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 4:40 mean?

Explanation

Luke 4:40 describes an event during Jesus' ministry, where He heals many people afflicted with various diseases. This act occurs at the end of the day, at sunset, signaling a transition from the Sabbath when work, including healing, was typically not done by Jewish law.

The verse emphasizes Jesus' compassion and power, as He doesn't turn anyone away and personally touches each individual, suggesting a close and personal care for those he healed.

The act of laying on hands was a common Jewish practice for blessing and healing, but here it signifies the transfer of divine power and authority from Jesus to the sick.

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Historical Context

The historical context of Luke 4:40 is the early 1st century in the region of Galilee.

During this time, Jewish society was highly religious, and there was an expectation for a messianic figure.

In the Jewish tradition, the Sabbath, the last day of the week (modern Friday sunset to Saturday sunset), was a day of rest and worship, on which any form of work was forbidden as per the Mosaic Law.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints focus on aspects of this verse.

A traditional Christian interpretation sees it as a demonstration of Jesus' divine authority and compassion.

It also is considered a fulfillment of messianic prophecies, highlighting Jesus as the one who would come to heal and restore.

A Christological interpretation emphasizes the nature of Jesus being fully God and fully human, with the power to perform miracles and a human compassion for the suffering.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of this verse involve lessons in compassion and service.

Believers are encouraged to help those in need without discrimination, to be actively involved in the physical and spiritual welfare of others, and to practice faith and trust in divine intervention.

It also suggests a call to observe rest but to not use religious observance as an excuse for inaction in the face of immediate need.

Cross-References

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 5:15-16: "Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them...

And they were healed every one."

Mark 1:34: "And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek manuscript for Luke 4:40 include:

"sick" (ἀσθενεῖς, astheneis): Implying weakness or infirmity, not just physical illnesses.
"divers diseases" (νόσοις ποικίλαις, nosois poikilais): A range of afflictions, highlighting the variety of illnesses.
"laid his hands" (ἐπιτιθεις τὰς χεῖρας, epitithéis tás cheíras): A physical act of placing hands, denoting a deliberate and personal touch.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient cultures, there were myths of healing gods and deities, like Asclepius in Greek mythology, who healed the sick.

In these cultures, healing was often associated with divine power.

Similarly, in Judaism, prophets like Elijah and Elisha performed miraculous healings, indicating a divine appointment and blessing.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the act of healing through touch has been seen to have positive psychological effects, such as the release of endorphins, which can sometimes alleviate symptoms of various conditions.

However, miracles, as described in this verse, challenge natural laws, and hence transcend scientific explanations.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Luke 4:40 often emphasize Jesus' willingness to heal and His breaking of conventional norms by conducting healings on the Sabbath.

Commentators like Matthew Henry note the symbolic nature of Jesus' healings as signs of His messianic mission and authority over physical and spiritual ailments.

Modern scholars may discuss the sociological implications of Jesus' actions, such as breaking social barriers and showing inclusivity by healing all who came to Him, regardless of their social status.

Luke 4

Luke 4

What does Luke 4:40 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 4:40 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?