Luke 4:44

And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.

And {G2532} he preached {G2258}{G2784} in {G1722} the synagogues {G4864} of Galilee {G1056}.

He also spent time preaching in the synagogues of Y'hudah.

And He continued to preach in the synagogues of Judea.

And he was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

Commentary

Luke 4:44 offers a concise summary of Jesus's continued, active ministry in the northern region of Israel, specifically focusing on His method and location of teaching after His initial powerful demonstrations in Capernaum.

Context of Luke 4:44

This verse serves as a concluding statement to a significant passage describing Jesus's early public ministry. Prior to this, Luke recounts Jesus's powerful exorcism in the synagogue of Capernaum, followed by the healing of Simon Peter's mother-in-law and many others (Luke 4:40-41). Despite the crowds' desire to keep Him, Jesus declared His divine mission: "I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent" (Luke 4:43). Verse 44 directly illustrates His commitment to this mission, highlighting His widespread activity throughout the region of Galilee. This area, often referred to as "Galilee of the Gentiles," was a diverse and populated region, making it a fitting stage for the expansive reach of the Gospel.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Widespread Proclamation: Jesus's ministry was not confined to one town or community. The phrase "preached in the synagogues of Galilee" emphasizes His systematic and extensive efforts to spread His message across the region, reaching many different communities. This underscores the universal nature of the Gospel message.
  • Strategic Engagement: Synagogues were central to Jewish life, serving as places of worship, study, and community gathering on the Sabbath. By consistently preaching in them, Jesus utilized existing, established platforms to reach a ready audience, demonstrating both His respect for Jewish tradition and His intention to bring His message directly to the people where they congregated.
  • Fulfillment of Mission: This verse directly shows Jesus acting on His stated purpose from the previous verse (Luke 4:43). His dedication to proclaiming the kingdom of God was unwavering, irrespective of the reception He might receive, as seen earlier in His rejection at Nazareth (Luke 4:28-29).

Linguistic Insights

The KJV word "preached" comes from the Greek term kērussō (κηρύσσω), which means "to proclaim as a herald," "to announce publicly," or "to declare with authority." This isn't merely teaching or discussing; it implies a formal, public, and authoritative declaration of a message. The "synagogues" (Greek: synagōgē) were gathering places, distinct from the Jerusalem Temple, where Jewish communities would assemble for prayer, reading of the Law and Prophets, and teaching.

Practical Application and Reflection

Luke 4:44 offers valuable insights for believers today. It highlights Jesus's commitment to His mission and His willingness to go where people were gathered to share the truth. This encourages us to be intentional and strategic in sharing the Gospel, leveraging available platforms and opportunities to reach a wide audience. Just as Jesus proclaimed the good news of the kingdom, we are called to be heralds of His message, passionately and consistently, in our own "Galilees" – our communities and spheres of influence.

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Cross-References

  • Matthew 4:23 (4 votes)

    ¶ And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

  • Mark 1:39 (3 votes)

    And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

  • Luke 4:15 (2 votes)

    And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.