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.
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,
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.
Overview of Luke Chapter 4
Luke Chapter 4 is a pivotal chapter in the Gospel of Luke, showcasing significant events in the early ministry of Jesus. This chapter includes the temptation of Jesus, His return to Galilee, the proclamation of His mission, and the rejection He faces in His hometown of Nazareth.
Temptation of Jesus (Verses 1-13)
In the first part of the chapter, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness where He faces temptation from the devil. This section emphasizes Jesus’ humanity and His reliance on Scripture.
- Filled with the Holy Spirit: Jesus begins His ministry empowered by the Holy Spirit.
- Forty Days of Fasting: He fasts for forty days, highlighting His commitment and preparation.
- Three Temptations:
- Turning Stones to Bread: Jesus resists the temptation to satisfy His hunger, quoting Deuteronomy 8:3.
- Throwing Himself from the Temple: The devil challenges Jesus to prove His divinity, but He responds with Deuteronomy 6:16.
- Offering All Kingdoms: The devil offers Jesus power and glory in exchange for worship, to which Jesus replies with Deuteronomy 6:13.
- Angelic Ministry: After the temptations, angels come to minister to Jesus, signifying divine support.
Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee (Verses 14-15)
Following His temptation, Jesus returns to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. His fame spreads as He teaches in synagogues, and He is praised by all.
Jesus Reads in the Synagogue (Verses 16-21)
Jesus visits Nazareth, His hometown, and reads from the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue. This moment is crucial as it signifies the announcement of His mission.
- Reading from Isaiah: He reads Isaiah 61:1-2, which speaks of the anointed one bringing good news to the poor, proclaiming freedom, and healing the brokenhearted.
- Declaration of Fulfillment: Jesus boldly claims that this scripture is fulfilled in their hearing, asserting His identity as the Messiah.
Rejection in Nazareth (Verses 22-30)
Despite initial amazement at His words, the people of Nazareth quickly turn against Him, questioning His authority and familiarity.
- Familiarity Breeds Contempt: The townspeople struggle to accept Jesus as the Messiah due to their knowledge of His upbringing.
- Examples from Elijah and Elisha: Jesus references the prophets Elijah and Elisha to illustrate that God’s blessings often extend beyond Israel, provoking anger among the people.
- Attempted Violence: The crowd attempts to throw Jesus off a cliff, but He miraculously passes through them unharmed, showcasing His divine authority.
Ministry in Capernaum (Verses 31-44)
Jesus moves to Capernaum, where He continues His ministry, performing miracles and teaching with authority.
- Teaching with Authority: His teachings astonish the people, contrasting with the scribes.
- Exorcism of an Unclean Spirit: Jesus demonstrates His power over evil by casting out a demon, which further establishes His authority.
- Healing Peter’s Mother-in-Law: He heals Simon’s mother-in-law, showcasing His compassion and power to heal.
- Healing Many: As the sun sets, people bring their sick and demon-possessed to Jesus, and He heals them, emphasizing His role as a healer.
- Withdrawal for Prayer: Jesus retreats to a solitary place to pray, highlighting the importance of prayer in His ministry.
- Mission to Preach: He expresses His mission to preach the good news to other towns, reinforcing the universal nature of His message.
Thematic Elements
- Identity of Jesus: The chapter emphasizes Jesus’ identity as the Messiah and His mission to bring salvation.
- Resistance and Rejection: The rejection by His own people illustrates the challenges He will face throughout His ministry.
- Authority of Jesus: His teachings and miracles demonstrate His divine authority, setting the stage for His ministry.
- Role of the Holy Spirit: The chapter highlights the significance of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ life and ministry.
Conclusion
Luke Chapter 4 serves as a foundational text that outlines the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, His mission, and the challenges He faces. It encapsulates key themes of identity, authority, and the nature of His work, setting the tone for the rest of the Gospel.
