Luke 9:52

Sent messengers. Here, specifically, James and John (see ch. 54; DA 487). On this particular occasion it would seem that the messengers went ahead to arrange for overnight accommodations. However, this may also be a reference to the publicity Jesus rightfully sought in an endeavor to draw the attention of all Israel to Him in anticipation of His imminent crucifixion (see DA 485). This was Jesus’ specific purpose later in His sending forth the Seventy (see on ch. 10:1).

A village of the Samaritans. The shortest route between Galilee and Judea was through the hills of Samaria. Two years before this Jesus had taken the same route northward from Judea to Galilee (see on John 4:3, 4). Often, particularly at festal seasons, when great throngs went to Jerusalem, Jews preferred the longer route through the Jordan valley in order to avoid contact with the Samaritans. However, Jesus Himself devoted a portion of the remainder of His ministry to the region of Samaria (see on John 11:54), and it was to the cities and towns of Samaria that the Seventy were first sent forth (see DA 488). In view of the fact that they were to go, two by two, “into every city and place, whither he himself would come” (Luke 10:1), the Lord must have visited some considerable parts of Samaria Himself.