Luke 4

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.

And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.

And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

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.

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.

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.

And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

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.

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.

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?

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.

And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.

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.

And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.

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,

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.

And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What does Luke 4:36 mean?

Explanation

Luke 4:36 captures the reaction of the people who witnessed Jesus casting out an unclean spirit.

They are profoundly impressed by His authority and power, as He commands the evil spirit to leave a possessed man, and it obeys.

The astonishment and the discussion among the witnesses highlight the extraordinary nature of Jesus’s actions.

This verse emphasizes not only the miraculous healing but also the clear demonstration of Jesus's divine authority, which sets Him apart from other teachers and exorcists of the time.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

This passage is situated at the beginning of Jesus's public ministry in the Gospel of Luke.

It follows His temptation in the wilderness and His teaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

The event described in Luke 4:36 takes place in Capernaum, a town on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, which was a center for Jesus's ministry.

During this period, Jewish culture had various beliefs about evil spirits and exorcism practices.

Jesus's authoritative command to the unclean spirits suggests a contrasting approach to other exorcists of the time, who often used elaborate rituals or invoked names of higher powers to perform exorcisms.

Theological Insights

This verse supports the Christian doctrine of Jesus’s divine authority and power over evil. The amazement of the people reflects a recognition of Jesus's unique relationship with the divine, further reinforced throughout the Gospel as Jesus performs miracles.

From a theological perspective, it may also be seen as a manifestation of the coming of the Kingdom of God, where evil is being defeated. The episode shows Jesus as the one through whom God's power is exercised, reaffirming His role as the Messiah in Christian beliefs.

Practical Applications

The practical application of Luke 4:36 extends into the lives of believers by encouraging faith in Jesus's authority and power. It can serve as a reminder that, in the face of spiritual warfare, believers can trust in the power of Jesus's name and His victory over evil.

Additionally, the communal aspect of witnessing and discussing acts of faith reinforces the importance of Christian fellowship and mutual encouragement in dealing with life's challenges.

Cross-References

Mark 1:27: "And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him."
Matthew 8:16: "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:"
Acts 19:15: "And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?"

Language Study

In the original Greek text, "authority" is translated from "εξουσία" (exousia), which refers to the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.

The term "word" comes from "λόγος" (logos), which in this context suggests a powerful and effective command or teaching.

"Unclean spirits" is translated from "πνεύματα ἀκάθαρτα" (pneumata akatharta), referring to evil or impure spiritual beings.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the ancient Near Eastern cultures, exorcism was a common practice, often involving incantations or magical rituals.

In contrast, Jesus's authoritative command without reliance on external aids or elaborate procedures underscores His unique power and identity.

It also differed from Jewish exorcist practices, which sometimes included the invocation of God's name or the use of sacred objects.

Jesus’s method of expulsion by a simple command would thus be striking and unconventional to those familiar with other religious traditions of that time.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific standpoint, phenomena like possession might be interpreted through the lens of psychology or medicine, often examining mental health issues.

While science does not engage with the concept of evil spirits in a literal sense, the psychological impact of belief in spiritual authority is acknowledged.

Studies in the psychology of religion show that faith and religious practices can have a significant effect on people's mental health and coping mechanisms.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and theologians have commented on Luke 4:36, offering insight into the significance of the event described:

Matthew Henry's Commentary notes the contrast between the people's astonishment at Jesus's miracles and their earlier scornful rejection of His teaching.
The New International Commentary on the New Testament highlights the importance of Jesus’s exorcisms as signs of the inbreaking of God's kingdom, showcasing His messianic authority.
The Expositor's Bible Commentary discusses the distinctive nature of Jesus's power in exorcism compared to other exorcists of His time, emphasizing that His authority did not derive from other beings or rituals but from His own divine nature.

Luke 4

Luke 4

What does Luke 4:36 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 4:36 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?