Luke 4

Luke 4:12

See Matt. iv. 7. a left him for a time, meaning to wait an opportunity to assault him again. See Matt. iv. 11. b being by the powerful incitation of the Spirit of God now stirred up to set upon this prophetic office, returned into Galilee— c exceedingly admired of all. d and he made shew to undertake to expound some part of sacred writ, as their doctors are wont to do.

Luke 4:17

And the officer of the synagogue (see ver. 20.) brought him the book of— e those that long imprisonment and shackels have bruised,

Luke 4:19

To proclaim to all a year of jubilee, wherein servants are set free, &c.

Luke 4:22

And all that heard him did with acclamations express that they were amazed at the power and wisdom with which he spake, (see Psalm xlv. 2,) wondering whence he had such excellencies, Matt. xiii. 54; but because they knew he was Joseph’s reputed son, one brought up in an ordinary condition, they did not believe on him.

Luke 4:23

Whereupon he spake unto them, saying, That which among the Jews is by way of gibe vulgarly used to a physician who is himself fallen into any disease or infirmity, “Physician,” &c., (which signifies a man that pretends to do cures abroad, but is able to do none at home,) is become applisable to me, who being believed on by strangers, and by that means having opportunities to do miracles or healing among them, am despised and rejected among my own countrymen, very few of whom having that belief of my power as to come to me for cure, Mark vi. 5, I cannot consequently do many such miracles here, Matt. xiii. 58, which in Capernaum and other places I have done.

Luke 4:24

And so generally hath it been; when prophets have been sent to work miracles of mercy, very few among their countrymen, to whom they were familiarly known, have been found fit to receive them.

25, 26. As in Elias’s time, of the many men and women, particularly of widows that were in that time of famine through all Israel, there was none qualified to receive that miracle from Elias but one only, the widow of Sarepta, or Zarephath, a city of Sidon, 1 Kings xvii. 9.

Luke 4:27

And though there were many leprous persons among the Israelites in Elisha’s time, yet they being his countrymen the observation was there as here, that no one of them had faith to seek and qualify himself for a cure of his leprosy, only Naaman, which was not that countryman, but a Syrian, was by Elisha converted to the true religion, and healed of his leprosy.