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Luke 4:1

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

And {G1161} Jesus {G2424} being full {G4134} of the Holy {G40} Ghost {G4151} returned {G5290} from {G575} Jordan {G2446}, and {G2532} was led {G71} by {G1722} the Spirit {G4151} into {G1519} the wilderness {G2048},

Then Yeshua, filled with the Ruach HaKodesh, returned from the Yarden and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness

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

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

Commentary

Luke 4:1 marks a pivotal moment in Jesus's earthly ministry, immediately following His baptism and divine affirmation. This verse sets the stage for His wilderness temptation, a crucial period of preparation before His public ministry truly begins.

Context

This verse directly follows Jesus's baptism in the Jordan River, where the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice from heaven declared Him to be God's beloved Son. Having received this divine anointing and affirmation, Jesus is now "full of the Holy Ghost," indicating a profound spiritual empowerment. The transition from the public event at the Jordan to the solitude of the wilderness signifies a period of intense spiritual preparation and testing, essential for the demanding work ahead.

Key Themes

  • Divine Empowerment and Anointing: The phrase "full of the Holy Ghost" highlights Jesus's complete reliance on and saturation with the Spirit's power. This is not merely a symbolic presence but a dynamic, enabling force that equips Him for His messianic mission. It underscores that even the Son of God operated within the confines of His humanity, empowered by the Spirit.
  • Divine Leading and Obedience: Jesus was "led by the Spirit into the wilderness." This demonstrates His perfect obedience and submission to the Father's will, guided entirely by the Holy Spirit. His journey into the wilderness was not accidental but a deliberate act of divine direction, preparing Him for the spiritual warfare he would face. This sets a precedent for believers to seek and follow divine guidance.
  • Preparation for Ministry: The wilderness experience, though challenging, served as a vital period of spiritual refinement and testing. It was here that Jesus would confront temptation from the devil, proving His unwavering commitment to God's will and His suitability as the spotless Lamb. This period of intense spiritual battle is a necessary precursor to His powerful public ministry, as detailed in Luke 4:2-13.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek phrase for "full of the Holy Ghost" is plērēs Pneumatos Hagiou, emphasizing a complete and overflowing measure of the Spirit's presence and influence. Similarly, "led by the Spirit" translates from ēgeto en tō Pneumati, which conveys the active, guiding role of the Spirit in directing Jesus's path and actions. This active leading contrasts with a passive presence, indicating direct divine orchestration of events in Jesus's life.

Practical Application

Luke 4:1 offers profound insights for believers today. Just as Jesus, the Son of God, was empowered and led by the Holy Spirit, so too are Christians called to live lives surrendered to and guided by the Spirit. This verse reminds us that:

  • Empowerment Precedes Service: Before undertaking significant spiritual work, there's often a need for profound spiritual empowerment and preparation.
  • Divine Guidance is Essential: We should seek and follow the Spirit's leading, even when it takes us to unexpected or challenging "wilderness" places. These experiences can be crucial for our spiritual growth and preparation for God's purposes. Romans 8:14 affirms that those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.
  • Preparation Involves Testing: God often uses periods of solitude, testing, and spiritual warfare to strengthen us and refine our faith, preparing us for greater impact in His kingdom.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 4:1 (18 votes)

    ¶ Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

  • Matthew 4:11 (18 votes)

    Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

  • Acts 10:38 (15 votes)

    How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

  • Mark 1:12 (13 votes)

    And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

  • Mark 1:13 (13 votes)

    And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

  • Luke 4:18 (11 votes)

    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,

  • Isaiah 61:1 (9 votes)

    ¶ The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound;