But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus' rebuke isn't just about the disciples' anger; it exposes a fundamental misunderstanding of their own motivations. They thought their desire to call down fire was righteous zeal for Jesus, but Jesus reveals it was actually rooted in a vengeful spirit, showing that even "holy" actions can be tainted by wrong motives.
But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus and his disciples are traveling towards Jerusalem, and upon being rejected by a Samaritan village, James and John, fueled by righteous indignation and referencing Elijah's example, ask Jesus if they should call down fire to destroy them. Jesus turns and rebukes them, explaining that their desire for vengeance is not the spirit of his mission, which is to save lives, not destroy them.
When the disciples saw the Samaritans reject Jesus, their immediate reaction was fiery judgment. But Jesus's response was different. What does this tell us about His mission?
In this moment, James and John, witnessing the Samaritans' rejection of Jesus, called down fire from heaven, just as Elijah did. They saw it as righteous judgment for those who opposed their Master.
But Jesus turned and rebuked them, asking, "You know not what manner of spirit you are of." He was correcting their assumption that their spirit was aligned with His.
The Disciples' Spirit:
Jesus's Spirit:
The disciples felt personally affronted by the Samaritans' rejection. But was their anger truly about God, or something else?
The disciples' offer to call down fire wasn't just about defending Jesus; it revealed a misunderstanding of their own motivations. Jesus pointed out that their apparent zeal for Him could be masking underlying, unexamined feelings.
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Examining Our Motives:
Jesus came to save, not to destroy. How does His approach to the Samaritans redefine 'righteous anger'?
Jesus rebuked His disciples because their proposed action—calling down fire—was contrary to the very nature of His mission. They were acting out of an 'Old Testament' spirit of judgment, mistaking it for the 'New Testament' spirit of the Gospel.
Key Differences in Spirit:
Jesus taught that even when wronged, the Christian response is not vengeance, but love and a desire for the salvation of all, reflecting His own ultimate sacrifice.
Understand the original words
epitimaō · Greek Verb
An authoritative expression of disapproval or correction, intended to turn someone away from a wrong action, attitude, or misunderstanding of God's character.
This event highlights the deep-seated animosity between Jews and Samaritans, rooted in centuries of religious and ethnic conflict. Jesus' rebuke of his disciples underscores a critical shift from the Old Testament's retributive justice towards the New Testament's emphasis on mercy and salvation.
c. 8th Century BC
Samaritan Temple Built
A rival temple to Jerusalem's was built on Mount Gerizim, likely by Sanballat, intensifying religious and ethnic animosity between Jews and Samaritans.
c. 70 AD
Destruction of Jerusalem Temple
The Jerusalem Temple's destruction during the First Jewish-Roman War deepened existing divides and contributed to a sense of crisis among Jewish and Samaritan communities.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Ministry
Jesus traveled and taught throughout Judea and Galilee, often interacting with both Jewish and Samaritan populations, though Samaritans historically held a negative view of Jews and their pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
c. AD 30
Samaritans Reject Jesus' Messengers
Messengers sent by Jesus to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival were rejected because the villagers saw he was heading to Jerusalem, a city they disdained.
c. AD 30— this verse
Disciples' Call for Fire
James and John, witnessing the rejection, asked Jesus if they should call down fire from heaven to destroy the Samaritans, citing the example of Elijah.
c. AD 30
Jesus Rebukes Disciples
Jesus turned and rebuked James and John, explaining that their desire for vengeance was contrary to the compassionate and salvific spirit of his mission.
c. AD 30
Jesus Teaches About His Mission
Jesus clarified that the Son of Man came not to destroy lives but to save them, contrasting his mission with the destructive zeal his disciples displayed.
This passage describes Elijah calling down fire on soldiers, which the disciples James and John wrongly sought to emulate, highlighting their misunderstanding of the spirit of Jesus compared to Elijah's Old Testament authority.
Galatians 4:6Jesus rebukes His disciples for not knowing the spirit they are of, contrasting it with the 'Spirit of adoption' that allows believers to cry 'Abba, Father,' emphasizing a change in relationship and disposition under the new covenant.
Romans 12:19This verse encourages believers not to seek revenge but to 'give place to God's wrath,' which directly parallels Jesus' correction of His disciples' vengeful spirit by pointing them towards His own salvific mission.
1 John 4:8The Bible states that 'God is love,' a foundational truth that Jesus implicitly calls His disciples to remember when He rebukes their vengeful spirit, reminding them that their actions should reflect divine love, not destructive passion.
Luke 9:56This verse immediately follows the rebuke and states, 'For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them,' providing the direct reason for Jesus' correction and clarifying His mission's purpose, which is fundamentally different from His disciples' initial impulse.
wesleyLuke 9:55: "But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of."
9:55 Ye know not what manner of spirit - The spirit of Christianity is. It is not a spirit of wrath and vengeance, but of peace, and gentleness, and love.
barnesLuke 9:55: "But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of."
Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of - You suppose that you are actuated by a proper love for me; but you know not yourselves. It is rather a love of revenge; rather revengeful feelings toward the "Samaritans" than proper feelings toward "me." We learn here: 1. That "apparent" zeal for God may be only improper opposition toward our fellow-men. 2. That people, when they wish to honor God,…
Jesus' rebuke isn't just about the disciples' anger; it exposes a fundamental misunderstanding of their own motivations. They thought their desire to call down fire was righteous zeal for Jesus, but Jesus reveals it was actually rooted in a vengeful spirit, showing that even "holy" actions can be tainted by wrong motives.
Jesus and his disciples are traveling towards Jerusalem, and upon being rejected by a Samaritan village, James and John, fueled by righteous indignation and referencing Elijah's example, ask Jesus if they should call down fire to destroy them. Jesus turns and rebukes them, explaining that their desire for vengeance is not the spirit of his mission, which is to save lives, not destroy them.
Jesus and his disciples are traveling towards Jerusalem, and upon being rejected by a Samaritan village, James and John, fueled by righteous indignation and referencing Elijah's example, ask Jesus if they should call down fire to destroy them. Jesus turns and rebukes them, explaining that their desire for vengeance is not the spirit of his mission, which is to save lives, not destroy them.
"But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village." — Jesus' rebuke isn't just about the disciples' anger; it exposes a fundamental misunderstanding of their own motivations. They thought their desire to call down fire was righteous zeal for Jesus, but…
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Last reviewed October 2026