Bible Pathways 10/22/2002
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; Jesus questioned by the Scribes and Pharisees.
Some have deceived themselves into thinking they can worship God just as well while on the lake fishing or at home resting. Jesus recognized the need to honor God by regularly attending the worship services. We read that He taught in their synagogues while in Galilee (Luke 4:15). 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). In the Sabbath service, two lessons were read. The first was always taken from the five books of Moses and the other from the prophets. Jesus was invited to speak. There was delivered [to] Him the Book of the prophet Esaias (Isaiah). And . . . He found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord (God) is upon Me (the Messiah), 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 [those who] are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And He closed the Book, and He gave it again to the minister, and sat down (4:17-20; Isaiah 61:1-2).
The words Jesus read contained a clear mention of the three Persons of the Trinity: The Spirit of the Lord (the Holy Spirit) is upon Me; He (the Father) [has] anointed Me; and He [has] sent Me, the Anointed One.
The people were amazed, and the eyes of all . . . 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 (spiritual) words (4:22), but knew He clearly referred to Himself as the Messiah who had been foretold by Isaiah. You can imagine how startled they were when Jesus said that He, the local carpenter (Mark 6:3) whom they assumed to be the son of Joseph (Luke 3:23), was their Messiah.
Aware of their scorn and unbelief, the Lord reminded them that in rejecting Him they would also be rejected for their unbelief, even as Israel had been rejected for its unbelief during the days of Elijah. He reminded them that during Elijah's time, the son of a Phoenician woman living near Sidon was raised from the dead (I Kings 17:9-24). In addition, the Syrian leper Naaman had been healed of his leprosy because of his obedience to the God of Israel (II Kings 5:1-14). Jesus was praising a Syrian and a Sidonian, both Gentiles, for their faith in the God of Israel (Luke 4:25-27). The congregation listening to Jesus was so infuriated by this that they disrupted the worship service, seized Jesus, and attempted to put Him to death by pushing Him over a rocky precipice. But He passing through the midst of them went his way (Luke 4:28-30).
Thought for Today: Every Christian has a responsibility to participate in the work of God.
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:
Government Officials: Gov. Bill Owens (CO) and Rep. John Shadegg (AZ) · Pray for your pastor · Country: Belgium (10 million) in northwestern Europe · Major languages: Flemish and French · Religious freedom · 87% Roman Catholic; 3% Muslim; .8% Protestant; .5% Orthodox · Prayer Suggestion: Rejoice and consider yourself blessed when you suffer for the Name of Christ (I Peter 4:14).
Memory Verse for the Week: Romans 13:2
