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

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

where for forty days He was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He was hungry.

The devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”

Then the devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.

“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.”

But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”

Then the devil led Him to Jerusalem and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. “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.’”

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.

Jesus Begins Ministry in Galilee

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

Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. 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:

“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.”

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. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked.

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.

But I tell you truthfully that there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and great famine swept over all the land.

Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to the widow of Zarephath in Sidon.

And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet. Yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”

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.

Ministry in Capernaum

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,

“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. “Be silent!” He said. “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.

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.

At sunset, all who were ill with various diseases were brought to Jesus, and laying His hands on each one, He healed 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.

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.”

And He continued to preach in the synagogues of Judea.

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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