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.

And {G1161} devils {G1140} also {G2532} came {G1831} out of {G575} many {G4183}, crying out {G2896}, and {G2532} saying {G3004},{G3754} Thou {G4771} art {G1488} Christ {G5547} the Son {G5207} of God {G2316}. And {G2532} he rebuking {G2008} them suffered {G1439} them {G846} not {G3756} to speak {G2980}: for {G3754} they knew {G1492} that he {G846} was {G1511} Christ {G5547}.

also demons came out of many, crying, "You are the Son of God!" But, rebuking them, he did not permit them to say that they knew he was the Messiah.

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.

And demons also came out from many, crying out, and saying, Thou art the Son of God. And rebuking them, he suffered them not to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

Commentary

Luke 4:41 continues the account of Jesus' powerful ministry in Galilee, specifically detailing His encounters with evil spirits. This verse highlights both His supreme authority over demonic forces and His strategic control over the revelation of His divine identity.

Context

This verse follows a day of intense ministry in Capernaum, where Jesus taught with authority in the synagogue (Luke 4:31-32), cast out an unclean spirit (Luke 4:33-36), and healed Simon's mother-in-law and many others afflicted with various diseases (Luke 4:38-40). Luke 4:41 summarizes the widespread nature of His exorcism ministry, demonstrating that His power was not limited to individual cases but was a consistent aspect of His work.

Key Themes

  • Jesus' Unquestionable Authority: The act of "devils" (demons) coming out of many people, simply by Jesus' command, underscores His absolute power over the spiritual realm. These entities, though malevolent, were utterly subject to His will, confirming His divine nature and mission.
  • Demonic Recognition of Jesus' Identity: The demons cry out, "Thou art Christ the Son of God." This immediate and accurate recognition of Jesus' true identity by evil spirits is significant. Unlike many humans who struggled to grasp who Jesus was, the demons inherently knew He was the Messiah, the divine Son of God. Their knowledge, however, was not one of worship but of fear and subjugation.
  • The Messianic Secret: Jesus "rebuking them suffered them not to speak." This action aligns with a recurring theme in the Gospels, often called the "Messianic Secret." Jesus frequently silenced demons, and sometimes even those He healed or His disciples, from proclaiming His identity. This was likely to control the timing and nature of His revelation, prevent misunderstanding of His mission (e.g., as a political revolutionary rather than a spiritual deliverer), and to avoid having His testimony validated by evil sources. His authority was demonstrated not just in casting out demons, but in silencing them too.

Linguistic Insights

  • The term "devils" in the KJV translates the Greek word daimonia (δαιμόνια), which refers to evil spirits or demons, distinct from diabolos (διάβολος), which refers to Satan, the Devil. This emphasizes that Jesus' authority extended over a multitude of malevolent spiritual beings.
  • The word "rebuking" (Greek: epitimao - ἐπιτιμάω) signifies a strong command, a severe warning, or a silencing. It is the same word used when Jesus commanded the wind and waves to be still or when He rebuked the unclean spirit in Luke 4:35, demonstrating His decisive and authoritative control.

Practical Application

Luke 4:41 reassures believers that Jesus possesses ultimate authority over all spiritual forces of evil. His power is not diminished today. While demons may recognize truth, their testimony is not desired or accepted by God. Jesus' control over His revelation teaches us the importance of divine timing and purpose, reminding us that God's plan unfolds according to His perfect will, not through sensationalism or premature declarations. This verse encourages us to trust in Jesus' sovereignty and to rely on His power when facing spiritual opposition.

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Cross-References

  • Mark 1:34 (11 votes)

    And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

  • James 2:19 (5 votes)

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

  • Acts 16:17 (4 votes)

    The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

  • Acts 16:18 (4 votes)

    And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

  • Luke 4:34 (4 votes)

    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.

  • Luke 4:35 (4 votes)

    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.

  • Mark 3:11 (3 votes)

    And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.