Luke4

Jesus, full of the Holy Ghost, was led into the wilderness where he was tempted by the devil for forty days, overcoming each trial with scripture. He then returned to Galilee, teaching with authority in synagogues. In Nazareth, he declared Isaiah's prophecy fulfilled in himself but was rejected by his townsfolk, leading them to attempt to cast him down. Moving to Capernaum, he began a powerful ministry of teaching, healing, and casting out devils, affirming his mission to preach the kingdom of God to many cities.

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The Temptation of Jesus

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led in the Spirit in the wilderness

during forty days, being tempted of the devil. And he did eat nothing in those days: and when they were completed, he hungered.

And the devil said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command this stone that it become bread.

And Jesus answered unto him, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone.

And he led him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

And the devil said unto him, To thee will I give all this authority, and the glory of them: for it hath been delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

If thou therefore wilt worship before me, it shall all be thine.

And Jesus answered and said unto him, It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

And he led him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:

for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, to guard thee:

and, On their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.

And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God.

And when the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him for a season.

Jesus Begins Ministry in Galilee

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and a fame went out concerning him through all the region round about.

And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.

The Rejection at Nazareth

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and he entered, as his custom was, into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up to read.

And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And he opened the book, and found the place where it was written,

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor: He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised,

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.

And he began to say unto them, To-day hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears.

And all bare him witness, and wondered at the words of grace which proceeded out of his mouth: and they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?

And he said unto them, Doubtless ye will say unto me this parable, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in thine own country.

And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is acceptable in his own country.

But of a truth I say unto you, There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there came a great famine over all the land;

and unto none of them was Elijah sent, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.

And they were all filled with wrath in the synagogue, as they heard these things;

and they rose up, and cast him forth out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might throw him down headlong.

But he passing through the midst of them went his way.

Ministry in Capernaum

And he came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the sabbath day:

and they were astonished at his teaching; for his word was with authority.

And in the synagogue there was a man, that had a spirit of an unclean demon; and he cried out with a loud voice,

Ah! what have we to do with thee, Jesus thou Nazarene? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst, he came out of him, having done him no hurt.

And amazement came upon all, and they spake together, one with another, saying, What is this word? for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.

And there went forth a rumor concerning him into every place of the region round about.

And he rose up from the synagogue, and entered into the house of Simon. And Simon’s wife’s mother was holden with a great fever; and they besought him for her.

And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she rose up and ministered unto them.

And 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.

And demons also came out from many, crying out, and saying, Thou art the Son of God. And rebuking them, he suffered them not to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

And when it was day, he came out and went into a desert place: and the multitudes sought after him, and came unto him, and would have stayed him, that he should not go from them.

But he said unto them, I must preach the good tidings of the kingdom of God to the other cities also: for therefore was I sent.

And he was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

Study Notes for Luke 4

Verse 1

Luke emphasizes that Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit following his baptism, was led by the Spirit directly into the wilderness to face temptation, highlighting his perfect obedience.

Verse 2

The forty days alludes to Israel's forty years in the wilderness and Moses' forty days on Sinai (Exod 34:28). Jesus succeeds where Israel failed, demonstrating his role as the obedient Son.

Verse 4

Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 8:3. The first temptation tests his reliance on God’s provision; Jesus asserts that spiritual sustenance and obedience to God’s word are paramount.

Verse 5

Luke places the temptation involving worldly authority second (unlike Matthew). This test focuses on the Messiah’s kingship and refusal to gain power through compromise with evil.

Verse 8

Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:13. This response is a statement of ultimate loyalty, refusing to compromise his identity or mission for worldly dominion, regardless of the promise of glory.

Verse 9

The Temple pinnacle was a highly visible and symbolic location. This temptation tests Jesus’ trust by urging him to perform a spectacular, attention-grabbing miracle.

Verse 12

Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:16. Testing God means demanding proof or forcing God's hand outside of faithful obedience, which is forbidden.

Verse 13

The phrase 'for a season' (or 'until an opportune time') is significant in Luke. It signals that the devil’s attacks are not over but will resume, culminating in the Passion narrative (cf. Luke 22:3).

Verse 14

Jesus returned 'in the power of the Spirit,' establishing the authority and divine enablement for his subsequent public ministry, which follows his successful resistance to temptation.

Verse 16

Luke establishes that Jesus adhered to traditional Jewish practice ('as his custom was') before initiating his radical new teaching and ministry.

Verse 17

The book of the prophet Esaias (Isaiah) was highly significant for messianic prophecy. Jesus uses this reading to define his ministry.

Verse 18

This quotation (from Isaiah 61:1-2 and 58:6) serves as Jesus' inaugural mission statement. It defines the Messiah's work as holistic liberation: spiritual, physical, and social, focusing especially on the marginalized.

Verse 19

The 'acceptable year of the Lord' likely alludes to the Year of Jubilee (Lev 25), symbolizing a time of debt cancellation, freedom, and radical restoration under God’s reign.

Verse 21

This is Jesus' central proclamation: the ancient prophecy is not merely about the future but is fulfilled *now* in his presence and ministry, demanding immediate belief and response.

Verse 22

The people are impressed by his eloquence but cannot reconcile his divine claims with their familiarity concerning his human origins ('Joseph's son'), illustrating the barrier of skepticism.

Verse 24

This proverb explains why Jesus must move beyond his home region. Familiarity often breeds skepticism, preventing people from recognizing God’s work among them.

Verse 25

Jesus cites Old Testament examples (Elijah and Elisha) where God extended grace and miracles to Gentiles, foreshadowing the universal scope of the gospel, a key Lukan theme (cf. Acts).

Verse 29

The extreme violence of the crowd (attempted lynching) demonstrates the immediate, intense hostility Jesus faced when he challenged their narrow, nationalistic expectations of the Messiah.

Verse 30

Jesus' miraculous departure emphasizes his sovereignty; his timing was not determined by human hatred, and no one could stop him before his appointed hour.

Verse 31

Capernaum became Jesus' primary base of operations in Galilee after the rejection at Nazareth, allowing his ministry to expand rapidly.

Verse 32

The astonishment of the people highlights the difference between Jesus' teaching and that of the scribes; Jesus taught with inherent, divine authority and power, not just interpretation.

Verse 34

The demon recognizes Jesus' true identity ('Holy One of God'), demonstrating supernatural knowledge, which Jesus immediately silences to control the revelation of his messianic status.

Verse 38

Simon (Peter) was already a follower of Jesus at this point. The healing takes place in a private home, demonstrating Jesus' power extending beyond the synagogue.

Verse 39

Jesus 'rebuked the fever,' treating the illness as an invading force. The healing was instantaneous and complete, evidenced by her immediate return to service ('ministered unto them').

Verse 40

The timing ('when the sun was setting') marks the end of the Sabbath, after which Jewish people could travel and bring their sick for healing.

Verse 41

Jesus silences the demons because he dictates the terms of his messianic revelation. Their premature testimony could confuse his mission as a political or purely magical one.

Verse 43

This statement clarifies Jesus' primary mission: to preach the Kingdom of God widely. His focus is evangelistic, not merely localized or focused solely on miraculous signs.

Verse 44

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Luke4

The Temptation of Jesus

Jesus Begins Ministry in Galilee

The Rejection at Nazareth

Ministry in Capernaum

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