The Gospel According to
Luke 4
44 verses≈ 7 min2 peopleBSB
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In this chapter
The Temptation of Jesus
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He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He was hungry.
The devil
The devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
Jesus
But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
Man shall not live on bread alone.
Luke 4:4
Then the devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
The devil
“I will give You authority over all these kingdoms and all their glory,” he said. “For it has been relinquished to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish. So if You worship me, it will all be Yours.”
Jesus
But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.
Luke 4:8
The devil
“If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down from here. For it is written:
‘He will command His angels concerning You
to guard You carefully,
and they will lift You up in their hands,
so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus
But Jesus answered, “It also says, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.
Three tests, one answer
Whiteboard
Each time, Jesus answers with Scripture, and all three answers come from Deuteronomy, where Moses looks back on Israel’s forty years of testing in the wilderness. Where Israel faltered, Jesus stands firm.
Question
Quick question
Jesus answered every temptation the same way.
Which book did Jesus quote all three times?
Jesus Begins His Ministry
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and the news about Him spread throughout the surrounding region. He taught in their synagogues and was glorified by everyone.
The Rejection at Nazareth
Stylised map · locations approximate
Where it happened
Nazareth and Capernaum
Jesus grew up in Nazareth, a hill village in Galilee. After Nazareth rejects Him, He goes down to Capernaum, a lakeside town about 20 miles away and roughly 1,800 feet lower.
And when He stood up to read, the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it was written:
Listen · Read along
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me,
because He has anointed Me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
0:00 / 0:16
Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him,
and He began by saying, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
All spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips.
Nazareth synagogue
“Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked.
Jesus
Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to Me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in Your hometown what we have heard that You did in Capernaum.’”
Then He added, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown.
On hearing this, all the people in the synagogue were enraged.
They got up, drove Him out of the town, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw Him over the cliff. But Jesus passed through the crowd and went on His way.
Reflect
Too familiar?
Nazareth knew Jesus too well to listen: “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” Is there a familiar part of the Bible you have stopped really hearing?
Jesus Expels an Unclean Spirit
Then He went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath He began to teach the people. They were astonished at His teaching, because His message had authority.
In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon. He cried out in a loud voice,
Unclean spirit
“Ha! What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
But Jesus rebuked the demon.
Jesus
“Be silent!”
He said.
Jesus
“Come out of him!”
At this, the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without harming him.
All the people were overcome with amazement and asked one another, “What is this message? With authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” And the news about Jesus spread throughout the surrounding region.
With authority and power He commands the unclean spirits
Luke 4:36
Insight
Did you notice?
In Nazareth the people saw only “the son of Joseph.” In Capernaum an unclean spirit cried out that He was “the Holy One of God.” The people who should have known Him best missed who He was.
Jesus Heals at Peter’s House
After Jesus had left the synagogue, He went to the home of Simon, whose mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever. So they appealed to Jesus on her behalf, and He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And she got up at once and began to serve them.
Demons also came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But He rebuked the demons and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ.
Jesus Preaches in Judea
At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place, and the crowds were looking for Him. They came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving. 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.”
0:16
Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
because that is why I was sent
Luke 4:43
And He continued to preach in the synagogues of Judea.
Pray
Good news for you
Jesus read that He was sent “to preach good news to the poor” and “to release the oppressed.” Bring Him whatever feels poor, captive or oppressed in your life today.
You’ve experienced
Luke 4
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