Luke 4:14-32 - Jesus Driven from Nazareth.



In telling about the public ministry, Luke chooses what to include and what to omit. He does not include those events recounted in Mark 6-8, and some details mentioned by John.

Several of the details suggest that this is not Jesus' first public appearance after the temptation, but that much had already taken place.

Luke is writing to a non-Jewish audience and therefore depicts those events that clearly show Jesus as Savior of all who believe in Him. Here Jesus preaches about Redemption coming to those outside of Israel.

Verses 14,15. A general description of Jesus' actions during that period in Galilee caused a great sensation. He was highly popular with the people.

Verses 16,17. After an unstated period of time in Galilee, Jesus came to His old hometown of Nazareth. The people had heard of His growing fame and were curious to see and hear Him.

As was His custom from His youth, Jesus went to the synagogue on the Sabbath. Jesus stood up as a sign that He wished to speak. It was a custom to allow visiting rabbis such an opportunity; the head of the synagogue had the book of Isaiah given to Jesus, a portion of which was next to be read.

Verses 18,19. He read Isaiah 61:1,2 and a phrase from Isaiah 58:6.

Verse 20. He rolled up the book (parchment scroll) and sat down on the customary platform to deliver His message. Rabbis usually proceeded with explanations and instruction rather than orations. All eyes of His old acquaintances were fastened expectantly on Him.

Verse 21. Luke gives a brief account of the main theme. Jesus declares that the prophecy He had read had been fulfilled in His own person - that He was the One anointed by God to proclaim glad tidings to the poor, to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim deliverance to captives of sin, to give sight to the blind, to lift up the downcast, to proclaim "the acceptable year of the Lord" - the time of the Messiah through Whom God will give salvation to His people.

Verse 22. The authority and conviction of His words had an immediate favorable effect. The turning point came when they remembered that this was only a son of Joseph, an ordinary carpenter, so familiar to them. What had begun with amazement became skepticism & indifference, like "Who does he think he is?"

Verse 23. Jesus immediately noticed the change of attitude and said they would likely quote him the proverb - "Physician, heal thyself," that they now doubt all that they have heard about Him, and His own claims to greatness. They had to have proof.

Verses 24-27. To further prove that prophets of God had been similarly treated - He recounts the cases with Elija and Elisha - who not being accepted by their own people were consequently sent by God to people outside of Israel (pagans).

Jesus refuses their demand for signs and wonders to prove His claims. They missed the whole point of the Salvation He was offering.

Verse 28. These examples enrage the people in the synagogue.

Verse 29. Nazareth is situated in the hollow between three peaks of a mountain. The Jews drove Jesus to one of them - with the purpose of pushing Him over.

Verses 30,31. How Jesus actually did this, we are not told, but since it was not yet His time to lay down His life - He walked through them and went again to Capernaum to continue His ministry.

Verse 32. His words are welcome and the hearers were surprised at the power and authority of His teaching. The scribes and rabbis usually spoke from the traditions, written by former scribes and rabbis - many detailed explanations and opinions.

Jesus uniquely spoke Absolute Truth based on His divinity as the Son of God. Part of Jesus' unique preaching was His description of the utter misery of the human race, their complete spiritual blindness. This darkness of sin He had come to cure - to bring the light - the quote from Isaiah clearly shows this. He has come to bring deliverance to the poor, blind captives crushed by sin - through Himself.