And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
Parallel translations
- WEB But he said to them, “I must preach the good news of God’s Kingdom to the other cities also. For this reason I have been sent.”
- BSB But Jesus told them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well, because that is why I was sent.”
- NKJV but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.”
- NASB But He said to them, “I must also preach the kingdom of God to the other cities, because I was sent for this purpose.”
- NLT But he replied, “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus declares his purpose: to preach the good news of God's Kingdom to many cities, because that is why he was sent. His mission is broad and Father-directed.
Overview
Jesus explains that he cannot stay in one place because he was sent to proclaim the Kingdom of God widely. The phrase 'I have been sent' underscores his consciousness of a divine commission from the Father. This good news of the Kingdom is the heart of his ministry and finds its fulfillment in his death and resurrection, by which the reign of God breaks into the world.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Mark 1:38–39And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
- 2 Tim 4:2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
- John 6:38–40For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
- John 20:21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
- Acts 10:38How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
- John 9:4I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
- Isa 42:1–4Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
- Mark 1:14–15Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
- Isa 61:1–3The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
- Isa 48:16Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me.
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 4:43 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.