1 And G1161 Jesus G2424 being full G4134 of the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 returned G5290 from G575 Jordan, G2446 and G2532 was led G71 by G1722 the Spirit G4151 into G1519 the wilderness, G2048
2 Being G3985 forty G5062 days G2250 tempted G3985 of G5259 the devil. G1228 And G2532 in G1722 those G1565 days G2250 he did eat G5315 nothing: G3756 G3762 and G2532 when they G846 were ended, G4931 he afterward G5305 hungered. G3983
3 And G2532 the devil G1228 said G2036 unto him, G846 If G1487 thou be G1488 the Son G5207 of God, G2316 command G2036 this G5129 stone G3037 that G2443 it be made G1096 bread. G740
4 And G2532 Jesus G2424 answered G611 him, G4314 G846 saying, G3004 It is written, G1125 That G3754 man G444 shall G2198 not G3756 live G2198 by G1909 bread G740 alone, G3441 but G235 by G1909 every G3956 word G4487 of God. G2316
5 And G2532 the devil, G1228 taking G321 him G846 up G321 into G1519 an high G5308 mountain, G3735 shewed G1166 unto him G846 all G3956 the kingdoms G932 of the world G3625 in G1722 a moment G4743 of time. G5550
6 And G2532 the devil G1228 said G2036 unto him, G846 All G537 this G5026 power G1849 will I give G1325 thee, G4671 and G2532 the glory G1391 of them: G846 for G3754 that is delivered G3860 unto me; G1698 and G2532 to G3739 whomsoever G1437 I will G2309 I give G1325 it. G846
7 If G1437 thou G4771 therefore G3767 wilt worship G4352 me, G1799 G3450 all G3956 shall be G2071 thine. G4675
8 And G2532 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and said G2036 unto him, G846 Get thee G5217 behind G3694 me, G3450 Satan: G4567 for G1063 it is written, G1125 Thou shalt worship G4352 the Lord G2962 thy G4675 God, G2316 and G2532 him G846 only G3441 shalt thou serve. G3000
9 And G2532 he brought G71 him G846 to G1519 Jerusalem, G2419 and G2532 set G2476 him G846 on G1909 a pinnacle G4419 of the temple, G2411 and G2532 said G2036 unto him, G846 If G1487 thou be G1488 the Son G5207 of God, G2316 cast G906 thyself G4572 down G2736 from hence: G1782
10 For G1063 G3754 it is written, G1125 He shall give G1781 his G846 angels G32 charge G1781 over G4012 thee, G4675 to keep G1314 thee: G4571
11 And G2532 G3754 in G1909 their hands G5495 they shall bear G142 thee G4571 up, G142 lest at any time G3379 thou dash G4350 thy G4675 foot G4228 against G4314 a stone. G3037
12 And G2532 Jesus G2424 answering G611 said G2036 unto him, G846 It is said, G3754 G2046 Thou shalt G1598 not G3756 tempt G1598 the Lord G2962 thy G4675 God. G2316
13 And G2532 when the devil G1228 had ended G4931 all G3956 the temptation, G3986 he departed G868 from G575 him G846 for G891 a season. G2540
14 And G2532 Jesus G2424 returned G5290 in G1722 the power G1411 of the Spirit G4151 into G1519 Galilee: G1056 and G2532 there went out G1831 a fame G5345 of G4012 him G846 through G2596 all G3650 the region round about. G4066
15 And G2532 he G846 taught G1321 in G1722 their G846 synagogues, G4864 being glorified G1392 of G5259 all. G3956
16 And G2532 he came G2064 to G1519 Nazareth, G3478 where G3757 he had been G2258 brought up: G5142 and, G2532 as G2596 his G846 custom G1486 was, G2596 he went G1525 into G1519 the synagogue G4864 on G1722 the sabbath G4521 day, G2250 and G2532 stood up G450 for to read. G314
17 And G2532 there was delivered G1929 unto him G846 the book G975 of the prophet G4396 Esaias. G2268 And G2532 when he had opened G380 the book, G975 he found G2147 the place G5117 where G3757 it was G2258 written, G1125
18 The Spirit G4151 of the Lord G2962 is upon G1909 me, G1691 because G1752 he hath anointed G5548 me G3165 to preach the gospel G2097 to the poor; G4434 he hath sent G649 me G3165 to heal G2390 the brokenhearted, G4937 G2588 to preach G2784 deliverance G859 to the captives, G164 and G2532 recovering of sight G309 to the blind, G5185 to set G649 at G1722 liberty G859 them that are bruised, G2352
19 To preach G2784 the acceptable G1184 year G1763 of the Lord. G2962
20 And G2532 he closed G4428 the book, G975 and he gave it again G591 to the minister, G5257 and sat down. G2523 And G2532 the eyes G3788 of all them G3956 that were G2258 in G1722 the synagogue G4864 were fastened G816 on him. G846
