Luke 4

Chap. IV. ver. 1.—full of the Holy Ghost—was led by the Spirit] He retired into the wilderness, by the direction of the Spirit of God, which dwelt in Him fully and beyond measure. Dr. S. Clarke.

“Being full of the Holy Ghost,” which came upon Him at His baptism. We here see the power of baptism and the blessings annexed to it, to which all are entitled who partake in the baptism of Christ. He was only born and baptized for our sakes, who, through faith, are heirs together with Him of the promises of God. Bp. Sherlock. On our Lord’s temptation, see further notes at Matt. iv. 1—11.

— to heal the brokenhearted.] The brokenhearted are sinners, not hardened in their sins, but desponding under a sense of guilt, without hope of expiation. These broken hearts the Redeemer healed, by making atonement for them, and by declaring the means and the terms of salvation. “The captives” are they who were in bondage to the law of sin, domineering in their members, and overpowering reason and conscience. Bp. Horsley.

We, who have no such prejudices and passions as the Jews had to mislead our judgment, know that our Lord most completely verified the words of the prophet, both in their literal and their spiritual meaning. He preached the Gospel to the poor in fortune, the poor in spirit, and the poor in religious knowledge. He healed the brokenhearted; He raised and comforted those that were oppressed with calamity, disease, and sin. He gave sight also to the blind; He removed the film from the mental as well as the corporeal eye; and to those that sat in darkness He disclosed at once the cheerful light of day, and the still more glorious light of Divine truth. To the captives, to them that were bruised, He preached deliverance: He preached a doctrine, which not only released from spiritual bondage those that had been led captive by their sins, but so softened and subdued the most ferocious minds, and diffused throughout the earth such a spirit of mildness, gentleness, mercy, and humanity, that the heavy chains of personal slavery were gradually broken in most parts of the Christian world; and they, that had been for so many ages bruised by the cruel and oppressive hand of Pagan masters, were at length set free. Bp. Portens.

— recovering of sight to the blind.] In the Hebrew it is written, “And freedom to those bound in prison.” The Greek version renders it as in this passage of the Gospel. The two renderings are closely connected, both conveying the idea of extreme misery; for in the East it was the custom to put out the eyes of prisoners, as of Samson, Judg. xvi. 21; and Zedekiah, 2 Kings xxv. 7. Dr. Lightfoot.

— are bruised.] Meaning the Jews, bruised in their consciences by the galling fetters of a religion of external ordinances, whom our Lord released by the promulgation of His perfect law of liberty. Bp. Horsley.

—and sat down.] The Jewish doctors, to shew their reverence for the Scriptures, always stood while they read them; but when they taught the people they sat down. See Matt. xxiii. 2. Thus we here find our Lord sitting down in the synagogue to preach, after He had read the passage in the Prophet, which he made the subject of His discourse. The custom of preaching from a text of Scripture, which now prevails throughout all the Christian churches, seems to have derived its origin from the authority of this example. Dr. Macknight.

Luke 4:2

2. Being forty days tempted &c.] Perhaps, during the course of these forty days, Satan tempted Him invisibly, by presenting evil suggestions to His mind; and, after these failed in their effect, the tempter came to Him in an apparent visible form. Drs. Lightfoot and Whitby.

Thus, for the space of forty days, was our Lord exposed to the art and cunning of the tempter, sifted in every part, exposed to the horrors of the desert, the necessities of hunger! But neither the necessities of hunger, nor the horrors of darkness, nor the forty days’ temptation, could move Him from His steadfast confidence and trust in God. And who was it that was exposed to these cruel trials and temptations? Was it not He whom God, but just before, had, by a voice from heaven, declared to be “His beloved Son.” And can we still think that our temptations are any sign that God has forsaken us, that He has at once withdrawn His Spirit and His love from us? Can we think the continuance of our temptations any just ground for despair, when Christ Himself was tempted forty days? Do then any amongst us complain that our life is full of anxious care and trouble, that every day brings its trial with it, and every night its temptation? Do we

Luke 4:5

5. — nevertheless at thy word &c.] They were not discouraged by the weariness of a whole night’s fruitless labour, but willingly renewed their toil at the in-

Anno DOMINI 31.

