Luke 4
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CHAPTER 4
The Temptation of Jesus (4:1-13)
(Matthew 4:1-17)
1-13 See Matthew 4:1-17 and comment.
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth (4:14-30)
14-15 When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended on Him (Luke 3:22). He was filled with the Holy Spirit (verse 1). Having been filled with the Spirit, Jesus was prepared to face the temptations given to Him by SATAN (verses 3-13). Then, when He had resisted Satan and gained victory over him, Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit (verse 14).
When we resist Satan—when we turn from sin and sinful desires—the power of the Holy Spirit is fully released in our lives. But if in one point we give in to Satan, we forfeit that power.
Jesus did His mighty works through the power of the Holy Spirit. He told His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon them and give them power (see Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8 and comments). Only after that could they be effective witnesses for Him. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, a follower of Christ cannot work effectively for God. Without the Spirit, our preaching and teaching is without power. This is why, when Jesus taught the people, they were amazed and spread the news about Him through the whole countryside (see Matthew 7:28-29 and comment).
16-17 Many Bible scholars believe that the visit to Nazareth described here in verses 16-30 is the same visit described in Matthew 13:53-58 and Mark 6:1-6.17 They say that Luke placed this story near the beginning of his Gospel because it explains so clearly the purpose of Jesus’ ministry (verses 18-19). According to verse 23, Jesus first went to other cities, such as Capernaum, before going to Nazareth.
The Jews held their religious services in the synagogue in each village. The services took place each Saturday, the Sabbath day. It was the custom during the service to read from a scroll18 of the Old Testament. of ten visitors to the synagogue were invited to read the lesson or to give a comment on it (Acts 13:14-15,42; 17:1-4).
18-19 The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to Jesus to read. He read from Isaiah 61:1-2, in which Isaiah prophesies about the Messiah. Thus, when Jesus read it, He was truly speaking about Himself.
The Spirit of the Lord is on me (verse 18). Jesus was filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit (verses 1,14). He had been given the Spirit without limit (John 3:34).
… because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. Jesus was the “anointed one,” that is, the Messiah, the Christ (see Luke 2:25). The poor here are not only the poor in possessions, but also the poor in spirit (see Matthew 5:3). It is the poor in spirit who gladly receive the good news of salvation.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners. These are not only actual prisoners in jail, but they are also spiritual prisoners of sin, of Satan. Christ came to set them free; that is, He came to forgive their sins (Mark 2:5,10-12).
Christ was sent to bring sight for the blind. He not only opens men’s bodily eyes, but He opens their spiritual eyes as well.
He was sent to release the oppressed.19 People were oppressed by their rulers the Romans, by their own hypocritical religious leaders, and by the rich and powerful. But they were also oppressed by fears and doubts and sinful lusts. Christ offered them release, peace, joy.
Finally, Jesus was sent to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor—that is, the coming of the Messiah, the consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25).
20 Everyone in the synagogue was amazed at the way Jesus read these words. The people had heard these words from Isaiah read to them many times before, but they had never heard them read like this! It was as if the prophet Isaiah himself were speaking—no, more than that—the Messiah Himself!
21 After He had finished reading from the book of Isaiah, Jesus said to the people, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. The Messiah has come! The Gospel is being preached, prisoners are being set free, the blind are receiving their sight. The day of the Messiah has dawned.”
22 At first, the people spoke well of Jesus (verse 15). But then someone recognized Him! “Why, He is only the carpenter’s son,” they began to say (see Mark 6:1-3; John 6:42 and comments).
23 Jesus saw that the people of Nazareth, His own home town, were filled with an attitude of unbelief. They couldn’t believe that a carpenter’s son from their own town could be anyone important. Perhaps they were jealous. But mainly, they refused to believe.
Jesus knew their hearts. They wanted Him to perform a miracle before their eyes to prove that He was the Messiah. “Let Him heal someone in His own town,” they said. They had heard that He had done miracles elsewhere; let Him do one in Nazareth.
24 But Jesus knew they wouldn’t believe even if He performed a miracle in their presence. Indeed, He did heal a few people. But because of the people’s unbelief, He could do no other great works in Nazareth (see Matthew 13:58; Mark 6:6 and comment).
25-26 Then Jesus said something that angered the people. He reminded them that the prophet Elijah encountered unbelief in Israel during a time of drought; therefore, he went to live with a Gentile, a widow in Zarephath, north of Israel (1 Kings 17:7-16).
27 In the same way, the Jews did not believe in the prophet Elisha. So he withheld his blessing from Israel, and healed a Gentile with leprosy instead (2 Kings 5:1-15).
Jesus’ meaning was this: if the Jews reject Him as they did Elijah and Elisha, He too will reject them and turn to the Gentiles (see Matthew 21:43). Indeed, Christ of ten found more faith among the Gentiles than among the Jews (Matthew 8:8-10).
28-30 The people of Nazareth could stand Jesus’ words no longer. They tried to kill Him by throwing Him of f a clif f located near the edge of the town. But He miraculously escaped from them (John 8:59; 10:39). It was not God’s time for Him to die.
Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit (4:31-37)
(Mark 1:21-28)
31-37 See Mark 1:21-28 and comment.
Jesus Heals Many (4:38-44)
(Matthew 8:14-17; Mark 1:29-39)
38-44 See Mark 1:29-39 and comment.