Luke 4
World English Bible
WEB1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness 2for forty days, being tempted by the devil. He ate nothing in those days. Afterward, when they were completed, he was hungry. 3The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’” 5The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6The devil said to him, “I will give you all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I want. 7If you therefore will worship before me, it will all be yours.” 8Jesus answered him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’” 9He led him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here, 10for it is written, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you;’ 11and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest perhaps you dash your foot against a stone.’” 12Jesus answering, said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” 13When the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until another time. 14Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and news about him spread through all the surrounding area. 15He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 16He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written, 18“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed, 19and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” 20He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22All testified about him and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth; and they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” 23He said to them, “Doubtless you will tell me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in your hometown.’” 24He said, “Most certainly I tell you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25But truly I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land. 26Elijah was sent to none of them, except to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman, the Syrian.” 28They were all filled with wrath in the synagogue as they heard these things. 29They rose up, threw him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill that their city was built on, that they might throw him off the cliff. 30But he, passing through the middle of them, went his way. 31He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. He was teaching them on the Sabbath day, 32and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority. 33In the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon; and he cried out with a loud voice, 34saying, “Ah! what have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God!” 35Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” When the demon had thrown him down in the middle of them, he came out of him, having done him no harm. 36Amazement came on all and they spoke together, one with another, saying, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” 37News about him went out into every place of the surrounding region. 38He rose up from the synagogue and entered into Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a great fever, and they begged him to help her. 39He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she rose up and served them. 40When the sun was setting, all those who had any sick with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. 41Demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Rebuking them, he didn’t allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. 42When it was day, he departed and went into an uninhabited place and the multitudes looked for him, and came to him, and held on to him, so that he wouldn’t go away from them. 43But he said to them, “I must preach the good news of God’s Kingdom to the other cities also. For this reason I have been sent.” 44He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.
World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org
Overview
Luke Chapter 4 begins with Jesus being led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness, where he faces temptation from the devil for forty days. This period of testing is significant as it demonstrates Jesus' humanity and his reliance on God's Word. Each time the devil tempts him, Jesus responds with scripture, quoting from the book of Deuteronomy, which emphasizes the importance of spiritual nourishment and obedience to God. The temptations include turning stones into bread, jumping from the pinnacle of the temple, and worshiping the devil in exchange for worldly power. Jesus' victory over these temptations sets the stage for his ministry and highlights his role as the sinless Son of God (#Jesus #temptation).
After overcoming temptation, Jesus returns to Galilee in the power of the Spirit and begins teaching in the synagogues, gaining a positive reputation. He then visits his hometown of Nazareth, where he reads from the scroll of Isaiah, proclaiming the fulfillment of the prophecy regarding the Messiah. Jesus declares that he has come to bring good news to the poor, proclaim freedom for the prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, and to set the oppressed free (#Isaiah #Messiah). This declaration reveals his mission and the nature of his ministry, which is centered on healing and liberation. However, the people of Nazareth struggle to accept him, questioning his authority and familiarity, which leads to their rejection of him. This chapter illustrates the dual response to Jesus' ministry—acceptance and rejection—foreshadowing the challenges he will face throughout his life.
Referenced by
- 2 Kings 5:1v272 Kings 5:1 introduces Naaman, a leper who is healed by Elisha. In Luke 4:27, Jesus references Naaman's healing to illustrate God's grace extending beyond Israel.
- Psalms 45:2v22Psalm 45:2 describes the grace poured upon the lips of the king, which is echoed in Luke 4:22 where people marvel at the gracious words spoken by Jesus.
- Isaiah 11:2v18Isaiah 11:2 describes the Spirit of the Lord resting upon the Messiah. In Luke 4:18, Jesus reads from Isaiah, affirming that the Spirit of the Lord is upon Him, fulfilling this prophecy.
- Isaiah 42:7v18Isaiah 42:7 speaks of opening blind eyes and freeing captives. Luke 4:18 records Jesus quoting a similar passage from Isaiah, indicating His mission to bring spiritual and physical liberation.
- Isaiah 58:6v18Isaiah 58:6 speaks of the true fast that God desires, which includes loosing the chains of injustice and setting the oppressed free. Jesus echoes this mission in Luke 4:18-19, where He declares His purpose to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind.
- Isaiah 61:1v18Isaiah 61:1 speaks of the anointed one bringing good news to the poor and liberty to the captives. Jesus reads this passage in the synagogue in Luke 4:18-19, declaring its fulfillment in Himself, identifying His mission and divine anointing.
- Isaiah 61:2v19Isaiah 61:2 mentions the 'year of the Lord's favor' and the 'day of vengeance of our God.' In Luke 4:19, Jesus reads up to the 'year of the Lord's favor,' indicating the present fulfillment of grace, while the day of vengeance is reserved for future judgment.
- Mark 1:24v34Mark 1:24 records a demon recognizing Jesus as the Holy One of God, a recognition also found in Luke 4:34, underscoring Jesus' authority over evil spirits.
Topics in this chapter
- Temptation
- Scripture
- Fulfillment
- Healing
- Holy Spirit
- Liberation
- Messiah
- Rejection
- Authority
- Compassion
- Good News
- Jesus
- Nazareth
- Kingdom of God
- Ministry
- The Gospel
- Wilderness
- Capernaum
- Fulfillment of Prophecy
- Galilee
- Perseverance
- Prayer
- Preparation
- Prophecy
- Prophecy Fulfilled
- Service
- Spiritual Warfare
- Synagogue
- Testing
- Trust
- Victory
- Worship
- Acceptance
- Adversary
- Anointing
- Authority Over Demons
- Bread
- Christian Art
- Civil Rights in the Biblical Context
- Deliverance
- Demonic Forces
- Dependence on God
- Devil
- Divine Authority
- Divine Mission
- Divine Power
- Evangelism
- Exorcism
- Faith
- Faithfulness
- Forgiveness
- Forty Days
- Gospel Music
- Gospel to Gentiles
- Grace
- Grace to the Gentiles
- Hometown in the Bible
- Hymn
- Idolatry
- Inclusivity
- Intercession
- Jesus' Ministry
- Jesus' Power
- Jubilee
- Liberation Theology
- Loyalty to God
- Ministry Preparation
- Miracles
- Miracles
- Mission
- Mission of Christ
- Mission of Jesus
- Obedience
- Opposition
- Power
- Priorities in the Christian Life
- Proclamation
- Proclamation of Jesus
- Prophet
- Prophetic Ministry
- Prophetic Rejection
- Resilience
- Resist Evil
- Salvation for All
- Satan
- Scripture Reading
- Social Justice
- Solitude
- Spiritual Authority
- Spiritual Discipline
- Spiritual Nourishment
- Spiritual Strength
- Spiritual Sustenance
- Temple
- Temptation of Christ
- Testing God
- The Identity of Jesus Christ
- Trusting God
- Unbelief
- Victory Over Sin
Related chapters
- Isaiah 61JubileeGood NewsLiberation
- Matthew 4Temptation of ChristForty DaysDevil
- Mark 1ExorcismVictory Over SinJesus' Power
- Mark 6Hometown in the BibleSynagogueNazareth
- Matthew 8Jesus' PowerThe Identity of Jesus ChristSpiritual Authority
- Leviticus 25JubileeLiberation
- Hebrews 4UnbeliefScripture ReadingWilderness
- 1 Kings 17MiraclesMiraclesHealing
- Matthew 11CapernaumUnbeliefJesus' Ministry
- Matthew 9Jesus' PowerCapernaumJesus' Ministry
- Mark 5ExorcismCapernaumJesus' Ministry
- Acts 13MinistryOppositionMission
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