Luke 4:13

13.—departed from him for a season.] A short time before our Saviour’s crucifixion, Satan renewed his attempts upon Him; for he entered into Judas, and put it into his heart to betray Him, chap. xxii. 3; and when Jesus said, at John xiv. 30, “the prince of this world cometh,” He seems to have meant that the devil was then about to tempt Him, by laying sufferings upon Him. Bp. Pearce. If this enemy of the human race omitted no opportunities of tempting Christ, what strong reason have we to believe that he will omit no convenient season for tempting us! Dr. Whitby.

From what is here recorded, that the devil departed from Him for a season only, we should observe, that, though at the first entrance into the course of a religious life, the greatest difficulties and temptations are generally to be expected; and, when once those are clearly overcome, the ways of virtue usually become pleasant; yet men ought never to look upon themselves as secure from the returns of temptation; for the evil one may again assault them under different forms and temptations, perhaps even assailing them by the very security which they possess. Wherefore “we ought to give the more earnest heed, lest at any time we should slip.” Dr. S. Clarke.

Christ beginneth to preach. Anno DOMINI 30.

Luke 4:14

14. — in the power of the Spirit.] Under the powerful guidance of the Holy Spirit. Dr. S. Clarke.

Luke 4:15

15. — being glorified of all.] Such was the excellency of the doctrine which He taught, and such the greatness of the works by which He confirmed it, that all men were struck with admiration, and looked upon Him as an extraordinary Prophet. Dr. S. Clarke.

Luke 4:16

16. — and stood up for to read.] It was customary, when any grave person went to the synagogue, to invite him to read a portion of Scripture and expound it. See Acts xiii. 18. Bp. Mamm.

A part of the synagogue service was the expounding of the Scriptures, and preaching them to the people. The first was performed at the time when they were read, and the other, after the reading both of the Law and the Prophets was concluded. On this occasion, Christ was called out as a member of the synagogue at Nazareth, His own city, to read the section or lesson out of the Prophets appointed for that day; and, when He had stood up and read it, He sat down and expounded it, ver. 20. Dean Prideaux.

Luke 4:17

17. — opened the book.] Literally, “unrolled the book;” as the books of that day consisted of pieces of parchment rolled up. Dr. Hammond. See note at Isai. viii. 1. It seems that each book of Scripture was in a separate roll, as it is stated in the next verse that they gave Him “the book of the Prophet Esaias.” Bp. Pearce.

Luke 4:18

18. — to the poor.] See note at Matt. xi. 5. That in the exposition of these prophecies the figurative sense of the expression is not to exclude the literal, is evident from this consideration, that the discoveries of the Christian revelation are in fact emphatically glad tidings to the poor, in the literal acceptation of the word, to those who are destitute of worldly riches. To those, who from their present condition might be likely to think themselves forsaken of their Maker, to doubt whether they existed for any other purpose than to minister to the superfluous enjoyments of the higher ranks of society, by the severity of their own toil; to persons in this low condition, and under these gloomy apprehensions, was it not glad tidings to be told that they had a hope, beyond the infidel’s expectation, of a perpetual cessation of sorrow in the grave?—hope of a day, when all shall rise, to meet before the common Lord, high and low, rich and poor, one with another;—when, without regard to the distinctions of this transitory life, each man shall receive his proper portion of honour or shame, enjoyment or misery, according to the degree of his moral and religious worth!—that he, whose humble station excluded him, in this life, from the society and the pleasures of the great, (now fallen from their greatness,) shall become the companion and the fellow of angels and of glorified saints! shall stand for ever in the presence of his Redeemer and his God,

he found the place where it was written,

Luke 4:19

19. To preach the acceptable year &c.] Alluding literally to the year of jubilee, when liberty was proclaimed throughout the land to all the inhabitants, Lev. xxv. 8, &c. debts being remitted, possessions restored, and slaves set free; which was typical of the spiritual redemption to be effected by Christ, and which the Jews themselves understood in that light. Dr. Whitby.

Luke 4:20

20. — to the minister.] To the person whose office is Anno DOMINI 31. c Ibid. 61. 2. The people of Nazareth admire Christ’s gracious words.