21 And G1161 he began G756 to say G3004 unto G4314 them, G846 This G3754 day G4594 is G4137 this G3778 scripture G1124 fulfilled G4137 in G1722 your G5216 ears. G3775
22 And G2532 all G3956 bare G3140 him G846 witness, G3140 and G2532 wondered G2296 at G1909 the gracious G5485 words G3056 which G3588 proceeded G1607 out of G1537 his G846 mouth. G4750 And G2532 they said, G3004 Is G2076 not G3756 this G3778 Joseph's G2501 son? G5207
23 And G2532 he said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846 Ye will G2046 surely G3843 say G2046 unto me G3427 this G5026 proverb, G3850 Physician, G2395 heal G2323 thyself: G4572 whatsoever G3745 we have heard G191 done G1096 in G1722 Capernaum, G2584 do G4160 also G2532 here G5602 in G1722 thy G4675 country. G3968
24 And G1161 he said, G2036 Verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 G3754 No G3762 prophet G4396 is G2076 accepted G1184 in G1722 his own G846 country. G3968
25 But G1161 I tell G3004 you G5213 of G1909 a truth, G225 many G4183 widows G5503 were G2258 in G1722 Israel G2474 in G1722 the days G2250 of Elias, G2243 when G3753 the heaven G3772 was shut up G2808 G1909 three G5140 years G2094 and G2532 six G1803 months, G3376 when G5613 great G3173 famine G3042 was G1096 throughout G1909 all G3956 the land; G1093
26 But G2532 unto G4314 none G3762 of them G846 was G3992 Elias G2243 sent, G3992 save G1508 unto G1519 Sarepta, G4558 a city of Sidon, G4605 unto G4314 a woman G1135 that was a widow. G5503
27 And G2532 many G4183 lepers G3015 were G2258 in G1722 Israel G2474 in the time G1909 of Eliseus G1666 the prophet; G4396 and G2532 none G3762 of them G846 was cleansed, G2511 saving G1508 Naaman G3497 the Syrian. G4948
28 And G2532 all they G3956 in G1722 the synagogue, G4864 when they heard G191 these things, G5023 were filled G4130 with wrath, G2372
29 And G2532 rose up, G450 and thrust G1544 him G846 out of G1854 the city, G4172 and G2532 led G71 him G846 unto G2193 the brow G3790 of the hill G3735 whereon G1909 G3739 their G846 city G4172 was built, G3618 that G1519 they might cast G2630 him G846 down headlong. G2630
30 But G1161 he G846 passing G1330 through G1223 the midst G3319 of them G846 went his way, G4198
31 And G2532 came down G2718 to G1519 Capernaum, G2584 a city G4172 of Galilee, G1056 and G2532 taught G1321 them G846 G2258 on G1722 the sabbath days. G4521
32 And G2532 they were astonished G1605 at G1909 his G846 doctrine: G1322 for G3754 his G846 word G3056 was G2258 with G1722 power. G1849
33 And G2532 in G1722 the synagogue G4864 there was G2258 a man, G444 which had G2192 a spirit G4151 of an unclean G169 devil, G1140 and G2532 cried out G349 with a loud G3173 voice, G5456
34 Saying, G3004 Let us alone; G1436 what G5101 have we to do G2254 with thee, G4671 G2532 thou Jesus G2424 of Nazareth? G3479 art thou come G2064 to destroy G622 us? G2248 I know G1492 thee G4571 who G5101 thou art; G1488 the Holy One G40 of God. G2316
35 And G2532 Jesus G2424 rebuked G2008 him, G846 saying, G3004 Hold thy peace, G5392 and G2532 come G1831 out of G1537 him. G846 And G2532 when the devil G1140 had thrown G4496 him G846 in G1519 the midst, G3319 he came G1831 out of G575 him, G846 and hurt G984 him G846 not. G3367
36 And G2532 they were G1096 all G1909 G3956 amazed, G2285 and G2532 spake G4814 among G4314 themselves, G240 saying, G3004 What G5101 a word G3056 is this! G3778 for G3754 with G1722 authority G1849 and G2532 power G1411 he commandeth G2004 the unclean G169 spirits, G4151 and G2532 they come out. G1831
37 And G2532 the fame G2279 of G4012 him G846 went out G1607 into G1519 every G3956 place G5117 of the country round about. G4066
38 And G1161 he arose G450 out of G1537 the synagogue, G4864 and entered G1525 into G1519 Simon's G4613 house. G3614 And G1161 Simon's G4613 wife's mother G3994 was G2258 taken with G4912 a great G3173 fever; G4446 and G2532 they besought G2065 him G846 for G4012 her. G846
39 And G2532 he stood G2186 over G1883 her, G846 and rebuked G2008 the fever; G4446 and G2532 it left G863 her: G846 and immediately G3916 she arose G450 and G1161 ministered G1247 unto them. G846
