Jesus Is Warned Off By The Samaritans Because He Is Headed For Jerusalem (9:52-56).
The Samaritans lived between Galilee and Judaea in Samaria, in and around Shechem, and had grown into quite a large community. We do not really know from where they came. They were possibly originally a group of religious purists from the Northern tribes who settled there in order to establish their own form of Israelite religion based on the Law of Moses, a belief in the coming Taheb (Redeemer) and a Temple established at Mount Gerizim. That Temple was destroyed by John Hyrcanus for which the Jews were never forgiven. They were, however, not regarded by the Jews as Gentiles for they observed the rules of cleanliness and were thus seen as ‘half-Jews', especially at better times.
We note that Jesus ‘sent (apostello) messengers (angels) before His face (prosopon)' to go to a Samaritan village who were ‘to make ready for Him.' The verb for ‘make ready' could simply mean to assure lodgings, but it is also used of John the Baptiser ‘preparing the way for the Lord', where it clearly signifies preaching. In Luke 10:1 the seventy are similarly sent (apostello) before His face (prosopon) to every city to which He was about to come (to prepare the way of the Lord), and in their case it clearly included proclamation of the Kingly Rule of God.
Therefore knowing Jesus, and remembering John 4, we must surely recognise that they would not only arrange lodgings but would also expect to proclaim the Kingly Rule of God. The Samaritans in the normal course of events might well have been expected to hear His message. It is difficult to believe that Jesus would expect to lodge in a city and not proclaim His message. His fame as a preacher and healer had spread far and wide, and it is incredible to suggest that the Samaritans would not know of it. They lived too near to Galilee, even if we ignore Jesus' impact on them in John 4. This explains why this story is here. It is the first stage in the fulfilment of ‘Your Kingly Rule come' in the Lord's prayer. And to Luke it is the more important because it represents his first attempt to speak of Jesus as aiming to minister to ‘foreigners' (non-Jews).
A further reason for telling this story about the Samaritans is in order to bring out that, while in some ways Jesus has been very much like Elijah and Elisha in what He has done, He is of a totally different spirit. He had come to seek and save, not to seek and destroy. It may also be significant that just as Jesus' initial ministry had commenced with a rejection by the Jews (Luke 4:16-30), so His first ministry after the commencement of His purpose to go to Jerusalem commences with rejection by the Samaritans.
Above all the story makes clear that Jesus does not bring His own judgment on the Samaritans. In the future the Good News will be opened to them again (Acts 8) and indeed John tells us that there has already been an initial outreach to the Samaritans as early as John 4. But if they were seen as having rejected His message as well as His presence it helps to explain why James and John were so incensed that this particular village had rejected him, and why they were quite sure that He would want to punish them. In their view fire was far more effective than shaking off dust at indicating judgment. That would certainly make people around sit up!
What a contrast between Jesus' attitude and theirs. And what a difference there is between Jesus' attitude and that of His opponents. They were seeking to destroy Him because they rejected His teaching. Jesus here is called on to destroy people who reject Him, people whose teaching He disagrees with and who will not receive Him, but He refuses to do so. Jesus used words as His weapons, not hatred and fire. He would not be like His opponents. Rather He would leave judgment in His Father's hands.
Analysis.
a He sent forth messengers before His face, and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for Him (Luke 9:52).
b They did not receive Him, because His face was as though He were going to Jerusalem (Luke 9:52-53).
c When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, is it your will that we bid fire to come down from heaven, and consume them?” (Luke 9:54).
b But he turned, and rebuked them (Luke 9:55).
a And they went to another village (Luke 9:56).
Note how in ‘a' Jesus has chosen a village where they are to prepare for Him, and in the parallel because of His rejection they go to another village. In ‘b' they receive a hot reception, and in the parallel James and John receive a hot reception from Jesus. Central to the passage is the request of James and John which enable Him to reveal His true nature, and His true goodness.
Jesus Attempts To Bring The Kingly Rule of God to the Samaritans But Is Rejected.