Bible Pathways 10/22/04
October 22
Read Luke 4 - 5
In Today's Reading:
Temptation of Jesus; His teachings; healings; the miraculous catch of fish; other miracles; the call of Matthew
Some think they can worship God just as well while on the lake fishing or at home resting as they can in church. In contrast, Jesus recognized the need to honor God by regularly attending worship services. We read that He taught in their synagogues while in Galilee (Luke 4:15). 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 (4:16). Jesus was invited to speak, And there was delivered to Him the Book of the prophet Isaiah. And . . . He found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He has 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. . . . And He closed the Book, and He gave it again to the minister, and sat down (4:17-20; Isaiah 61:1-2).
The Scripture Jesus read contained a clear mention of all three Persons of the Trinity - the Holy Spirit, the Father, and the Anointed One.
The people were amazed, And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on Him. And He began to say to them, This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears (Luke 4:20-21). They marveled at His gracious words (4:22), but knew He clearly referred to Himself as the Messiah who had been foretold by Isaiah and other prophets, beginning with Genesis 3:15. You can imagine how startled they were when Jesus said that He whom they assumed to be the son of Joseph (Luke 3:23) was really their long-awaited Messiah.
The congregation listening to Jesus was so infuriated at His equating Himself with God that they disrupted the worship service, seized Jesus, and attempted to push Him over a rocky precipice and put Him to death for blasphemy But He passing through the midst of them went His way (4:28-30). Luke emphasized that Christ is God (the Messiah).
How easy it is to be mistaken when we follow emotions rather than the truth revealed in God's Word! In contrast to the Jews of Nazareth, the Jews in Berea later received the Word with all readiness of mind, for they searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so (Acts 17:11).
Word Studies:
4:29 brow = edge; 5:9 draught = catch; 5:27 publican = a person who is involved in obtaining public revenue or taxes; 5:36 rent = tear.
Cross References:
For Luke 4:4: See Deut. 8:3. Luke 4:8: See Deut. 6:13. Luke 4:10-11: See Psa. 91:11-12. Luke 4:12: See Deut. 6:16. Luke 4:18-19: See Isa. 61:1-2. Luke 5:14: See Lev. 13:49.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for The International Shortwave Radio Broadcast sponsored by Ruth J. Hess · BP Staff: Mary Kay Wagner · Government Officials: Gov. Bill Owens (CO) and Rep. John Shadegg (AZ) · Country: United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, & Wales) (59 million) off the coast of western Europe · Major languages: English and Welsh · Religious freedom · 53% Protestant; 10% Roman Catholic; 2.5% Muslim; .8% Sikh; .7% Hindu; .6% Jewish · Prayer Suggestion: Pray that people will come to a knowledge of the Lord God (Kings 18:36-37).
Memory Verse for the Week: I Corinthians 3:17
