Luke 9:55

55 But he turned and rebuked them, "You don't know what kind of spirit you are of.

Luke 9:55 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 9:55

But he turned and rebuked them
He turned himself about to them, and looking upon them with a stern countenance, sharply reproved them for their intemperate zeal, their passion of wrath, and anger, and desire of revenge:

and said, ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of;
or do not consider that this is not the true spirit of zeal, but of anger and revenge; and is not agreeable to the spirit of the meek and humble followers of Christ, or to the Spirit of God, and those gifts of his bestowed on them, nor to the spirit of the Gospel dispensation: so good men, for want of attention, may not know sometimes from what spirit they act; taking that for a good one, which is a very bad one; being covered with specious pretenses of love and zeal, and the examples of former saints; not observing the difference of persons; times, and things.

Luke 9:55 In-Context

53 They didn't receive him, because he was traveling with his face set towards Yerushalayim.

54 When his talmidim, Ya`akov and Yochanan, saw this, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky, and destroy them, just as Eliyah did?"

55 But he turned and rebuked them, "You don't know what kind of spirit you are of.

56 For the Son of Man didn't come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." They went to another village.

57 As they went on the way, a certain man said to him, "I want to follow you wherever you go, Lord."