Luke

Chapter 4

Luke 4:1-13
1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

As the final spiritual action of His baptism, Christ Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit!

At that point, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert! It was during this time that He was tempted by Satan for 40 days. It was also during that time that He was tempted just as we are tempted today.

Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

During His temptation, He did not succumb to the temptations of Satan!

That time was a time of fasting, which made Him hungry! It was during that period of physical hunger that Satan came to Him and tempted Him by saying, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones become bread.”

Notice that Satan did not challenge Christ on the matter of being the Son of God, but Satan did tempt Him to abuse His power as the Son!

Satan will do the same today as many Pastors are tempted to abuse the power given to them!

Satan will also abuse Scripture in his attempt to gain control over us. In this case, Satan used physical hunger. He will also use our physical needs to tempt us!

Jesus responded to that temptation by quoting Scripture! “It is written, ‘man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”

Deut 8:3c man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

That was true then and it is true now!

At that point, Satan took Christ up on a “mountain” and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world.

Satan Tempted Christ using greed! (What a waste of time!) Satan told Christ Jesus, I will give You all this, because they have been given to me, and to whomever I will give them! If you bow to me all this will be yours!”

Could Satan have done that?

The answer is, NO! Satan is a liar and the father of lies! All Satan claimed did not belong to him!

Many today teach that Adam gave Satan the earth in his temptation and fall. That is a false teaching, a lie, because Adam was never given the earth and therefore could not give it away!

Adam was given “dominion,” he was allowed to “manage” the earth but ownership was retained by God! The manager cannot sell the store! Only the owner can do that!

Ezek 18:4a Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine:…

Psalms 50:10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

Again, any such a teaching is FALSE, it is a lie!

The second temptation was also based on a lie!

John 8:44c for he [Satan] is a liar, and the father of it.

Again Jesus used the correct Scripture to refute Satan’s temptation, “Get behind me, Satan! It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.’”

Notice that Christ did not use human strategies to battle Satan! They do not work in the spirit world, and that battle was in the spirit!

Why should Christ be tempted to gain the kingdoms of the world through intrigue when they would be given to Him anyway by the real owner, God the Father!

Lastly, Satan took Jesus to the highest place on the Temple in Jerusalem!

There Satan again tempted Him with an “if.”

“If You are the Son of God, jump! After all, it is written, ‘He shall give his angels charge over You, to keep You: And in their hands they shall bear You up, lest at any time You dash Your foot against a stone.’”

Psalms 91:11-12
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Satan’s quote was accurate, but abusive! So, what was the Temptation?

Again, Jesus used Scripture to correct Satan’s abuse!

“It is said, ‘Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.’”

Deut 6:16a Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God,

Satan can quote Scripture as well as anyone! Our safety is in Christ, using what Christ used to defeat Satan’s temptations.

Following that temptation, Satan left Jesus and waited for a better time. That supposed better time came at Calvary! At that point, the great deceiver was deceived!

Luke 4:14-30
14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?
23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.
30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

Following Jesus’ temptations, He returned to the Galilee! The Holy Spirit was with Him!

The news about Him spread throughout the entire area as He taught in the synagogues and His teaching was held in high regard.

Then, Jesus returned to Nazareth, the town where He was brought up. On the Sabbath He went into the synagogue as was His custom.

In the Synagogue someone usually stood to read. That is still the custom among Orthodox Jews.

He read from the Isaiah scroll, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor! He sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

That is a Messianic section of Isaiah! During those years there was a great Messianic feeling among the Jews. They were looking for the Messiah!

However, according to Jewish teaching there would be two Messiahs. One would be the Suffering Servant Messiah, Ha Messiach ben Yoseph. The other would be the conquering King Messiah, “Ha Messiach ben David.”

The Suffering Servant Messiah was standing in their midst, but they were looking for the conquering King Messiah.

How did they handle it?

When He read that passage, Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it to the congregational leader, and sat down. As they all looked on the wonder, Jesus said, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”

In saying that Christ Jesus declared that He was the Messiah! Their immediate response was, “Isn't the Joseph’s son?”

He immediately answered them, “You all will surely say to Me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself!’” [And,] Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do it here in your country.”

They did not take it too well!

Then Jesus caused more ill will by telling them, “Truthfully I tell you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. But, I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land. But, Elijah was sent to none of them except Sarepta, a city of Sidon, to a woman that was a widow. And, many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.”

When those in the synagogue heard that, they became furious. They rushed Jesus, dragged Him out of town, and took him to the top of a hill, intending to throw him off the cliff at the top of the hill. However, He just walked through the mob and went His way.

Luke 4:31-44
31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
34 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.
35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.
36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
37 And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.
38 And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.
39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.
40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.
41 And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.
42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.
43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
44 And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.

Following the incident in Nazareth, Jesus went to Capernaum, another town in Galilee. There He also taught on the Sabbath!

In Capernaum, the people were astounded at the way He taught! He spoke with authority!

Quite often we hear preachers reference their thoughts by saying that the Right Reverend Doctor so and so a hundred years ago said…

I have no doubt the Reverend a hundred years ago prayed to God and listened to hear what the Holy Spirit wanted him to tell his congregation. So, why don’t more of today’s Preachers follow the same path?

While in the Capernaum Synagogue Jesus encountered a man who was possessed by an evil demon! As Jesus approached the man, the demon cried out, “What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are, the Holy One of God.”

Demons know more than most people!

At that Jesus commanded the demon to be quiet and come out of the man! The demon reacted with limited violence, but obeyed Christ and freed the man!

Those present were amazed saying, “What is this? He speaks with authority (Gr. exousia-ἐξουσία) and power (Gr. dunamis-δύναμις)! He even commands evil spirits, and they come out!”

The report of Christ’s power spread! “Word-of-mouth is a powerful tool even today!

Then, Jesus left the Synagogue and went to the home of Peter’s mother-in-law. She was sick with a high fever!

The disciples with Him asked Him to intervene on her behalf. He did, rebuking the fever and it immediately left her. She got up and began to serve them. This may strike some as incorrect, but Christ heals so that we may serve Him! Without the healing touch of salvation we cannot serve Christ Jesus!

At sunset all who were sick with various diseases were brought to Jesus. He laid His hands on them and they all were healed (Gr. therapeuō-θεραπεύω).

In addition to the physical, therapeutic healing, demons also left many, crying out as they left, “You are Christ, the Son of God.”

Jesus ordered them to keep quiet. They knew that He is the Christ! It was not His time to be revealed to those around Him.

At daylight, Jesus went to a solitary place. The people began to search for Him.

Eventually they found Him, and stayed with Him begging Him not to leave again. His leaving was symbolic of His ascension into heaven. Their search was symbolic of how things have been since His ascension.

He told the crowd, “I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities, because that is why I was sent!” He mission was to bring Good News to all people! That mission now belongs to the Church that has been baptized into Christ Jesus!

Chapter 5
Index