Luke 4:16

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.

And {G2532} he came {G2064} to {G1519} Nazareth {G3478}, where {G3757} he had been {G2258} brought up {G5142}: and {G2532}, as {G2596} his {G846} custom {G1486} was {G2596}, he went {G1525} into {G1519} the synagogue {G4864} on {G1722} the sabbath {G4521} day {G2250}, and {G2532} stood up {G450} for to read {G314}.

Now when he went to Natzeret, where he had been brought up, on Shabbat he went to the synagogue as usual. He stood up to read,

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,

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.

Luke 4:16 marks a pivotal moment in Jesus' public ministry, describing His return to His hometown of Nazareth and His regular practice of attending synagogue worship. This verse sets the stage for His powerful declaration of purpose that immediately follows.

Context

After His baptism by John the Baptist (Luke 3:21) and the wilderness temptation (Luke 4:1), Jesus returned to Galilee, teaching with great authority. His journey brought Him to Nazareth, the town where He had grown up and spent His formative years. The synagogue was the center of Jewish community life, serving not only as a place of worship but also for education, social gatherings, and legal proceedings. For a devout Jew, attending synagogue on the Sabbath day was a deeply ingrained custom, rooted in the Old Testament commandments.

Key Themes

  • Jesus' Piety and Regular Practice: The phrase "as his custom was" highlights Jesus' consistent and lifelong participation in Jewish religious life. This demonstrates His obedience to the Law and His connection to the traditions of His people, even as He prepared to usher in a new covenant. It underscores His humanity and His example of faithfulness.
  • The Synagogue as a Platform: Jesus' action of standing up to read was a common practice for literate men in the synagogue. This seemingly ordinary act was, in fact, God's providential arrangement, providing Him the opportunity to publicly declare His mission and identity to His hometown, as recorded in the subsequent verses (Luke 4:17-19).
  • Preparation for Revelation: This verse is the calm before the storm—the quiet moment before Jesus unveils His prophetic ministry. It shows Him stepping into His role within the established religious framework before He transcends and redefines it.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek phrase for "as his custom was" is kata to eiōthos (κατὰ τὸ εἰωθός), which strongly conveys the idea of a habitual, regular practice. It wasn't a one-time event but a deeply ingrained pattern in Jesus' life. The act of "standing up for to read" reflects the traditional synagogue practice where a reader would stand respectfully to read from the sacred scrolls.

Practical Application

Luke 4:16 offers several insights for believers today:

  • Importance of Regular Worship: Jesus, being fully God, still honored the practice of corporate worship. His example encourages us to prioritize gathering with fellow believers for instruction, fellowship, and worship, recognizing its value for spiritual growth and community.
  • Faithfulness in Daily Life: Jesus' "custom" reminds us that faithfulness isn't just about grand gestures but about consistent, everyday habits of devotion and obedience to God's will.
  • Using Opportunities for God's Purpose: Just as Jesus used the synagogue platform, we are called to be attentive to the opportunities God provides in our regular routines and communities to live out and declare His truth.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 2:23

    And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

  • Acts 17:2

    And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

  • Mark 6:1

    ¶ And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.

  • Mark 6:3

    Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

  • Acts 13:14

    ¶ But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

  • Acts 13:16

    Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with [his] hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

  • Matthew 13:54

    And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this [man] this wisdom, and [these] mighty works?

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