Luke 4
Summary for Luke 4:1-13: 4:1-13 a Satan tempted Jesus to bypass his Father’s plan of salvation by taking power and glory for himself. The forty-day temptation in the wilderness parallels Israel’s forty years of testing in the wilderness. Israel failed when tested, but Jesus was victorious.4:2 b tempted by the devil: The term diabolos is a Greek translation of the Hebrew satan, meaning “accuser” or “adversary” (1 Chr 21:1 c; Job 1:1–2:13 d; Zech 3:1-2 e). Luke uses both terms (“devil,” Luke 4:3 f, 6 g, 13 h; 8:12 i; “Satan,” 10:18 j; 11:18 k; 13:16 l; 22:3 m, 31 n). Adam and Eve were tested by Satan and failed; Jesus, the second Adam, resisted temptation and thus reversed the judgment against Adam and Eve.
4:3 o If you are the Son of God: Both Israel and Adam are identified as God’s son (3:38 p; Exod 4:22-23 q; Hos 11:1 r). Jesus, the Son of God in the fullest sense, succeeded where Adam and Israel failed.
4:4 s People do not live by bread alone: Israel complained constantly about hunger in the wilderness, but Jesus depended on God’s strength to sustain him.
4:6 t they are mine to give: The New Testament elsewhere describes Satan’s limited rule over the present world order (John 12:31 u; 14:30 v; 16:11 w; Eph 2:2 x; 1 Jn 5:19 y).
4:8 z You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him: Israel turned to idolatry when suffering hardship in the wilderness (Deut 9:12 aa). Jesus refused to worship Satan.
Summary for Luke 4:10-11: 4:10-11 ab Having been repulsed twice by Scripture, the devil now quoted Scripture to Jesus, citing a passage that assures God’s people of his protection.
4:12 ac You must not test the Lord your God: In the wilderness, Israel constantly tested God’s faithfulness, but Jesus responded with complete trust in God.
4:13 ad The next opportunity might have been Judas’s betrayal (22:3-6 ae, 21-22 af, 47-48 ag); the supreme test came at Gethsemane (22:39-46 ah).
4:14 ai Jesus returned to Galilee: The story of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee begins here, and continues through 9:50 aj.
• filled with the Holy Spirit’s power: At his baptism, Jesus was anointed and empowered to accomplish his role as the Messiah (see 3:22 ak; 4:1 al, 14 am, 18 an).
Summary for Luke 4:16-30: 4:16-30 ao Jesus’ sermon in Nazareth previewed his whole public ministry. Jesus returned to his hometown synagogue to announce the good news that God’s salvation had now arrived. The people were pleased until Jesus reminded them that God reaches out to Gentiles as well as to Jews. The infuriated crowd then attempted to kill him.
Summary for Luke 4:18-19: 4:18-19 ap The time of the Lord’s favor refers to the Year of Jubilee (Lev 25:8-55 aq), when debts were erased, slaves were freed, and land was returned to its original owners. In Isa 61 ar, the Year of Jubilee is a metaphor for God’s salvation.
4:21 as has been fulfilled: Jesus announced that because he was present, the new age of salvation had arrived.
• this very day! Literally today; cp. 2:11 at; 5:26 au; 19:9 av; 23:43 aw.
4:23 ax Physician, heal yourself was a common proverb in the ancient world. Here it might mean “prove your healing powers,” or “help your own people, not just others.”
• like those you did in Capernaum: See 4:31-44 ay.
Summary for Luke 4:25-26: 4:25-26 az widow of Zarephath: See 1 Kgs 17–18 ba.
4:27 bb Naaman, a Syrian: See 2 Kgs 5 bc.
4:28 bd The people in the synagogue were furious that Jesus pointed out the favor God had shown to Gentiles. The Jews viewed themselves as sole recipients of God’s favor, and they were oppressed by Gentile overlords.
4:30 be he passed right through the crowd: The main emphasis is on the sovereign majesty of Jesus. His time had not yet come (cp. John 7:30 bf, 44 bg; 8:20 bh, 59 bi). This attempt to kill Jesus anticipated his crucifixion, so his escape foreshadows his resurrection.
4:31 bj Jesus moved from Nazareth to make Capernaum his base of operations during his Galilean ministry (see Mark 2:1 bk).
4:33 bl an evil (literally unclean) spirit: Unclean means “defiled” or “wicked”; hence, the NLT translation “evil spirit.”
4:34 bm Have you come to destroy us? Though there was only one demon present, the plural us suggests that all of Satan’s forces were aware and fearful of Jesus’ coming.
• I know who you are: A common ancient belief held that naming a spiritual power gave a person authority over it. The demon might have been attempting to gain power over Jesus.
4:36 bn What authority and power this man’s words possess! Magicians and exorcists often used elaborate rituals and incantations. The people were amazed that Jesus merely spoke a word on his own authority and cast out the demon.
4:38 bo Simon’s home: Simon was from Bethsaida (John 1:44 bp), but his present home and fishing business were in Capernaum.
• Simon’s mother-in-law: Peter was married (see 1 Cor 9:5 bq), but his wife is not named.
4:39 br he rebuked the fever: The same Greek word was used when Jesus rebuked the demon (4:35 bs). Jesus has full authority over physical and spiritual forces.
4:41 bt You are the Son of God! This was a title for the Messiah (see 2 Sam 7:14 bu; Pss 2:7 bv; 89:26-27 bw). Luke often links the titles “Christ” and “Son of God” (Luke 9:35 bx; 22:66-71 by; Acts 9:20 bz, 22 ca).
• he ... refused to let them speak: Jesus often showed his authority over demons by silencing them. He wanted to reveal his identity in his own way, not through their announcement.
4:43 cb The Greek verb translated preach the Good News corresponds to the noun often translated “gospel” (“Good News”; see study note on 2:9-10; see also 1:19 cc; 7:22 cd; Matt 4:23 ce; 24:14 cf; Mark 1:1 cg, 15 ch; 16:15 ci; Acts 8:4 cj, 12 ck; Rom 1:1-6 cl, 15-17 cm; 10:15-17 cn; Gal 1:6-9 co; Eph 2:14-18 cp; 3:6-7 cq).
• The Kingdom of God was Jesus’ central concern (see Mark 1:15 cr), and God’s sovereign reign was established through Jesus’ words and deeds.
4:44 cs Luke probably used Judea in the general sense of “the land of the Jews,” since Jesus’ ministry was then in Galilee in the north (see 5:1 ct), not south in Judea.
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