Primary Text: Luke 4:14-31
Memory Verse: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19
Introduction:
This section of Luke could easily be considered his thesis statement for the entire gospel. Jewish leaders and scholars probably had no qualms with Jesus quoting Scripture against the devil. But when the Lord stood up in the synagogue and read from the prophet, Isaiah, He used Scripture to challenge their religious traditions—things they believed to be scriptural. This enraged them. While Jewish teachers officially welcomed debate, willing to examine all views from the Scriptures, they usually interpreted God’s Word to support views sanctioned by tradition. Debate was obviously only welcome within the boundaries of accepted tradition. Jesus Christ broke with tradition to proclaim absolute truth. Sadly, modern denominations and independent churches are often as limited by man’s traditions as were the Jews of Jesus’ day.
Having been a popular Teacher, it was natural for Jesus to teach in synagogues when He returned to His hometown. It was the custom in the synagogue for a man to stand while he was reading the Scriptures but then to sit while explaining the portion he had read. The portion of Scripture Jesus read was Isaiah 61:1-2, a messianic passage. He concluded His reading with the words, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor—stopping in the middle of the verse without reading the next line in Isaiah 61:2 about God’s vengeance. When Jesus added, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21), the implication was clear. Jesus was claiming to be the Messiah who could bring the kingdom of God which had been promised for so long—but His First Advent was not His time for judgment. The crowd was fascinated at His teaching—The eyes of everyone…were fastened on Him (Luke 4:20). Jesus’ words plainly stated that the offer of the favorable year of the Lord (the kingdom time) was being made to them through Him (Luke 4:21). The people were amazed at His words of grace, but they immediately began to question His authority to say these things.
Studying the Word
Lesson Study
- For what purpose did Jesus return to Galilee? Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 4:14
- What overall reception did Jesus receive in Galilee? Luke 4:15
- How did Jesus respond to the Capernaum nobleman’s request for the Lord to heal his son? John 4:46-50
- Describe the dynamics that took place when Jesus read from Isaiah in the synagogue. Luke 4:16-21; Isaiah 61:1-3
- How did Nazareth respond to this event? Luke 4:22
- What was Jesus’ response to their unbelief? Luke 4:23-27
- What incredible thing happens when the enraged crowd tries to kill Jesus? Luke 4:28-31
- Why did Jesus leave Nazareth and set up His center of ministry in Capernaum? Matthew 4:13-16