Luke 4: Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry
What compelled Jesus to fast for more than a month?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:1–2 Full of the Holy Spirit, Jesus left the Jordan River and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. For forty days, he fasted, eating nothing at all. Afterward, it was time to eat.
King James
Luke 4:1–2 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
Why did Satan wait until after the forty days before tempting Jesus to make bread?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:3 Satan said to him, “Since you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.”
King James
Luke 4:3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
Why did Jesus refuse Satan’s enticements?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:4 Jesus refused, quoting from Deuteronomy: “People do not live by bread only but by everything God says.“
4:8 Again, Jesus refused. “Get out of here, Satan. The scriptures say: Love the Lord your God and serve only him.“
4:12 “It is also written,” Jesus said, “You must not test the Lord your God.“
King James
Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
4:12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
What did Jesus have to gain by accepting Satan’s offer of power and glory?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:5–7 Satan took him to a high mountain and showed him the kingdoms of this world. “I will give you all this power and glory,” he said. “I can give it to anyone I please. Simply worship me, and you can have it all.”
King James
Luke 4:5–7 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
Why was jumping from the high place in the Temple an enticement?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:9–11 Satan took him to the Temple in Jerusalem and stood him on a high place. “Since you are the Son of God, jump. “For it is written, God will command his angels to protect you. They will hold you in their hands lest you strike your foot against a stone.“
King James
Luke 4:9–11 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Why did Satan quit tempting Jesus?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:13 After Satan had finished these temptations, he left for a while.
King James
Luke 4:13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
Why did reports about Jesus spread so quickly?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:14–15 Jesus entered Galilee in the power of the Spirit. Reports about him quickly spread throughout the countryside. Everyone praised him as he taught in their synagogues.
King James
Luke 4:14–15 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
Why was the Isaiah scroll handed to Jesus and not some other book?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:16–19 Jesus came to Nazareth, his boyhood home. As usual, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath. When he stood to read, someone handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled it and read from the place where Isaiah had written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, freedom for the oppressed, and recovery of sight for the blind— to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.“
King James
Luke 4:16–19 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 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, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
What did people think when Jesus explained Isaiah’s words?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:20–22 He rolled up the scroll, handed it to the attendant, and sat down. Everyone looked intently at Jesus as he spoke. “This very day, that scripture has been fulfilled.”
The people marveled at his eloquent words. “How can this be?” they said. “Isn’t he the son of Joseph?”
King James
Luke 4:20–22 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?
Why would people say the proverb: “Physician, heal yourself”?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:23 “No doubt,” Jesus said, “you will say this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself.’ You will ask me to do the same things here that you heard I did in Capernaum.
King James
Luke 4:23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
For what reasons are prophets accepted or rejected?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:24 “Well, I can tell you for sure, no prophet is accepted in his hometown.”
King James
Luke 4:24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
Why did God send Elijah to only one of many suffering widows?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:25–26 “In Elijah’s day, many widows suffered from the severe famine that devastated the land during those three and a half years of drought. Yet God did not send Elijah to any of them. God sent him only to a foreigner—a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.”
King James
Luke 4:25–26 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
How can we be sure that Elisha healed not even one Israelite leper? Why was the Syrian healed?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:27 “And in the time of the prophet Elisha, there were many lepers in Israel, but the only one healed was Naaman from Syria.”
King James
Luke 4:27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
What made the people so angry with Jesus?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:28–30 When the people heard this, they became a furious mob. They dragged him out of the synagogue, through the town, and to the brow of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, but he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
King James
Luke 4:28–30 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. But he passing through the midst of them went his way,
How did Jesus escape the mob?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:29–30 They dragged him out of the synagogue, through the town, and to the brow of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, but he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
King James
Luke 4:29–30 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. But he passing through the midst of them went his way,
People typically have education and experience before they can speak with authority. Upon what was Jesus’ authority based?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:31–32 Jesus went to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, where he taught on the Sabbath. People were amazed at the authority with which he spoke.
King James
Luke 4:31–32 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
To what extent was the man in the synagogue controlled by the evil spirit?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:33 In the synagogue, a man possessed by an evil spirit screamed in torment.
King James
Luke 4:33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
Why did the man talk like he was being threatened?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:34 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?” he asked. “I know who you are, the Holy One sent from God. Have you come to destroy us?”
King James
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.
What did the evil spirit do in response to Jesus’ command? Where did the spirit go?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:35 “Silence!” Jesus commanded. “Come out of him.”
The evil spirit threw him to the floor among the people but did him no harm before leaving.
King James
Luke 4:35 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.
If other religious leaders cast out evil spirits, why were people amazed at what Jesus did?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Matthew 12:27 “If Beelzebub is my power over evil spirits, by whom do your followers cast them out? They prove you are using a double standard of judgment.”
Luke 4:36–37 People were astonished and said to one another, “What is going on? What powerful new teaching is this? Even the evil spirits obey him.”
The news quickly spread throughout the region of Galilee.
King James
Matthew 12:27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
Luke 4:36–37 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.
Why was Simon’s mother-in-law at Simon’s house?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:38 After leaving the synagogue, Jesus entered Simon’s home. There, Simon’s mother-in-law was sick with a burning fever.
“Please,” everyone said, “heal her.”
King James
Luke 4:38 And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.
If God loved Simon’s mother-in-law enough to heal her, why was she sick? Why was she healed
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:38–39 After leaving the synagogue, Jesus entered Simon’s home. There, Simon’s mother-in-law was sick with a burning fever.
“Please,” everyone said, “heal her.”
He went to her bedside and ordered the fever to go, and it left. At once, she got up and began to prepare a meal for them.
King James
Luke 4:38–39 And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.
What made Jesus’ touch important to those who were brought for healing?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:40 After sunset, people brought to Jesus those who suffered from various diseases. With a touch of his hand, he healed each one.
King James
Luke 4:40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.
How did the evil spirits recognize who Jesus was?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:41 As evil spirits came out of many people, they screamed, “You are the Son of God.” Because they knew he was the Anointed One, he did not allow them to say more.
King James
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.
How did Jesus decide whether to leave or stay at a place?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 4:42–44 The next day, he left for a solitary place, but the people came looking for him and begged him not to leave.
“I must preach the Kingdom of God in the other towns also,” Jesus said. “That is why I came.”
So he continued to preach in the synagogues of Galilee.
King James
Luke 4:42–44 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.