LUKE 4

The titles for today’s study are; Verses 1-15 The Temptation of Jesus. Verses 16-30 Jesus teaches in Nazareth. Verses 31-34 Jesus heals many in Capernaum. Luke 4 and verse 1 reads.

Luke 4:1] And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

Both Ezekiel (Eze.3:12) and Philip (Acts 8:39) learned just how strong the Spirit can move one. Does he move you today? Can he use you in these end times? It is important for us to know that all that is written is for us in these end times. Let’s go to 1Corinthians 10 and verse 11 reads.

1Cor.10:11] Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

At the sixth trump, God’s Elect will be delivered up to Satan for the Holy Spirit to speak through them. Now, Jesus is our example here in the wilderness. Back to Luke 4 and verse 2 reads.

Luke 4:2] Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

It was after forty days that Satan tempted Jesus. I want to show you we have a reason for forty days. After Moses broke the two tables that God had written the Ten Commandments on, we find in Exodus 34 and verse 27 reads.

Exo.34:27] And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.
[28] And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.

We see here that Moses also fasted for forty days, for the Covenant of the LORD, the Ten Commandments. Jesus would be our New Covenant, his body for the bread and his blood shed for the wine. Our sacraments that we take today for Communion. Back to Luke 4 and verse 3 reads.

Luke 4:3] And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.

Jesus is Our Daily Bread. We will find this whole study here is about the Word of God and how important it is for us to know the Word. Notice Satan used the word IF, he knew that Jesus was the Son of God, Immanuel, God with us. God cannot be tempted, let’s go to James 1 and verse 12 reads.

James 1:12] Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
[13] Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
[14] But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Satan will draw you away from God with his temptations. Do not fear, we have repentance. Back to Luke 4 and verse 4 reads.

Luke 4:4] And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

Now Jesus quotes scripture, let’s go to Deuteronomy 8 and verse 3 reads.

Deu.8:3] And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

He quoted this scripture as our admonition for us today in these end times. That hidden manna that God gives to his Elect in these end times. Let’s go to Revelation 2 and verse 17 reads.

Rev.2:17] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Verse 4 stated turn these stones to bread. Do you have an ear to hear? Are you an Elect, and willing to read with understanding the Word of God? Then let’s begin with Amos 8 and verse 11 reads.

Amos 8:11] Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

Now let’s go to Matthew 5 and verse 6 reads.

Mat.5:6] Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Can you see how the Word of God works? Search and you shall find, be hungry for the Word of God and you shall be filled. Now, Luke has these out of sequence for a reason. It is to show God’s Elect that indeed these are our examples for these end times. Pay attention to how Luke writes this next verse. Back to Luke 4 and verse 5 reads.

Luke 4:5] And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

In a moment of time, is our clue, he is talking about the sixth trump when he has deceived the whole world in thinking he is Jesus. The whole world will worship him at the sixth trump with the exception of God’s Elect.

Luke 4:6] 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.

The glory of the LORD is Jesus Christ, Savior.

Luke 4:7] If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
[8] 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.

It is at this point that Jesus puts Satan behind his throne to be kept by Michael the Archangel. He will cast Satan down to earth at the sixth trump with his angels. Revelation 12 and verse 7 reads.

Rev.12:7] And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
[8] And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
[9] And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

This is why Luke was letting God’s Elect know that this is indeed our example for these end times. Now, Luke will come back to the other temptation of Jesus. Pay attention, Satan will use scripture to deceive, if possible, even the Elect in the end times. See how Satan works, Luke 4 and verse 9 reads.

Luke 4:9] 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:

The temple was at least 6 stories or 60 feet tall.

Luke 4:10] For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
[11] And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Satan misquotes God’s Word. Did you catch that he said “Lest at any time”? Let’s go to Psalms 91 and verse 11 reads.

Psa.91:11] For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
[12] They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

The Word does not say at any time. Satan knows scripture better than most, but he will twist it just enough to make it a lie. What Satan left out was what the scripture says immediately following, and verse 13 reads.

Psa.91:13] Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

And the first prophecy in God’s Word will be fulfilled with “And you shall bruise his head” in Gen.3:15. Back to Luke 4 and verse 12 reads.

Luke 4:12] And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Jesus answers Satan by quoting Deuteronomy 6 and verse 16 reads.

Deu.6:16] Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.

What happened in Massah is what God’s Elect should be asking. Let’s go to Exodus 17 and verse 1 reads.

Exo.17:1] And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.

No water in the wilderness to drink, Jesus is the Living Water.

Exo.17:2] Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?
[3] And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?

Did Moses or God bring them out of Egypt?

Exo.17:4] And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.
[5] And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.
[6] Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
[7] And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?

Because the children tempted the LORD, what does this word Massah mean? H4532 Maççâh pronounced ‘mas-saw’ and means; a place in the Desert. Notice the uppercase D. Massah means; Temptation. Search and you shall find! All this for your example in these end times. Satan will be here to deceive the whole world as we learn in 2Thes.2 and verse 3 reads.

