Luke 9:51 · Bible study
Luke 9:51 Commentary: Jesus Sets His Face Toward Jerusalem
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Commentary on Jesus' resolute journey to Jerusalem, his voluntary sacrifice, and what it means for discipleship. Greek analysis and historical background.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus, knowing the cross and ascension are near, resolutely travels toward Jerusalem, setting his face like flint.
- Key words: analēmpsis (ascension), sumplēroō (fill completely), stērizō (set firmly).
- Main debate: Does “received up” refer primarily to the ascension, to the entire passion, or to Jesus’ withdrawal from Galilee?
- Theological theme: The voluntary obedience of the Son of God, moving in step with the Father’s redemptive timeline.
- Best use: Passion Sunday, Lenten preaching, or a study on holy determination and divine purpose.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
As the day of His ascension approached, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
WEB World English Bible 2000
It came to pass, when the days were near that he should be taken up, he intently set his face to go to Jerusalem
KJV King James Version 1769
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,
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And 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,
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And 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,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And it came to pass when the days of his receiving up were fulfilled, that he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And it came to pass, when the days of his assumption were accomplishing, that he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y aconteció que, como se cumplió el tiempo en que había de ser recibido arriba, él afirmó su rostro para ir á Jerusalem.
E aconteceu que, quando completaram-se os dias em que ele viria a ser recebido no alto, ele se determinou a ir para Jerusalém.
Lorsque le temps où il devait être enlevé du monde approcha, Jésus prit la résolution de se rendre à Jérusalem.
Es begab sich aber, da die Zeit erfüllet war, daß er sollte von hinnen genommen werden, wendete er sein Angesicht, stracks gen Jerusalem zu wandeln.
En het geschiedde, als de dagen Zijner opneming vervuld werden, zo richtte Hij Zijn aangezicht, om naar Jeruzalem te reizen.
Poi, come s’avvicinava il tempo della sua assunzione, Gesù si mise risolutamente in via per andare a Gerusalemme.
I stało się, gdy się wypełniły dni, aby był wzięty w górę, że się on na to udał, aby szedł do Jeruzalemu.
Когда же приближались дни взятия Его от мира, Он восхотел идти в Иерусалим;
耶穌 被接上升 的日子 將到， 他 就定意 向 耶路撒冷 去，
And it came about that when the days were near for him to be taken up, his face was turned to go to Jerusalem,
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Luke 9:51
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree this verse marks a decisive turning point in Luke’s Gospel. Vincent’s Word Studies notes that the Greek construction en tō sumplērousthai uses a present infinitive, indicating the days were being fulfilled, not completed, so the ascension was drawing near, not already accomplished. Barnes and Gill emphasize that Jesus made a voluntary sacrifice: he could have stayed safe in Galilee, but he “chose to put himself in the way of danger.” Calvin calls this “the wonderful magnanimity and firmness of Jesus Christ” in despising death. Matthew Henry adds that Christ had “a clear and certain foresight” of his suffering yet appeared most publicly. All agree that Jesus’ resolve was not reckless but purpose-driven, rooted in obedience to the Father’s timeline.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Ascension interpretation: Barnes, Vincent, Calvin, Cambridge Bible: analēmpsis is used elsewhere for the ascension (Mark 16:19; Acts 1:2,11,22; 1 Timothy 3:16).
- Withdrawal interpretation: Bishop Pearce (via Clarke): The word means Jesus’ retirement from Galilee; the timing of the ascension was still far off.
- Passion-focused interpretation: Some see ‘received up’ as encompassing the whole crucifixion–resurrection–ascension sequence; John 12:32 speaks of being ‘lifted up from the earth.’
