14. 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.
15. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
16. 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.
17. 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,
18. 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 broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20. 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.
21. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
22. 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?
(Memorize verses 18, 19.)
Golden Text: “His word was with power.” Luke 4:32.
NOTE.—Immediately after the baptism of Jesus, he was led of the Spirit into the wilderness, where he was subject to the temptations of the devil for forty days. The combined Gospels introduce his ministry in Galilee, accompanied, during the earlier part of his work, by five followers, John, Andrew, Simon, Philip, and Nathanael. After his first passover at Jerusalem, Jesus made his way northward again, passing through Samaria, where occurred his talk with the woman at the well. Entering the province of Galilee, he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. The whole chapter of Luke 4 should be read, also Matthew 4; Mark 1; John 1:35-51; 2-4; Isa. 61:1-3.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) To what place did Jesus return? Verse 14. (2) What was said of his word? Same verse and verse 15. (3) To what city did he come? Verse 16. (4) What was his custom, and in what way did he follow it? Same verse. Note 1. (5) What was handed him? Verse 17. (6) To what place did he turn? Verses 18, 19. Note 2. (7) What did Jesus next do? Verse 20. Note 3. (8) Did the people give attention? Same verse. (9) What did he say concerning the words he had read? Verse 21. (10) What effect did these remarks have upon the assembly? Verse 22. Note 4.
NOTES.
1. Stood up for to read.—It was the custom of those who read from the Scriptures to stand, out of respect for the word. The comment, or discourse, was usually given sitting. See verse 20. This was a Sabbath day when these events took place.
2. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.—The work of the Anointed of the Lord was to apply the Gospel to the meek, the poor, the broken-hearted, to captives, to those that are bruised, to the mourners, representing the world at large, for the mission of Christ was to the lost world. To all classes who realize the burdens imposed upon them by sin, the Gospel is indeed good tidings, and when accepted as such, it becomes the power of God unto salvation. To the poor it becomes a comfort, inasmuch as it places in their possession riches that can never pass away. Earthly riches at the best are uncertain, and they that put their trust in them shall perish with them. To the broken-hearted it holds out consolation in the hope of a reunion with loved ones torn from them by the hand of death. To captives, to the blind, and to the bruised of earth it brings hope and comfort, if not for release in this present life, of freedom when evil shall be abolished, while to the captives of sin and the spiritually blind it brings freedom and light that is not affected by temporal or physical environments. It dealt a blow to traditions and to the narrowness of the Jews, and forever established liberty in matters of conscience. All these things and much more the Gospel meant to the world. Jesus closed the book in the midst of the quotation. The prophecy included the work of salvation in its entirety, and that which follows could not have its full application in the time of our Saviour. Christ’s work on earth ended with the proclamation of “the acceptable year of the Lord;” “the day of vengeance of our God” is the closing message of his people on earth, preparatory to the final scenes of the world’s history. His first coming was not the “day of the Lord,” in which his wrath is to be revealed. See Zeph. 1:14, 15; 2:1-3; Rev. 14:7; 6:17.
3. The minister.—The word means attendant, or14servant, one whose duty it was to care for the books, or rolls.
4. All bare him witness.—They spoke of his words to one another, and comprehended their meaning. All were looking with more or less interest for the Messiah, and Jesus’ work was not unknown to them, as the words that follow show. At first, when it was declared by Jesus that the Scripture was fulfilled in him, they wondered, and doubtless were filled with joy because of the gracious news. But the enemy was at work, and suggested, “Is not this Joseph’s son,” the carpenter who worked for us? They could not accept one of their own number, although the manner of Christ’s coming was plainly foretold. In wrath they thrust him out and attempted to cast him from the brow of a hill, but he passed from their midst. The lesson should be that God’s truth is truth nevertheless, no matter how humble the instrument.