2Thes.2:3] Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
[4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

God’s Word holds all that we need to know for these end times. Back to Luke 4 and verse 13 reads.

Luke 4:13] And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

Out of sequence as we learned above, Satan is out of the way for now, though his spirit is still among us, which Jesus gives us power over in Luke 10:19. For a season, until the sixth trump. But to show the intelligence of Luke, keeping in mind Psalms 91:13 above, Luke 10 and verse 19 reads.

Luke 10:19] Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
[20] Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Luke gave God’s Elect the most intelligent, though for a reason out of sequence, perspective account of the Temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. Back to Luke 4 and verse 14 reads.

Luke 4:14] 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.

Jesus began his ministries after his baptism and the temptation by Satan in the wilderness.

Luke 4:15] And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.

Prophesied in Isaiah 52 and verse 13 reads.

Isa.52:13] Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.

Our Savior shall be called Son of the Highest. This is the Glory of the LORD. Back to Luke 4 and verse 16 reads.

Luke 4:16] 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.

Now only a priest can read in the synagogue. Nazareth was where Jesus was brought up as we learned in Luke 2:39. As he stood up to read, he asked for the book of Isaiah.

Luke 4:17] 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 brokenhearted, 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.

Jesus ends with a period after verse 19, when in fact in Isaiah 61 it is a comma. Let’s go to Isaiah 61 and verse 1 reads.

Isa.61:1] The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
[2] To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

What we have here in Isaiah 61 are both advents, after Year of the LORD we have a comma not a period. True, Jesus was speaking that his presence was just the first advent. But, for God’s Elect, we search and find that we are looking forward to the second advent. I say, Come Lord Jesus, come. Back to Luke 4 and verse 20 reads.

Luke 4:20] 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.

This day has the first advent been fulfilled before your eyes. Again, I want to remind you of Matthew 5 and verse 17 reads.

Mat.5:17] Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
[18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Back to Luke 4 and verse 22 reads.

Luke 4:22] 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?

Let’s go to Psalms 45 and verse 2 reads.

Psa.45:2] Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.

Don’t overlook they said Is not this Joseph’s son in verse 22 above. This leaves doubt to those who knew Jesus’s family because they grew up there. Jesus continues in Luke 4 and verse 23 reads.

Luke 4:23] 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.

There is no faith here in Nazareth. This verse has to do with Psalms 22 and verse 7 reads.

Psa.22:7] All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head saying,
[8] He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

Fulfilled in Matthew 27 and verse 41 reads.

Mat.27:41] Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
[42] He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
[43] He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

Back to Luke 4 and verse 24 reads.

Luke 4:24] And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.

How true this will be, they will become enraged with his sayings simply because they had no understanding and lack knowledge.

Luke 4:25] 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;

Elias is Greek for Elijah. You can find this written in 1Kings 17. But let’s not forget Amos 8:11, The famine of the end times is not for bread or water, but for hearing the Words of the LORD.

Luke 4:26] But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
[27] And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.

Eliseus is Greek for Elisha. The prophet that succeeded Elijah. You can find this in 2Kings 5. A very interesting study that Jesus gave them here, why then will they be upset with him.

Luke 4:28] And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,

Why do the heathen rage, Psalms 2. No doubt many of the Kenites were among them, watch how they act.

Luke 4:29] 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.

Any time they want to kill you for teaching the truth, know they are Kenites. For their father was the first murderer, that is to say they are offspring of Cain. Jesus teaches us about them in John 8:40-44.

Luke 4:30] But he passing through the midst of them went his way,
[31] And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.

In Matthew 4:13 we learned that Jesus left dwelling at Nazareth and began to dwell at Capernaum from that time on. Capernaum, G2584 means; Village of comfort. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter.

Luke 4:32] And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

There is much faith here in Capernaum.

Luke 4:33] 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.

The evil spirits knew who he was, they knew he was God with us, Emmanuel. John 1:14, The Word became flesh and walked among us.

Luke 4:35] 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.

Jesus did not allow them to speak of who he was, because it was not time for that to be known.

Luke 4:36] 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.

What is more amazing is that Jesus gives us this power over evil spirits in Luke 10:19.

Luke 4:37] And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.

His fame spread throughout the land because of his healings and his casting out of devils.

Luke 4:38] 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.

Here we see that Peter was married and had a mother in-law living with them.

Luke 4:39] And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.

When Jesus heals it is complete. No wasting time, she ministered to all of them.

Luke 4:40] 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.

We notice here that there is a difference between sickness and those who are possessed. Do not let a pastor tell you that some that are sick are possessed, that is a lie, a very hurtful thing to say to those who are accused.

Luke 4:41] 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.

Again, it was too soon to let this out. Once it got out that Christ the Messiah had come, it would become impossible for Christ to get around. But notice how the devils knew and called him Christ, Son of God.

Luke 4:42] 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.

His compassion showed for them, but he must preach the kingdom of God elsewhere. Then he leaves and goes on a circuit throughout Galilee. Awesome study today, let’s go to his throne.

Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.

KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible