Luke 4:31–44 — Healing and Teaching « Leader information shown in this fashion »
A. Some thoughts from last Sunday
1. thank you, Dave, for your work in preparing and in presenting the profiles and the anatomy of temptation
2. in Luke 4:16–21, Jesus read part of Isaiah 61, saying that He was then fulfilling that scripture.
a. It was not some future event. It was His day-to-day ministry.
b. He was also saying, indirectly, that He was the Messiah (or the Christ), the Anointed One. But He did so referring to particular aspects of the Messiah, rather than merely naming Himself as Messiah, because to have done so would have been to have agreed to the Jews conception of the Messiah — one who would give them political deliverance.
c. You will find that throughout His ministry — and in today’s passage — that Jesus refused to name Himself as the Messiah (the Christ); for that was something to be perceived by faith, through the Spirit, from His words and His deeds.
3. it is very easy to fall into the error of the people of Nazareth. Because they knew Jesus, His family, His first 30 years or so, they did not honour Him. It is all too easy to become enamoured with some gifted servant — musician, worship or other leader — of another congregation and disparage those of our own. Yet of our own we are in the position to see their life as well as their works, so that we should esteem those whom God has given us.
4. that Jesus had already done mighty works is evident from His words to the people of Narareth: that they wanted Him to do what He had already done at Capernaum.
B. Jesus Casts Out an Unclean Spirit — Luke 4:31–37 (NKJV): 31 Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. 32 And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority. 33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, 34 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are — the Holy One of God!” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. 36 Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” 37 And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.
1. Parallel Passage, Mark 1:21–28
a. particularly distinguishes Jesus’ from the scribes’ teaching
b. also says the demon tore or convulsed his subject
2. The demon uses the term “Holy One of God” … what does the use of that term mean? See Psalm 16:10, Acts 2:37–31
a. « that Jesus was the promised Messiah »
b. the Bible says little about demon possession either before or after Jesus’ ministry but records a large number of incidents in that period. This focusses on the conflict between Jesus and evil. Jesus’ manifest purpose was to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).
3. The word “rebuke” has an underlying meaning of judgment, of laying a penalty upon someone and is also translated to reprove or to admonish. A principal, but not exclusive, application, is to Satanic spirits and to the wrong spirit in His disciples.
a. How does this tie in with Jesus’ first coming not being one of judgment? « It was a coming of salvation, not judgment, for mankind — but it brought judgment upon Satan & his »
4. In what two aspects did Jesus cause their amazement? (The first could be translated, verse 32, “and their senses reeled at …”
a. « His teaching — it was with authority and originality (the rabbis did not teach in this fashion; just the opposite, taking pride in the illustrious predecessors that they quoted »
b. « His exorcism — it was with authority and power (using the present tense of the verb indicates that this was a repeated, rather than a singular, occurrence »
c. exorcism, as practised by the Jews (presumably by those associated with the scribes and Pharisees) was based upon recitation of certain formulae and names of the patriarchs or Solomon « (Josephus Book VIII Cap II § 4) »
C. Peter’s Mother-in-law Healed — Luke 4:38-39 (NKJV): 38 Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. 39 So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.
1. Parallel passages
a. Mark 1:29-31 tells us Andrew (Simon Peter’s brother) and also James and John were present
b. Matthew 8:14-15 leaves no doubt that this Simon is Peter
c. only Luke points out that is was a high fever
2. Is there any significance in the fact that Jesus rebuked the fever?
a. « it has been speculated that the hand of Satan was behind this illness, to sidetrack Peter from discipleship »
3. what is the character of her cure?
a. « it was immediate, it was complete »
D. Many Healed after Sabbath Sunset — Luke 4:40-41 (NKJV): 40 When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.
1. why not until then? « To have borne them to Jesus on the Sabbath would be contrary to the law; later the rulers set traps so Jesus was confronted with the sick on the Sabbath »
2. what additional testimony do the demons present
a. « that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) »
b. « that Jesus is the Son of God »
E. Jesus Preaches in Galilee – Luke 4:42–44 (NKJV): 42 Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; 43 but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.” 44 And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.
1. Parallel passage: Mark 1:46–49 — what was His reason for going to a deserted place? « … to pray according to Mark »
2. Modernistic, liberal churches state that Jesus’ ministry was to be our great Example. Comment on this statement, based on these three verses.
F. What practical application(s) should we take out from here this morning into the coming week to strengthen our Christian walk?
G. What is the distinction between disciples and apostles?