Anso DOMINI 51. sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

Luke 4:21

21. And he began to say &c.] That is, He began by saying what is here expressed: this being but the preface to “the gracious words,” (ver. 22,) by which He explained and applied that passage of the Prophet. Bp. Mann.

—This day—fulfilled in your ears.] “This day,” with reference to the whole time of our Lord’s appearance in the flesh, or at least to the whole season of His publick ministry. “Your ears,” addressed to all the inhabitants of Judea and Galilee, who then heard His doctrines and saw His miracles. Our Lord affirms, that, in His works, and in His daily preaching, His countrymen might discern the full completion of this prophetick text, inasmuch as He was the Persou on whom the Spirit of Jehovah rested, whom Jehovah had anointed “to preach the gospel to the poor,” &c. Bp. Horsley.

Luke 4:22

22. —and wondered at the gracious words &c.] Were amazed at the power and wisdom with which Jesus spake, and wondered whence He obtained such excellencies; but, because they knew He was Joseph’s reputed son, one brought up in an ordinary condition, they did not believe on Him. Dr. Hammond.

Luke 4:23

23. And he said unto them, &c.] Jesus therefore said unto them, I know ye are prejudiced against Me; and, though ye are convinced in your own consciences of the goodness and excellency of My doctrine, yet ye will pretend ye cannot believe Me, unless I work more miracles to satisfy your curiosity; and ye will say to

Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

Luke 4:24

24. —No prophet is accepted &c.] His meaning is, Though I should work more miracles among you, yet would you not believe Me: for, so long as ye will judge of things by outward and temporal considerations, no conviction can be strong enough to conquer your unreasonable prejudices. Dr. S. Clarke.

Luke 4:25

25. —many widows were in Israel &c.] These instances are quoted by our Lord, in order to prove that they who are nearest to the means of grace, and opportunities of conviction, are often least inclined to profit by them; on which account they are justly granted to others of a more humble and teachable disposition. The application to the people of Nazareth was so obvious and undeniable, that “they were filled with wrath,” (ver. 28,) and prepared to destroy Him whom, just before, they had regarded with admiration; by which they sufficiently discovered their own unworthiness. Bp. Mann.

Luke 4:27

27. —Elisens] The Greek mode of pronouncing Elisha.

Luke 4:28

28. —were filled with wrath.] When they heard Christ declaring them unworthy of those miracles which He had wrought at Capernaum, and plainly intimating by the instances He had just brought, that His Gospel should be chiefly received among the Gentiles. Dr. Whitby.

Luke 4:29

29. —the brow of the hill] They still shew this precipice at the distance of about half a league from the modern Nazareth, and even pretend to point out a stone at the brink of the precipice, as the very spot from which our Lord was to have been thrown. Dr. Wells.

Luke 4:30

30. —passing through the midst of them] Without being hurt by them. Dr. Hammond.

Luke 4:32

32. —for his word was with power.] He spake with authority, Matt. vii. 29; and added miracles also to confirm the truth of what He said. Dr. Hammond. See notes at Matt. vii. 28, 29.

Christ casteth out a devil. S. LUKE. He teacheth the people out of Peter’s ship. Anno DOMINI 31. Or, Avery. unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,

Luke 4:38

38. — into Simon’s house.] Simon Peter’s house: see Matt. viii. 14.

Luke 4:41

41. — rebuking them suffered them not to speak.] Commanded them to hold their peace, and not to declare who He was. Dr. S. Clarke.

Luke 4:42

42. — stayed him.] Used all means to prevail with Him. Dr. Hammond.

Luke 4:43

43. — I must preach &c.] Ye are intent, Jesus says to them, on the cures which ye see Me work, and desire to detain Me for the sake of these temporal advantages: but the business for which I am sent into the world, is, to preach the Gospel, and declare the will of God to men; and this I must do, in other cities as well as yours. Dr. S. Clarke.

Chap. V. ver. 2. — but the fishermen were gone out of them, &c.] There are some minute differences between the account here given by St. Luke, and the accounts of the same transaction given by St. Matthew and St. Mark, Matt. iv. 18; Mark i. 16. But, in all passages of

and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.