Bible Commentaries
Luke 4

Verse 1

3 This paragraph is really a repetition of Matthew 4 1-11, and to conserve space I shall request the reader to see that place in connection with this group.

Verse 14

4 Power is from DUNAMIS which means might or ability that belongs to an individual as a part of his own personality. Jesus possessed such a faculty which he exercised through the instrumentality of the Spirit. This enabled him to perform many miracles which caused him to become famous throughout all Galilee.

Verse 15

5 Synagogues is explained at Mat 4:23. To glorify is defined in the lexicon, "to praise, extol, magnify, 'celebrate." This honor was bestowed upon Jesus because of his wonderful teaching. (See Mat 7:28-29.)

Verse 16

6 Nazareth was the "home town" of Jesus to which he was paying a visit. When he stood up in the synagogue it was a signal to the one in charge that he was ready to do some reading, that being the main purpose of the synagogues.

Verse 17

7 Observing the position of Jesus, the ruler of the synagogue handed him the book of Isaiah. Being divinely inspired, Jesus did not need the copy to know what it said, but it was a mark of respect for "the written word" for him to read it, and he had no trouble in locating the place he wished to read which is quoted next verse.

Verse 18

8 This passage is in Isa 61:1-3, and Is a prediction of the spiritual mission of Jesus into the world. However, some of the statements have reference also to the miraculous cures he was to perform.

Verse 19

9 Acceptable year denotes one in which the most desirable and beneficial experiences would be offered to all who would accept them.

Verse 20

0 Thayer defines the original for minister as "an attendant." It was customary, after the reading had been done, for the reader or someone else to offer some comments if it was his desire (Act 13:14, etc.). All eyes were fastened on him. They were wondering if this famous man would also become their "guest speaker."

Verse 21

1 He did, and this verse is the introduction to his remarks. By applying the passage to himself, Jesus raised a stir within the audience, at least in their minds, to begin with.

Verse 22

2 The first reaction was not so unfavorable but it caused them to begin to wonder in their minds. Is this not Joseph's son? The idea was whether this humble native could speak such wonderful things.

Verse 23

3 Jesus was aware of the reasoning the people were doing, whether he heard them with his fleshly ears or not. He knew they would wonder why he did not perform the same amount of wonderful deeds there that he was reported to have done in other countries such as that in the vicinity of Capernaum. Physician, heal thyself was a prediction that was fulfilled at the cross (Mat 27:40), but. the other words of the verse were being fulfilled while Jesus was speaking.

Verse 24

4 This verse explains why he did not go any farther with his work while in the neighborhood of Nazareth. It was because the people would not appreciate it on the principle that no prophet is accepted in his own country.

Verse 25

5 This verse merely shows that the condition of dependency was very general in the days to which Jesus will soon refer in remarks about who was favored.

Verse 26

6 Elias is the same as Elijah in 1Ki 17:8-16.

Verse 27

7 Eliseus is the same as Elisha in 2Ki 5:1-14.

Verse 28

8 The people saw the point that Jesus was making. If those old prophets passed over so many people and bestowed their favors upon a few humble cases, it was because they were considered worthy of the benefits. Hence, these people in the home community of Jesus were not going to receive very much attention from him because they were not considered as being entitled to it, having given him "the cold shoulder" because he was an old home product. When they saw this lesson in the teaching of Jesus it made them to be filled with wrath.

Verse 29

9 Jesus did not resist their force until it was necessary to preserve his life. It was not time for him to die and hence he used his superior might to escape his enemies. However, he did not use force but escaped by a miraculous movement.

Verse 30

0 This movement enabled him to go on his way without harming them.

Verse 31

1 Capernaum was the other city which Jesus had previously adopted as a residence (Mat 4:13).

Verse 32

2 This verse means exactly the same as Mat 7:29, because the word for power is EXOUSIA, which is the word for "authority" in that passage.

Verse 33

3 Unclean means in regard to moral character, and this was one of the fallen angels that sinned and' were cast down to hell (2Pe 2:4), which is explained in the notes at Mat 8:28-29.

Verse 34

4 The note cited in the preceding paragraph explains why the devil said I know thee who thou art, and also why he asked to be let alone.

Verse 35

5 These devils had superhuman power and could injure human beings unless restrained. Jesus suffered this one to throw the man down but not hurt him otherwise.

Verse 36

6 An interesting feature of this verse is the use of both authority and power in one connection. The first comes from EXOUSIA and its first definition is the word by which it is here rendered; the second is from DUNAMIS and is properly rendered in this place. The thought is that Jesus had the right to give orders to the devils, and also had the ability to execute the orders.

Verse 37

7 Jesus was not performing his deeds merely to gain notoriety, but such a result was inevitable because of the natural trait of interest in the unusual things.

Verse 38

8 This was Simon Peter (Mat 4:18) whose mother-in-law was sick. We observe that Peter was married, although the Romanists forbid their clergy to marry, and yet claim that Peter was the first pope.

Verse 39

9 All miraculous cures were immediate as this one was.

Verse 40

0 By evening the fame of Jesus had reached so far that many afflicted persons had been gathered together, and when they were brought to him he healed them all.

Verse 41

1 Jesus would not suffer the devils even to confess him, because he did not want to be supported by such unworthy characters. Besides, their confession would not have been a matter of faith for they knew that he was the Christ.

Verse 42

2 Wherever Jesus went the crowds followed. Stayed him means they detained him; not by force to be sure, but by earnest requests.

Verse 43

3 Jesus was kind and did not want to disappoint the people, so he explained that other places should have the preaching of the kingdom given them also.

Verse 44

4 With such an explanation, Jesus left this eager crowd and preached in the same general territory, but in the synagogues where other people would be assembled.