ELL Bible Study: Luke 9:51-56 — A Village Refuses Jesus

This Bible study lesson is for people who are learning English (ELL or ESL students). It is made for advanced beginner and intermediate English learners. Children who speak English or adults who prefer easy English may also enjoy it and learn from it.

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Luke 9:51-56 Printable Discussion Questions

Lesson Icebreaker Question

Has someone ever been unkind to you? What did you do?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will learn how some people did not welcome Jesus. We will also see how Jesus teaches his followers to stay calm and kind when others are unkind to them.

Vocabulary List (GNT)

Ahead — In front of or before someone or something.
Another — One more person, place, or thing that is different.
Call — To say loudly for someone to come or for something to happen.
Clear — Easy to see, hear, or understand.
Destroy — To completely ruin or break something.
Disciples — The followers and students of Jesus.
Drew Near — Came closer in time or place.
Everything — All the things.
Fire — Flames that burn and give heat and light.
Heaven — The place where God lives.
Made Up His Mind — Decided what to do.
Messenger — A person who carries a message for someone else.
People — A group of men, women, or children.
Receive — To take or accept something that is given.
Rebuke — To speak sharply to someone because they did something wrong.
Refuse — To say no to something.
Samaria — A place where the Samaritan people lived.
Samaritan — A person from Samaria.
Sent — Caused someone to go somewhere for a reason.
Set Out — To begin a trip or journey.
Time — When something happens.
Turned — Moved your body or head in a different direction.
Village — A small town in the countryside.
Way — A road, path, or direction.
Went — Moved from one place to another.

Summary of the Passage

This passage begins by telling us that it was almost time for Jesus to return to heaven. Jesus decided to travel to a city called Jerusalem. He sent some messengers ahead of him to get things ready in a village in Samaria. In Bible times, Jews and Samaritans often did not like each other.

When the people in the Samaritan village learned Jesus was going to Jerusalem, they did not welcome him. They refused to let him stay in their village. This made two of Jesus’ disciples, James and John, very angry. They asked Jesus if he wanted them to call fire from heaven to destroy the people in the village.

But Jesus did not want to hurt anyone. He corrected James and John. He told them they should not act in anger. Then Jesus and his disciples quietly went to another village instead.

This passage teaches us that sometimes people will not welcome us or be kind to us. But Jesus shows us a better way. He teaches us to stay calm, forgive, and move on without fighting or being mean.

Read The Passage

Most English learners should use the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV), the New International Reader’s Version (NIRV), or the Good News Translation (GNT). If you want to try something harder, you can read one of the other Bible versions.

Text from the ERV Bible Translation

A Samaritan Town
51 The time was coming near when Jesus would leave and go back to heaven.
He decided to go to Jerusalem.
52 He sent some men ahead of him.
They went into a town in Samaria to make everything ready for him.
53 But the people there would not welcome Jesus because he was going toward Jerusalem.
54 James and John, the followers of Jesus, saw this.
They said,
“Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven and destroy those people?”
55 But Jesus turned and criticized them for saying this.
56 Then he and his followers went to another town.
Luke 9:51-56 (ERV)

Text from the GNT Bible Translation

A Samaritan Village Refuses to Receive Jesus
51 As the time drew near when Jesus would be taken up to heaven, he made up his mind and set out on his way to Jerusalem.
52 He sent messengers ahead of him, who went into a village in Samaria to get everything ready for him.
53 But the people there would not receive him, because it was clear that he was on his way to Jerusalem.
54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”
55 Jesus turned and rebuked them.
56 Then Jesus and his disciples went on to another village.
Luke 9:51-56 (GNT)

Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 9:51-56 (ERV)
Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 9:51-56 (NIRV)
Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 9:51-56 (GNT)
Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 9:51-56 (NLT)
Hard: New International Version: Luke 9:51-56 (NIV)
Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 9:51-56 (ESV)

Luke 9:51-56 Printable ERV Passage

Luke 9:51-56 Printable GNT Passage

Luke 9:51-56 Printable Discussion Questions

Comprehension Questions

Where was Jesus planning to go?
Who did Jesus send ahead of him to the village?
What did the people in the village do when they learned Jesus was going to Jerusalem?
How did James and John feel about this?
What did James and John ask Jesus if they should do?
What did Jesus do when they asked that?
Where did Jesus and his disciples go next?

Application Questions

How do you feel when someone is unkind to you?
Why do you think Jesus did not want to hurt the people in the village?
What is a better way to act when someone does not treat you well?
Can you think of a time you forgave someone? How did it feel?

Theological Insights

Jesus teaches his followers to forgive and not to fight back when people are unkind.
God wants us to show love, even to people who do not treat us well.
Jesus cares about people’s hearts more than about winning an argument or fight.
The followers of Jesus should stay calm and trust God in hard times.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for showing us how to forgive and be kind. Help us stay calm when people are unkind to us. Teach us to follow Jesus’ loving way. Amen.