40 Now G1161 when the sun G2246 was setting, G1416 all G3956 they that G3745 had G2192 any sick G770 with divers G4164 diseases G3554 brought G71 them G846 unto G4314 him; G846 and G1161 he laid G2007 his hands G5495 on G2007 every G1538 one G1520 of them, G846 and healed G2323 them. G846
41 And G1161 devils G1140 also G2532 came G1831 out of G575 many, G4183 crying out, G2896 and G2532 saying, G3004 G3754 Thou G4771 art G1488 Christ G5547 the Son G5207 of God. G2316 And G2532 he rebuking G2008 them suffered G1439 them G846 not G3756 to speak: G2980 for G3754 they knew G1492 that he G846 was G1511 Christ. G5547
42 And G1161 when it was G1096 day, G2250 he departed G1831 and went G4198 into G1519 a desert G2048 place: G5117 and G2532 the people G3793 sought G2212 him, G846 and G2532 came G2064 unto G2193 him, G846 and G2532 stayed G2722 him, G846 that he should not G3361 depart G4198 from G575 them. G846
43 And G1161 he said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846 G3754 I G3165 must G1163 preach G2097 the kingdom G932 of God G2316 to other G2087 cities G4172 also: G2532 for G3754 therefore G1519 G5124 am I sent. G649
44 And G2532 he preached G2258 G2784 in G1722 the synagogues G4864 of Galilee. G1056
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Luke 4
Commentary on Luke 4 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 4
Lu 4:1-13. Temptation of Christ.
(See on Mt 4:1-11.)
Lu 4:14-32. Jesus Entering on His Public Ministry, Makes a Circuit of Galilee—Rejection at Nazareth.
Note.—A large gap here occurs, embracing the important transactions in Galilee and Jerusalem which are recorded in Joh 1:29-4:54, and which occurred before John's imprisonment (Joh 3:24); whereas the transactions here recorded occurred (as appears from Mt 4:12, 13) after that event. The visit to Nazareth recorded in Mt 13:54-58 (and Mr 6:1-6) we take to be not a later visit, but the same with this first one; because we cannot think that the Nazarenes, after being so enraged at His first display of wisdom as to attempt His destruction, should, on a second display of the same, wonder at it and ask how He came by it, as if they had never witnessed it before.
16. as his custom was—Compare Ac 17:2.
stood up for to read—Others besides rabbins were allowed to address the congregation. (See Ac 13:15.)
18, 19. To have fixed on any passage announcing His sufferings (as Isa 53:1-12), would have been unsuitable at that early stage of His ministry. But He selects a passage announcing the sublime object of His whole mission, its divine character, and His special endowments for it; expressed in the first person, and so singularly adapted to the first opening of the mouth in His prophetic capacity, that it seems as if made expressly for this occasion. It is from the well-known section of Isaiah's prophecies whose burden is that mysterious "Servant of the Lord," despised of man, abhorred of the nation, but before whom kings on seeing Him are to arise, and princes to worship; in visage more marred than any man and His form than the sons of men, yet sprinkling many nations; laboring seemingly in vain, and spending His strength for naught and in vain, yet Jehovah's Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and be His Salvation to the ends of the earth (Isa 49:1-26, &c.). The quotation is chiefly from the Septuagint version, used in the synagogues.
19. acceptable year—an allusion to the jubilee year (Le 25:10), a year of universal release for person and property. (See also Isa 49:8; 2Co 6:2.) As the maladies under which humanity groans are here set forth under the names of poverty, broken-heartedness, bondage, blindness, bruisedness (or crushedness), so, as the glorious Healer of all these maladies, Christ announces Himself in the act of reading it, stopping the quotation just before it comes to "the day of vengeance," which was only to come on the rejecters of His message (Joh 3:17). The first words, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me," have been noted since the days of the Church Fathers, as an illustrious example of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost being exhibited as in distinct yet harmonious action in the scheme of salvation.
