Luke 9:55-56

Luke 9:55-56

[55] But  he turned,  and rebuked  them,  and  Ye know  not  what manner  of spirit  [56] For  the Son  of man  not  come  to destroy  men's  lives,  but  to save  them. And  they went  to  another  village. 

What does Luke 9:55-56 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Jesus strongly disapproved of James and John"s attitude, and He rebuked them (Gr. epetimesen, cf. Luke 4:35; Luke 4:41; Luke 8:24). Jesus" mission did not call for Him to bring judgment yet. The group, therefore, proceeded to another presumably Samaritan village where they found lodging.
The point of the story is Jesus" toleration of rejection without retaliation (cf. Luke 6:36). His attitude contrasts with the disciples" attitude, which did not grow out of righteous indignation, because the Samaritans were rejecting the Messiah, but out of racial prejudice.