

i. If Jewish people of that time had to go in or through a Gentile city, as they left they often shook the dust off their feet as a gesture saying, “We don’t want to take anything from this Gentile city with us.” Essentially, Jesus told His disciples to regard a Jewish city that rejected their message as if it were a Gentile city.

You'll find so much more from the commentary, here's the link:

https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/luke-9/

Bible Hub Commentary

Another very full, verse by verse commentary with bags of helpful context illuminating scripture. I'll start with a snippet that provides historical context about the Herod character mentioned. I found it useful to hear the connection to Damascus as mentioned by Paul in Corinthians.

Verses 7-9. - Herod's terror. Verse 7. - Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him. This was Herod Antipas; he was a son of Herod the Great; his mother's name was Malthace. After his father's death he became tetrareh or prince-ruler of Galilee, Peraea, and of a fourth part of the Roman province of Syria. His first wife was daughter of Aretas, a famous Arabian sheik spoken of by St. Paul as "king of the Damascenes" (2 Corinthians 11:32).

The feeding of the 5000 is a miracle recorded in each of the four gospels and this may help us to understand how important it is to understand. There was a lovely little section in this commentary that harmonised aspects of the four different testimonies. The snippet begins by describing the tone of the meal and goes on to describe what a glorious sight it would have been. I think it's a little sad that often this almighty miracle is not given enough thought. It would have been unforgettable and remarkable to witness and experience and no wonder that each Gospel recounts the story.

Everything must be calm and solemn; it is a kind of Passover meal. By the help of the apostles, he seats his guests in rows of fifty each (St.. Matthew), or in double rows of fifty, by hundreds (Mark). This orderly arrangement allowed of the guests being easily counted. St. Mark describes in a dramatic manner the striking spectacle presented by these regularly formed companies, each consisting of two equal ranks, and all arranged upon the slope of the hill. The pastures at that time were in all their spring glory. SS. John and Mark both bring forward the beauty of this natural carpet. 'Much grass' (St. John); 'on the green grass' (St. Mark)" (Godet). St. Mark's vivid picturesque details show the observant eve-witness.

This commentary has a useful section covering the Transfiguration and pulls in some thoughts on how we too are changed the closer we are to God.

Very many have noticed at times this peculiar and lovely change pass over the faces of God's true saints as they prayed - faces perhaps old and withered, grey with years and wrinkled with care. A yet higher degree of transfiguration through communion with God is recorded in the case of Moses, whose face, after he had been with his God-Friend on the mount, shone with so bright a glory that mortal eye could not bear to gaze on it until the radiance began to fade away. A similar change is recorded to have taken place in the case of Stephen when he pleaded his Divine Master's cause in the Sanhedrin hall at Jerusalem with such rapt eloquence that to the by-standers his face then, we read, "was as the face of an angel."

I'll leave you with the link to this commentary if you would like to read more.

https://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/luke/9.htm

Bible Ref Commentary

This commentary provides a very useful summary of Luke Chapter 9 and is quick to read. I'll give you an example snippet describing the feeding of the 5000.

In the feeding of the thousands, Luke doesn't focus on Jesus' teachings or healing miracles. He emphasizes that even though the disciples have seen and personally used Jesus' power (Luke 8:22–56; 9:1–6), they are overwhelmed at the thought of feeding a crowd of people. The roots of their faith are still shallow (Luke 8:6, 13).

Here's a link to the commentary to continue reading.

https://www.bibleref.com/Luke/9/Luke-chapter-9.html

I draw my reflection on this chapter to a close. What a chapter! So full it was difficult to know where to begin. If you have thoughts, comments or questions, post them below so that we can learn more together.

Until next time, May God bless your walk with Jesus!