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In this lesson:
Jesus teaches in the synagogues. Luke skipped Jesus' first year of ministry in Judea and began with His Galilean ministry. As we see in verses 4:14 and 4:23, Jesus is already well known. To learn about Jesus' Judean ministry, see John 1:19-4:43. Additional note: verses 4:16-27 are the oldest known record of a synagogue service. Study Tip: Don't forget to read the margin notes in blue and to click on the links. |
Jesus teaching in the synagogue.
By Greg Olsen |
Where was:
Capernaum -
Capernaum was a large city on the north-west shore of the Sea of Galilee and the hometown to several disciples. Located on the main highway from Damascus to Acco and Tyre, Capernaum became a bustling center of commerce. It also boasted a thriving fishing industry. A customs station (Matthew 9:9; 17:24; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27) and a large contingent of Roman soldiers were stationed there, and the city became known for its moral excesses. The disciple Peter owned a house in Capernaum and Jesus made it His center of operations while in Galilee (as prophesized in Isaiah 9:1-2 and discussed in Matthew 4:13-16). Because its citizens witnessed many divine miracles (Matthew 8:14-16; Mark 1:30-34; Luke 4:38-41) yet still rejected Christ, the city was denounced in Matthew 10:15,11:23 and Luke 10:15. Its ancient remains have been excavated near the town of Tell Hum. Among the ruins are the remains of a synagogue unearthed in 1905 that could be the one built by the Roman centurion who came to Jesus seeking a miracle (Matthew 8:5-8; Luke 7:1-10).
Capernaum -
Capernaum was a large city on the north-west shore of the Sea of Galilee and the hometown to several disciples. Located on the main highway from Damascus to Acco and Tyre, Capernaum became a bustling center of commerce. It also boasted a thriving fishing industry. A customs station (Matthew 9:9; 17:24; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27) and a large contingent of Roman soldiers were stationed there, and the city became known for its moral excesses. The disciple Peter owned a house in Capernaum and Jesus made it His center of operations while in Galilee (as prophesized in Isaiah 9:1-2 and discussed in Matthew 4:13-16). Because its citizens witnessed many divine miracles (Matthew 8:14-16; Mark 1:30-34; Luke 4:38-41) yet still rejected Christ, the city was denounced in Matthew 10:15,11:23 and Luke 10:15. Its ancient remains have been excavated near the town of Tell Hum. Among the ruins are the remains of a synagogue unearthed in 1905 that could be the one built by the Roman centurion who came to Jesus seeking a miracle (Matthew 8:5-8; Luke 7:1-10).
The Gospel According to St. Luke
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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Luke 4:14-30
Jesus is dragged to a cliff 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 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. 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? 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. 24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. 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; 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. 28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 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. 30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way, |
Margin notes:
"Returned... into Galilee." (4:14) - Jesus left Judea for Galilee after John the Baptist was arrested (Matthew 4:12; Mark 1:14). Glorified of all." (4:15) - "Praised by all." "As his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day." (4:16) - It was Jesus' "custom" to attend services on the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday). "Stood up for to read." (4:16) - It was common practice to invite out of town visitors to read Scripture or teach in the synagogue. Later, Paul will take great advantage of this custom (Acts 13:5; 14:1). "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me..." (4:18) - In verses 4:18-19, Jesus is quoting Isaiah 61:1-2, an amazing seven-hundred-year-old prophecy about the coming Messiah. Jesus is telling the synagogue that He is the fulfillment of that prophecy (4:21). "Preach deliverance to the captives." (4:18) - "Preach that captives will be freed." "Set at liberty them that are bruised." (4:18) - "Set free those who are oppressed." "Sat down." (4:20) - Priests stood while reading Scripture in the synagogue (except the book of Esther at the feast of Purim) and sat while teaching it. "This day is this scripture fulfilled." (4:21) - See "Today's Question" below. "All bare him witness." (4:22) - "All spoke well of Jesus." "Do also here in thy country." (4:23) - "Do it also here in your hometown." "Verily." (4:24) - "Truly." "No prophet is accepted in his own country." (4:24) - Jesus will also teach other people (Gentiles). "Elias." (4:25) - Elias (Greek for Elijah) is perhaps the most famous of Israel's prophets, for no other is mentioned as often in the New Testament. Elijah came from Tishbeh in Gilead, was devoutly religious, and prepared Israel to accept God. After the breakup of King David's Israel in 931 BC, Elijah preached against the growing paganism and idol worship under King Ahab and his gentile wife, Jezebel. As Jews turned away from God, Elijah called on Israel to repent of its sins. Followers of the pagan god Baal and his wife Ashtoreth sacrificed infants and placed their remains in jars. Elias brought these murderers to justice (I Kings 18:40). He was given the power to perform miracles (2 Kings 1:9-14; 2:8) and caused the rain to stop for three and a half years (1 Kings 17:1; James 5:17). Elias ascended into heaven without dying in "a chariot of fire" (2 Kings 2:11) and stood with Moses at Jesus' side during the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-8). Over four hundred years before the birth of Christ, the Old Testament promised that Elias would return just before "the day of the Lord" (Malachi 4:5-6). To learn more about Elias, see 1 Kings 17:1-20, 1 Kings 18:1-46 and 2 Kings 1-2. "Save." (4:26) - Means, "except." "A