Luke Chapter 4, Part 2

Last week we studied verses one through thirty, in which Jesus was tempted in the desert forty days. We discussed that His temptations were of which we could not withstand ourselves, that they were Messianic is nature. We discussed that Jesus defeated satan with the sword of God, which is the word. We then saw the beginning of the ministry of Christ, and ended the study with Christ being persecuted and miraculously escaping their hands. The rest of this chapter, verses 31 through 44 are linked together by their geographical location.

Verses 31-37 Jesus casts Out a Devil

31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. 32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, 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. 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. 36 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. 37 And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.[1]

Verse 31

In this section today, we will read the first of twenty-one miracles told in Luke, all of which will serve as a Christological function such as in verse 36, or a eschatological one such as in verse chapter 11:20. Further, this is first miracle is also the first healing of five which would take place on a Sabbath day.

Came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee – Came down is an appropriate description of the geographical descent Christ took from Nazareth to Capernaum. With Nazareth being about 1,300 feet above sea level and Capernaum being, on the sea of Galilee, at 695 feet below sea level. A city of Galilee, Lukes description of the city is likely to point out the majority of Christ’s audience here would be gentile and not Judean.

Taught them on the Sabbath days – Christ continues His habit and custom to teach on the Sabbath.

Verse 32

They were astonished – Unlike in Nazareth, Christ was well received in Capernaum. It is worth mentioning that these events here likely took place before verses 14-30 in Chronological order. These events that we now read are likely the same events referred to in verse 23.

Of the astonishments, was not alone that Christ, who received no teachings from the rabbis, was that His teachings were not as that of the rabbis. In this culture of the day, being original was not was not prized and it was expected to simply repeat what you learned from your teacher, who repeated what he learned from his teacher. Christ did no such thing, and He taught with authority. As Luke describes by stating For His word was with great power – word, here, literally being Logos, which was used in Greek to describe the divine word of God.

Verse 33

Spirit of an unclean devil – In the other mentions of Sprit thus far, Luke has mentioned them in a well and pleasing manner. Such as, when referring to Christ being led of the Spirit, the Spirit descending like a dove, and John having the Spirit from the womb. To set this evil spirit apart, Luke adds of an unclean devil.

Of note, demonic possession and exorcism is not discussed very much throughout the Bible prior to the incarnation of Christ. This seems to resemble Christ’s battle with Satan in the physical world.

Verse 34

Saying, Let us alone – The devil demands of Christ to be left alone.

What have we to do with thee, Jesus of Nazareth – This is a way of saying, what do you want with us? The demons seem bothered that Christ has taken up interest in their possession of this man.

Art thou come to destroy us – In the Greek, this could be phrased as a question, as is in my KJV, or as a statement, “You have come to destroy us.” The actual grammatical form does not matter, as the meaning does not change. This devil knew that the Kingdom was coming, and he would be driven out. This devil knew that the abyss was awaiting his arrival.

I know thee, who thou art – These devils knew who Christ was. It is not explained how they knew of His identity. Maybe they had been given super natural knowledge, or perhaps, they more readily had seen with spiritual eyes that Christ was the anointed of God.

Holy one of God – This is a synonym for Son of God, Anointed of God, Messiah. The devils knew that He was of God.

Verse 35

Jesus rebuked him – Jesus performed exorcisms very simply and effectively. He performed them without all the drama, and ritualism that is very popular in certain denominations and popular cultures, especially as portrayed on television.

Rebuked him gives the sense that Jesus had authority over the demon, in which Jesus exercised control and judgement over him.

Hold thy peace – Literally means be quiet. Jesus did not want to be exposed publicly as the Christ at this time. We should understand this in light of verse 41.

Come out of him – In this simplicity, the exorcism was performed. Jesus simply spoke and commanded the demon to leave the man be.

After throwing him – The devil throws a little temper tantrum as a little kid does when they do not get their way. He tosses the poor man and then leaves him.

And hurt him not – Luke adds that despite tossing the man, the devilish spirit did not hurt him as he left his body.

