Luke 4:34

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.

Saying {G3004}, Let us alone {G1436}; what {G5101} have we to do {G2254} with thee {G4671},{G2532} thou Jesus {G2424} of Nazareth {G3479}? art thou come {G2064} to destroy {G622} us {G2248}? I know {G1492} thee {G4571} who {G5101} thou art {G1488}; the Holy One {G40} of God {G2316}.

"Yaah! What do you want with us, Yeshua from Natzeret? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are -- the Holy One of God!"

“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!”

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.

Luke 4:34 records a dramatic encounter during Jesus' early ministry in the synagogue at Capernaum. This verse captures the direct confrontation between an unclean spirit inhabiting a man and Jesus, highlighting the immediate recognition of Jesus' divine authority by the forces of darkness.

Context

This event occurs shortly after Jesus begins His public ministry in Galilee, having returned to Capernaum after teaching in Nazareth (see Luke 4:14). He was teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath, and the people were astonished by His authoritative teaching, which stood in stark contrast to that of the scribes (Luke 4:32). The presence of the man with an unclean spirit underscores the spiritual battle Jesus had come to wage against evil.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Jesus' Unquestionable Authority: The unclean spirit immediately recognizes Jesus' power and authority, even questioning if He had come to "destroy" them. This demonstrates that spiritual beings, both good and evil, understood Jesus' identity and mission far more clearly than many humans at the time.
  • Demonic Recognition of Christ's Identity: The spirit confesses, "I know thee who thou art; The Holy One of God." This is a profound, albeit forced, declaration of Jesus' unique, divine nature. While humans often struggled with who Jesus was, demons had no such confusion about the true identity of the Messiah. This confession parallels other instances where evil spirits identify Jesus (e.g., Mark 1:24).
  • The Battle Against Spiritual Darkness: This incident clearly portrays Jesus' ministry as one of liberation from the oppression of evil. His presence was a direct threat to the kingdom of darkness, signifying the beginning of its overthrow.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "what have we to do with thee" is a common Semitic idiom (Greek: ti hemin kai soi) which literally means "What is to us and to you?" or "What concern is it to us and to you?" It expresses a desire for separation, a sense of having nothing in common, or an objection to interference. Here, it reflects the spirit's alarm at Jesus' presence and its desperate plea for Him to leave them undisturbed.

The title "The Holy One of God" (Greek: ho Hagios tou Theou) is a significant Messianic title, emphasizing Jesus' unique purity, separation from sin, and divine appointment. It highlights His consecrated nature and His role as the divinely chosen Messiah, a truth recognized by the demonic realm even before Peter's similar confession in John 6:69.

Practical Application

Luke 4:34 reminds believers that Jesus possesses ultimate authority over all spiritual forces. We are called to recognize and submit to His authority, just as the demons did. This verse also underscores the reality of spiritual warfare and the fact that Jesus came to deliver people from the power of darkness. For us today, it means that through faith in Christ, we too can experience freedom from spiritual oppression and live under His liberating reign. It encourages us to boldly proclaim Jesus' identity as the "Holy One of God" and trust in His power to overcome evil in our lives and in the world.

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.

  • Mark 1:24

    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.

  • James 2:19

    Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

  • Matthew 8:29

    And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

  • Acts 3:14

    But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

  • Luke 4:41

    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.

  • Revelation 3:7

    And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

  • Luke 1:35

    And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

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