woman that was a widow." (4:26) - Refers to the widow of 1 Kings 17:9-15, a Gentile, not a Jew. "Eliseus." (4:27) - The Greek name for Elisha, a prophet recruited by Elijah (1 Kings 19:19-21). After witnessing Elijah's ascension into heaven, Elisha became his successor (2 Kings 2:14-15). He performed many miracles including resurrecting the young son of one his followers (2 Kings 4:32), and healing Naaman's, the captain of the Syrian army, leprosy (2 Kings 5:14). Even after death, contact with his bones revived the dead (2 Kings 13:20-21). "Naaman." (4:27) - The chief captain of Benhadad, the king of Syria. Naaman was "a great man," "and honourable," "but he was a leper" ( 2 Kings 5:1-14). Although many Jews were infected with leprosy, it was only Naaman (a Gentile) who was cured by God via the prophet Elisha. Elisha instructed Naaman to bathe in the Jordan River seven times to rid himself of leprosy. Reluctant at first, Naaman finally followed Elisha's instructions and was healed. Jesus took this "as predictive that He himself would also be sent to other nations {Gentiles}" (Luke 4:25-27). ("Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; page 203). "Heaven was shut up." (4:27) - The Israelites began worshipping the pagan god Baal and were punished with a three and a half year drought. "Filled with wrath." (4:28) - The Nazarenes were angry at Jesus' for saying that God's favor might be given to Gentiles and not Jews. "That they might cast him down headlong." (4:30) - The people of Nazareth wanted to throw the Messiah from a cliff. |
New Living Translation
Luke 4:14-30
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit's power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region.
15 He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.
16 When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures.
17 The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
19 and that the time of the Lord's favor has come."
20 He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently.
21 Then he began to speak to them. "The Scripture you've just heard has been fulfilled this very day!"
22 Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. "How can this be?" they asked. "Isn't this Joseph's son?"
23 Then he said, "You will undoubtedly quote me this proverb: 'Physician, heal yourself'-meaning, 'Do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum.'
24 But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown.
25 "Certainly there were many needy widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the heavens were closed for three and a half years, and a severe famine devastated the land.
26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them. He was sent instead to a foreigner-a widow of Zarephath in the land of Sidon.
27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, but the only one healed was Naaman, a Syrian."
28 When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious.
29 Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff,
30 but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way.
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit's power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region.
15 He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.
16 When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures.
17 The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
19 and that the time of the Lord's favor has come."
20 He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently.
21 Then he began to speak to them. "The Scripture you've just heard has been fulfilled this very day!"
22 Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. "How can this be?" they asked. "Isn't this Joseph's son?"
23 Then he said, "You will undoubtedly quote me this proverb: 'Physician, heal yourself'-meaning, 'Do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum.'
24 But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown.
25 "Certainly there were many needy widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the heavens were closed for three and a half years, and a severe famine devastated the land.
26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them. He was sent instead to a foreigner-a widow of Zarephath in the land of Sidon.
27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, but the only one healed was Naaman, a Syrian."
28 When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious.
29 Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff,
30 but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way.
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Key verses from this passage
"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." (4:16)
"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?" (4:22)
"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." (4:28-30)
"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?" (4:22)
"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." (4:28-30)
Today's Question:
1. What does "This day is this Scripture fulfilled" mean? (4:21)
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1. What does "This day is this Scripture fulfilled" mean? (4:21)
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Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. Jesus is telling the crowded synagogue in Nazareth that He is the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament. His Jewish audience was quick to grasp what Jesus meant and were skeptical and offended. After all, they knew Jesus as the town carpenter. How could He be God's chosen one? They asked Jesus to prove He was the Messiah by performing miracles like He did in Capernaum (4:23). And then they tried to kill Him (4:28-30).
Application thought for the day:
The Nazarenes asking Jesus to prove He was the Son of God (4:23) was eerily similar to Satan testing Him in the wilderness (Luke 4:9-11). We should never ask the Messiah to perform a miracle to prove Himself. Believing requires faith, not miracles.
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible". All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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© 2026 evolke