Verse 36

All the people were amazed – These events and later healings amaze the people. They begin to speak among each other and ask questions,

What a word is this! – This is a question, and an expression of explanation at the same time. Word here, again, is literally Logos, but is used in the sense of “what a thing this is!”

For with authority and power He gives commands – Christ is God, and as God, has all authority and power. The people recognize not that Christ is God, but they recognize that He speaks and commands with power and authority, that when He says to the evil spirits, come out of him, they come out.

Verse 37

Fame went about – Perhaps this is the cause of the fame mentioned in verse 14, as it should be believed these events took place before then. These events, and the power of God that He poses has caused fame to explode round about the area. As Christ enters into Nazareth, they demand of Him to perform the same works there that they too would believe.

Verses 38-41 Jesus Heals Many

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. 39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them. 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. 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.[2]

Verse 38

This verse serves as a transitional verse from the account we just read into the next of the miracles that Jesus performs. This particular miracle takes place in Simon’s house, and this is one of a few verses that attest to the fact that Simon was married (and debunks the idea that priests and servants of God not marry).

Luke mentions here that the fever was high, great, and this attests to the miracle performed. Although all the synoptic gospels mention the fever, only Luke mentions the greatness of the fever.

In Mark’s account of this story, we are also told that Andrew, James, and John were there. Luke omits these people in his account because he has yet to introduce us, his readers, to these people.

Verse 39

Rebuked the fever – In other healings, Christ speaks to the person being healed and not the illness, however, here, Christ speaks to the illness, rebuking it. This could perhaps be described by Luke seeing this fever as demonically inspired, as some illnesses actually are. But this does not mean all illnesses are demonically inspired, and demonic possession and illness should remain separate.

Immediately left her – This implies the healing was immediate, not some time after, and complete. It was so complete that Simons mother in law got up and went straight into service.

Ministered unto them – The word used here usually refers to service to Christ, but Luke is intentional that the service was administered unto them, being those in the house.

Verse 40

Sun was setting – This is recorded due to it being the Sabbath day. People could not travel to Christ on the Sabbath, but with the setting of the sun, the Sabbath was ending and they wasted no time.

All they…sickness – Everyone from the area with diverse diseases came unto Christ for healing.

Laid His hands on them – There is not an old testament precedent for the laying on of hands in healings, but with Christ and in the New Testament church, this has become a recurring motion. There is a personal aspect here in the healing of the people, in which Christ had touched each of them.

Healed them – It is recorded here that all who went to Christ this day were healed.

Verse 41

The devils came out of many – It would appear that many of these healings were demonic possessions and many of the illnesses may have been caused by demonic activity as well.

Thou art Christ the Son of God – The residents of Galilee may have thought of Christ to be just a man, but the demons had known better. Some commentators have suggested that these demons were trying to say “we have one up on you, because we know who you are” but to Luke, this doesn’t seem to be the case. To Luke, this seems to simply be another acknowledgement of who Jesus is.

He rebuked them… For they knew He was the Christ – Jesus is not ready to be revealed to the people as the begotten of God yet. He keeps this on the down low until the time is right.

Verses 42-44 Jesus Teaches In Synagogues of Galilee

42 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. 43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. 44 And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.[3]

Verse 42

He departed to a desert place – The next morning, When it was day, Jesus then departed into a quieter place to pray. Interesting, Luke seems to give the most emphasis on Christ’s prayers, but it was Mark who informs us that Christ goes to this place to pray.

The people sought Him – This is a complete opposite of the reaction of the people in Nazareth, who attempted to kill Him. These people sought Him, and finding Him, came unto Him. They were so excited about His teachings and miracles they were anxious when morning came and He was not to be found.

Stayed Him, that He should not depart – That is, they asked Him to continue to stay with them and teach Him.

Verse 43

In verse forty-three, it is duty that prevents Christ from staying in Capernaum. He says that He must Preach the Kingdom of God. This is the first occurrence of the phrase, Kingdom of God in Luke, and throughout Luke, about twenty-five percent of the usage of this phrase in in the context of preaching the Kingdom.

Verse 44

Christ continues through the region of Galilee preaching in the synagogues, city to city.

[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Lk 4:31–37). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[2] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Lk 4:38–41). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[3] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Lk 4:42–44). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.