Luke 4

Forty days tempted

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

Immediately after the greatest highpoint of Jesus' life, baptism, the coming of the Holy Spirit and the approving words of God, His Father from heaven, he is led into a wilderness experience. After a great Spiritual time, we may be tested by such a wilderness experience. Satan will try to steal the joy and victory from us, as he was there to meet our Lord Jesus Christ as he fasted in the wilderness for forty days. Forty is the number of trials.

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

The devil comes to us to tempt us with the desires and lusts of the flesh. There is nothing wrong with eating bread, but to obey Satan's command is sin. Jesus came to do the Father's will, not the devil's will. Fasting for forty days was accompanied by prayer to the Father, the flesh was denied and this was a time of Spiritual connection and direction from the Father. But even alone in the wilderness, satan intrudes as the serpent intruded into the garden of Eden. When we are physically weak and exhausted he comes to steal, kill and destroy by lies and deceit. Remember that the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness, he was in God's will even though he was being tempted of the devil. This was for our example.

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.

Here is our answer to the devil when he tempts; speak the word of God. The just shall live by faith. We do not fight the devil in physical ways, we do not allow him to control our fleshly desires by catering to lusts of the flesh. Satan always comes at us through the flesh, he wants us to work in the natural world, but Jesus shows us what we must do. The devil is a spirit, a fallen angel with a host of demons sent to do his work in the minds and bodies of the spiritualy weak. Cutting our body, eating disorders, addictions to sexual desires, these are all encouraged by satan and his devils. To resist the devil we must use our Spiritual weapons, the sword of the Spirit, the word of God. We must wear the whole Spiritual armor of God as written in Ephesians 6.

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

We resist the devil by obeying God and speaking his word.

tempted with power

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

The devil owned all the kingdoms of the world, but he has no part in the kingdom of God. In a moment of time, the devil can move fast, but not as fast as God. For God is in all places at once. Jesus was not impressed.

Psa 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
Psa 139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
Psa 139:9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Psa 139:10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
Psa 139:11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
Psa 139:12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
Psa 139:13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
Psa 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
Psa 139:15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
Psa 139:17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
Psa 139:18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

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

The thief stole dominion from the first Adam, and tried to control the last Adam, speaking of power given to those who serve him. The first temptation was of the flesh, the second was of the mind, the desire for power. Many sell there souls to the devil for power and wealth. People who own everything, will seek political power. Power over people, to make them their servants. Jesus had all power, laid it down, humbled himself and became a servant, first of God the Father and then of others as our example. Why would he seek false power from a lying devil? This power would lead many into destruction. Satan, the thief, the liar, and the destroyer. A fool will worship satan.

Luke 4:8 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.

Again Jesus picks up the sword of the Spirit, and speaks the word of God, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Worship God only and we serve him when we serve others. Would you pass these two tests? Yes, because his word dwells in you by faith. Speak the word in faith and the devil will flee.

tempted by death

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 third temptation satan had to offer was death. So many people, especially teens are tempted with suicide, as if it were the answer to their problems. A quick escape from life, because of a confused mind, remembrances of failings. sufferings of emotions of pain, loss of a loved one, many things satan fills the mind with, but the end result of obeying him is death. Satan the liar comes to steal, destroy and kill. The person may do something on impulse. If Jesus was to try to prove to satan that he was the Son of God, by casting himself from the pinnacle, he would be obeying satan and sinning. He could not pay the price for our sins. We do not have to prove ourselves to satan. In Jesus we have authority over him. He knows we have the authority in Jesus name, but he wants us to forget that by his torment of fleshly and emotional thoughts. Our old man is dead in Christ. If we be in him, we are a new creation in Christ Jesus.

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

The wiley devil used scriptures to deceive, False teachers do this as well. They use scriptures to destroy others and to make others slaves to their will. The word of God is holy and should be understood by His Sprit. We are to read the word in it's correct context, making application by the Spirit.

2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Study, give diligence ...rightly dividing, cutting straight, the word of truth. We are to be diligent in the word, correctly understanding the meaning, so that we will understand the correct meaning and not a twisted truth to deceive others with. Cutting straight; understanding using the sword of truth, the Spirit of truth and the word of truth.

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

Jesus knew his tricks and again used the word of truth spoken by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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

The devil retreated, for a season. Remember this, we overcome the devil by the word of truth, but he will return, so keep your Spiritual armor on and walk close to God. Cover yourself and those weak in faith with prayer, guarding them as Spiritual sentries of the Lord's army.

Prophecy fulfilled

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 coming out of the forty days of fasting and trial of the devil, returned with power of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, speaking God, the Father's words with healings and miracles, to show the fruit of God's son.

Luke 4:15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
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.
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,
Luke 4:18 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,
Luke 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
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.
Luke 4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

This was the fulfillment of Isaiahs prophecy, 700 years before he came. (Isaiah 61:1-3) This was his ministry and now it is ours, for he is gone. We fulfill this calling through the power of His Spirit. Anointed by the Spirit to preach the gospel, to the humble, 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,

Only the power of God, in the name of Jesus can do these things. Jesus is the savior and liberator of those bound by satan. Through his servants he continues to free the captives, so repent, confess your sins be truly sorry and turn to Jesus who will free you from sin and the devil. Free to obey him and to be his servant of the way of truth. I have shared this prophecy of Isaiah with many and have witnessed hundreds receiving salvation and freedom from physical and spiritual bondage.

Col 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
Col 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Col 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Not Received

Jesus finished reading the scroll and closed it. He was in his hometown synagogue among familiar faces.

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?

All, were filled with awe at the gracious words that Jesus spoke. Is this not Joseph's son? They only knew him as the son of Joseph. He had grown up in wisdom and stature before them, a familiar person. They did not see him as the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God.