What is clear: Jesus resolutely determined to go to Jerusalem, fully aware that suffering and death awaited him there, and did not turn back.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of analēmpsis (received up) | Refers to Jesus' exaltation and departure from earth. | Some (Barnes, Vincent, Cambridge Bible) identify it specifically with the ascension. Bishop Pearce (via Clarke) argues it means Jesus' withdrawal from Galilee, since the ascension was months away. A third view sees it as encompassing the whole passion leading to the ascension. |
| Timing of the journey | It marks a major division in Luke's narrative. | Some scholars align it with the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7), others with the Feast of Dedication (John 10). The phrase 'days being fulfilled' is ambiguous enough to allow either. |
| Nature of Jesus' determination | It was voluntary, resolute, and aware of consequences. | Calvin and Matthew Henry emphasize Jesus' divine courage and foreknowledge. Clarke and Gill stress his human deliberation and choice. Both agree it was not reckless. |
| The Samaritans' rejection | They refused Jesus because he was heading to Jerusalem. | Traditional readings view this as simple religious hostility. Some modern commentators see it as a theological statement about worship, Samaritans rejected Jerusalem as the proper place. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Luke 9:51 opens the so-called “Travel Narrative” (9:51, 19:44), a major section structured around Jesus’ journey from Galilee to Jerusalem. The Greek phrase en tō sumplērousthai tas hēmeras uses a present infinitive of sumplēroō (“to fill completely”), meaning the days were in the process of being fulfilled, the time was approaching, not yet completed. The noun analēmpsis (“taking up”) appears only here in the New Testament, but the related verb analambanō is used for Elijah’s assumption (2 Kings 2:11, LXX) and for Jesus’ ascension (Mark 16:19; Acts 1:2, 11, 22; 1 Timothy 3:16). Luke deliberately echoes Elijah’s translation to signal that Jesus’ departure will be a divine exaltation, though the path runs through suffering.
Jesus “set his face” (estērisen to prosōpon). The aorist verb estērisen (from stērizō, “make stable, fix firmly”) conveys a single, decisive act of determination. This language recalls Isaiah 50:7: “I have set my face like a flint.” Jesus travels from Galilee through Samaria toward Jerusalem. The Samaritans, hostile to Jewish pilgrims heading to the temple, refused him hospitality, a rejection that would spark his disciples’ fiery reaction (vv. 54, 55). The journey is both geographical and theological: every step brings him closer to the cross, the empty tomb, and the ascension.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Luke 9:51. The key Greek terms (analēmpsis, sumplērousthai, estērisen) are consistently transmitted across manuscripts.
Reception History
From the early church onward, Luke 9:51 was read as the moment Christ set his face like flint toward the cross. Eastern tradition linked analēmpsis to the feast of the Ascension, seeing this verse as the beginning of the journey that ends at Bethany. In medieval preaching, it was used to model the virtue of constantia, steadfastness in the face of death. The Reformers, especially Calvin and Luther, seized on it to illustrate Christ’s voluntary sacrifice: he was no victim but the willing Lord. Matthew Henry’s pastoral commentary turns it into a call to earnestness in the Christian life. Hymns about the passion often allude to the “set face” of the Savior, though the verse itself is rarely the main text of a hymn.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- A Divinely Timed Mission. The days were “being fulfilled.” Jesus did not rush ahead or lag behind; he moved in step with the Father’s schedule.
- A Resolute Determination. The Greek aorist estērisen pictures a single, unflinching decision. Like a soldier fixing his gaze on the objective, Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem.
- A Journey Through Rejection. Samaria’s refusal foreshadows the deeper rejection awaiting him in Judea. Yet Jesus does not retaliate; he simply goes to another village.
Five-point outline
- The Clock of Redemption. “When the days were being fulfilled”, divine timing frames the entire Passion.
- The Set Face of the Savior. Estērisen to prosōpon, a posture of unbroken purpose.
- The Samaritans and the Stumbling Block. Their refusal because “his face was set toward Jerusalem” highlights the offense of a Messiah who insists on the holy city.
- The Disciples’ Misplaced Zeal. James and John want fire from heaven, but Jesus rebukes that spirit.
- The Grace That Goes to Another Village. Rejection does not derail the mission; it redirects it.
Illustration hooks
- A mountain climber who, after months of training, knows the final ascent is the most dangerous but plants each step deliberately because the summit is worth it.
- A parent driving a sick child to the hospital through a snowstorm, pressing forward despite fear, because staying home is not an option.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can I tell when I am being stubborn versus when I am being resolute like Jesus?
- If God has a plan for my life, how do I cooperate with its timing instead of forcing my own schedule?
- What do I do when my commitment to God causes others to reject me?
Leading a Discussion
This verse stands at the hinge of Luke’s Gospel. Everything before has been preparation; everything after is the march to the cross. As you discuss, pay attention to the emotions underneath Jesus’ resolve, he knew what waited in Jerusalem.
