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 being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

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

And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

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.

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

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.

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:

For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:

And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

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

And when the devil had ended all the 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 there went out a fame of 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, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

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,

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,

To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

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.

And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

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?

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.

And he said, Verily I say unto 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 Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;

But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.

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

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.

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

Ministry in Capernaum

¶ And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,

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.

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.

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.

And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.

And he preached 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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