20. the minister—the chazan, or synagogue-officer.
all eyes … fastened on Him—astounded at His putting in such claims.
21. began to say, &c.—His whole address was just a detailed application to Himself of this and perhaps other like prophecies.
22. gracious words—"the words of grace," referring both to the richness of His matter and the sweetness of His manner (Ps 45:2).
Is not this, &c.—(See on Mt 13:54-56). They knew He had received no rabbinical education, and anything supernatural they seemed incapable of conceiving.
23. this proverb—like our "Charity begins at home."
whatsoever, &c.—"Strange rumors have reached our ears of Thy doings at Capernaum; but if such power resides in Thee to cure the ills of humanity, why has none of it yet come nearer home, and why is all this alleged power reserved for strangers?" His choice of Capernaum as a place of residence since entering on public life was, it seems, already well known at Nazareth; and when He did come thither, to give no displays of His power when distant places were ringing with His fame, wounded their pride. He had indeed "laid his hands on a few sick folk and healed them" (Mr 6:5); but this seems to have been done quite privately the general unbelief precluding anything more open.
24. And he said, &c.—He replies to the one proverb by another, equally familiar, which we express in a rougher form—"Too much familiarity breeds contempt." Our Lord's long residence in Nazareth merely as a townsman had made Him too common, incapacitating them for appreciating Him as others did who were less familiar with His everyday demeanor in private life. A most important principle, to which the wise will pay due regard. (See also Mt 7:6, on which our Lord Himself ever acted.)
25-27. But I tell you, &c.—falling back for support on the well-known examples of Elijah and Elisha (Eliseus), whose miraculous power, passing by those who were near, expended itself on those at a distance, yea on heathens, "the two great prophets who stand at the commencement of prophetic antiquity, and whose miracles strikingly prefigured those of our Lord. As He intended like them to feed the poor and cleanse the lepers, He points to these miracles of mercy, and not to the fire from heaven and the bears that tore the mockers" [Stier].
three years and six months—So Jas 5:17, including perhaps the six months after the last fall of rain, when there would be little or none at any rate; whereas in 1Ki 18:1, which says the rain returned "in the third year," that period is probably not reckoned.
26, 27. save … saving—"but only." (Compare Mr 13:32, Greek.)
Sarepta—"Zarephath" (1Ki 17:9), a heathen village between Tyre and Sidon. (See Mr 7:24.)
28, 29. when they heard these things—these allusions to the heathen, just as afterwards with Paul (Ac 22:21, 22).
29. rose up—broke up the service irreverently and rushed forth.
thrust him—with violence, as a prisoner in their hands.
brow, &c.—Nazareth, though not built on the ridge of a hill, is in part surrounded by one to the west, having several such precipices. (See 2Ch 25:12; 2Ki 9:33.) It was a mode of capital punishment not unusual among the Romans and others. This was the first insult which the Son of God received, and it came from "them of His own household!" (Mt 10:36).
30. passing through the midst, &c.—evidently in a miraculous way, though perhaps quite noiselessly, leading them to wonder afterwards what spell could have come over them, that they allowed Him to escape. (Similar escapes, however, in times of persecution, are not unexampled.)
31. down to Capernaum—It lay on the Sea of Galilee (Mt 4:13), whereas Nazareth lay high.
Lu 4:33-37. Demoniac Healed.
33. unclean—The frequency with which this character of impurity is applied to evil spirits is worthy of notice.
cried out, &c.—(See Mt 8:29; Mr 3:11).
35. rebuked them, &c.—(See on Lu 4:41).
thrown him, &c.—See on Mr 9:20.
36. What a word—a word from the Lord of spirits.
Lu 4:38-41. Peter's Mother-in-law and Many Others, Healed.
(See on Mt 8:14-17.)
41. suffered them not to speak—The marginal reading ("to say that they knew him to be Christ") here is wrong. Our Lord ever refused testimony from devils, for the very reason why they were eager to give it, because He and they would thus seem to be one interest, as His enemies actually alleged. (See on Mt 12:24, &c.; see also Ac 16:16-18.)
Lu 4:42-44. Jesus Sought Out at Morning Prayer, and Entreated to Stay, Declines from the Urgency of His Work.
See on Mr 1:35-39, where we learn how early He retired, and how He was engaged in solitude when they came seeking Him.
42. stayed him—"were staying Him," or sought to do it. What a contrast to the Gadarenes! The nature of His mission required Him to keep moving, that all might hear the glad tidings (Mt 8:34).
43. I must, &c.—but duty only could move Him to deny entreaties so grateful to His spirit.