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

They did not believe in him and they did not know God. Jesus would later speak to the Pharisees about his Father;

John 8:19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

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;
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.
Luke 4:27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.

Israel was worshipping foreign gods at this time, so God moved in the Gentiles.

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

They did not receive the teaching of Jesus and were angry, so angry that they sought to throw him headlong off of a hill. The devil had tried to destroy Jesus tempting him to jump to his death from the pinnacle of the temple.

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:

Now he has returned in this angry religious crowd. His own town people sought to destroy him. Even our friends may oppose us as we are doing the Lord's calling for our life. The devil will use anyone out of God's fellowship to stop the work of God.

Luke 4:30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

It was not yet the time for him to die. He simply walked away from them. Sometimes we must do the same, if we are to be his disciples.

Mat 10:36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

We must walk with Jesus leaving behind those who oppose the work of God, but not leaving behind our own family duties. We do not walk away from children or a spouse. But grown relatives and friends who oppose us, we pray for and follow Jesus. We never leave behind our responsibilities towards providing for family.

Jesus spoke in essence that he was the Messiah, but they considered this as blasphemy. The Jewish people knew religion and tradition at this time, but few walked by faith, knowing God. Is it any different today? The Lord is coming soon.

Luke 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Demon cast out

Luke 4:31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.

Capernaum, was a flourishing city on the west shore of the sea of Galilee, here he taught in the synagogue.

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

The people were amazed at his teachings: for his word came forth with authority and conviction.

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,
Luke 4:34 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.

Interesting to note that the first to call Jesus by who he was, the Holy One of God, was not a respectable religious person, but a demon within a man in the synagogue. The respectable people of Jesus' home town only new him in the flesh, as the son of Joseph, calling him a blasphemer when he said he was the fulfillment of prophecy. Now, a demon cries out in fear, saying it is the Son of the most high God. The devil is a spirit, seeing the spirit within the man Jesus, he trembled at his presence. The devil knows us outwardly, but more importantly by our spirit.

Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Rom 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

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 commanded the devil to be quiet, actually the word used was to muzzle, be muzzled and come out of him. And when the bad spirit through him down in the midst of them, he separated from the man, and he was not injured. I have witnessed these bad spirits, they often cause physical hurts, headaches and such when commanded to come out. Some come out with violence. The person that has the bad spirit is capable of helping rid himself of the bad spirit be believing on the name of Jesus. Then the Spirit of God is invited in, to make sure the bad does not return.

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

The good report about him went out into every place. The good news that Jesus, the Son of God has come, speaking the words of God and casting out demons. The devil knew who he was, yet most would not yet see him as the Messiah, the Son of God, The evidence said this was so, by the Spirit he was known, by those with spiritual eyes.

Authority of Jesus' word

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

Two things about this that we should look at. The first is that by the very word of Jesus the mother was healed. Jesus did not lay hands on her or anoint her with oil as we are told to do in James, but this too is a way of healing, in the name of the Lord.

James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
James 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Faith in the name and authority of Jesus results in healing. The centurion in the following portion of the Bible, also knew of his authority to heal. Jesus was pleased with the faith of this Gentile.

Luke 7:6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:
Luke 7:7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
Luke 7:8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. Healing then is by faith in the authority of Jesus, we pray to him believing he hears and will heal.

The second thing to look at is that Peter was married, for it was his wives mother who was healed. For the Catholic faith, tradition has it that the Pope is after the example of Peter, yet they do not marry, nor do the priests marry. I am not interested in upsetting anyone about where they worship, but the Bible should be our authority and not traditions. There are many things that the Protestants do as well that are not Biblical. My point is we follow the Bible above traditions. A look at 1 Timothy 4:1-3, warns the church of God to beware of false doctrines, even doctrines of devils, we are to have sound Biblical doctrine.

1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1 Tim 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1 Tim 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

Let each of us examine our beliefs by the careful study of God's word. For in heaven, there is one church, and Jesus is the head of the church, now and forever. He will judge all by his word. His word is his will, the final authority.

Kingdom authority

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.

Jesus healed all who came to him who were sick with many diseases. The power of God was with Jesus to heal and he laid hands on every one of them. Healing by the power of Jesus and the laying on of hands.

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.

Many who were healed, were sick because they had unclean spirits within them. Many of these devils or demons came out recognizing the Spirit of God and the Holy one of God's kingdom. Thou art Christ the Son of God, they yelled, this was no son of Adam, but the Son of the most High God, the creator of all, including the devil and his fallen angels. What a sight to witness this. Many in our churches are praying to see this kind of power within the churches; the sick are healed and the demons are cast out saying, the power of the Son of God has come. Jesus gave the church this promise:

John 13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. Jesus also said this:

John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

We are given a greater opportunity for ministry. There are more of us in more places. More people will be saved from sin through our witness and why not also with signs following? healings, demons cast out, the dead rising, all by the name and authority given in obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ. It is he that does this through his obedient servents. To God be the glory for as Jesus said, the servant is not greater than the master, but the working servant can do the masters work.

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.

Jesus loved the desert places, the places of wilderness untouched by human design. He loved to be alone to pray, seeking always to know of the Father's thoughts. We can do this too, by reading the Bible, meditating and praying.

He was always followed by people wanting to be close to him. He was the Good Shepherd, the sheep liked to follow him and to hear his voice. They would not go from him.

Luke 4:43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
Luke 4:44 And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.

Jesus went to other cities preaching in the synagogues and wherever he went he spoke words of grace.

Superragman@aol.com

Luke Chapters

Luke 5
Luke 1 Table of contents
Eaglewings New Testiment Studies
Eaglewings Ministries