Discussion questions
- Why does Luke use the word “ascension” rather than “death” or “suffering” to describe what Jesus is heading toward? What does that tell you about how he saw the end of his mission?
- Read the Greek phrase: “he fixed his face.” What does that posture look like in practice? Can you think of a situation where you needed to “fix your face” in a difficult direction?
- The Samaritans opposed Jesus because of where he was going. Have you ever been opposed because of a commitment you made to Christ? How did you respond?
- James and John wanted to call down fire (v. 54). What kinds of “fire” are we tempted to call down on people who reject us or our faith? Why does Jesus rebuke that?
- How does Jesus’ example help you distinguish between healthy stubbornness and sinful obstinacy?
- If you knew you had only a short time left to accomplish your most important work, what would you set your face toward? What does that reveal about your priorities?
- How does this passage shape your understanding of what it means to follow Jesus “on the way” to Jerusalem?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| II Kings 2:1 | When Yahweh was about to take Elijah up by a whirlwind into heaven, Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. |
| II Kings 2:3 | The sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from over you today?” He said, “Yes, I know it. Hold your peace.” |
| II Kings 2:11 | As they continued on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. |
| Isaiah 50:5 | The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear. I was not rebellious. I have not turned back. |
| Isaiah 50:9 | Behold, the Lord Yahweh will help me! Who is he who will condemn me? Behold, they will all grow old like a garment. The moths will eat them up. |
| Mark 16:19 | So then the Lord, after he had spoken to them, was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. |
| Luke 12:50 | But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! |
| Luke 13:22 | He went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and traveling on to Jerusalem. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke follows Bishop Pearce in reading "received up" here as Jesus's final withdrawal from Judea, not the ascension, since the timing of the word "completed" does not fit a future event. He then stresses Jesus's steadfast determination, a deliberate resolve to leave Galilee and face Jerusalem.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes emphasizes that Jesus chose to go to Jerusalem and die; it was a voluntary sacrifice, not something imposed on him. By setting his face resolutely toward danger, Jesus showed he had full control over his life and death, and he deliberately walked into the scene that would end in his crucifixion.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin emphasizes that Christ's steadfast resolve in facing death is matched by the deeper meaning of his "being received up" — not merely his removal from human sight, but his ascension on high, leaving the prison of the flesh behind. This event also warns readers how zeal for religion can spawn deadly hatred, and how easily human nature rushes into impatience.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentary highlights that the Greek phrase for "received up" actually refers to the ascension, marking the final stage of Jesus' ministry. Jesus looked through his coming passion to the goal of glory, and Luke's wording deliberately mirrors his feelings. "Set his face" conveys his resolute, unwavering determination.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note stresses the deliberate resolve in Jesus choosing this moment. Christ waited until the appointed time and then firmly set his face toward Jerusalem, not as a reluctant step but as a fully settled determination to complete what lay ahead, including his ascension.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill insists the phrase about Jesus being "received up" does not refer to his ascension to heaven or his crucifixion, but to his departure from Galilee for Jerusalem. The time was exactly fulfilled for leaving that region, not merely drawing near, and after this Jesus never returned to Galilee. Gill emphasizes Christ's firm, determined resolve to go, knowing full well what he would face.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB treats the phrase "received up" as a sublime expression that captures Christ's entire career vaulting into glory in one bound. He divides Jesus' earthly work into two stages at this point, with the emphatic "He" setting His face toward Jerusalem as His goal, echoing Isaiah 50:7.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry sees the disciples proposing to call down fire on the Samaritans as the same mistaken zeal that earlier made them want to silence outsiders. Both actions, taken under the cover of defending Christ, reveal a persecuting spirit. Jesus rebukes them because such bigotry directly contradicts the gospel he came to bring.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent stresses that the Greek phrase means "when the days were being fulfilled," not when they were already complete. Luke refers to a period drawing near, from the first announcement of Christ's sufferings to his ascension. The word for "received up" occurs only here in the New Testament as a specific term for being taken into heaven.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that Luke looks past the immediate suffering and sees the glory that follows. Jesus sets his face steadfastly, neither fearing his enemies nor being ashamed of the cross, because he has the coming glory in view.