September 16, 2024
DAILY BIBLE READING – Luke Chapter 4
1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
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.
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
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.
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:
10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
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.
15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
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.
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,
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,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
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.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
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?
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.
24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
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;
26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
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.
30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way,
31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
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.
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.
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.
37 And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.
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.
39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.
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.
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.
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.
43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
44 And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.
King James Version. Public Domain
Commentary
Introduction:
Chapter 4 of the Gospel of Luke is a significant section that describes the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. It starts with Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, a deep spiritual test that he triumphantly overcomes. Following this, we see his work in Galilee and Nazareth, where he teaches and makes proclamations that evoke both admiration and rejection. This chapter not only highlights Jesus’ spiritual strength but also his authority over evil and his mission to preach the Gospel.
Commentary:
The chapter begins with Jesus’ temptation, a crucial phase in which the devil tries to divert him from his mission in three different ways. First, the devil tries to persuade Jesus to turn a stone into bread to satisfy his hunger. However, Jesus responds with Scripture, affirming that life is more than just physical needs: “Man does not live by bread alone.” The temptation to gain worldly power is also rejected by Jesus, as he declares that only God should be worshiped. Lastly, Jesus is tempted to prove his divinity in a spectacular manner, which he dismisses by stating that one should not test God.
These temptations symbolize the challenges every believer faces: material needs, power and glory, and the temptation to test God’s power. Jesus’ resistance shows us how, through trust in God’s word and will, we can remain steadfast in the face of temptation.
The second major theme in this chapter is Jesus’ proclamation in Nazareth, where he makes it clear that the prophetic words of Isaiah are fulfilled in him. This proclamation initially sparks admiration, but soon leads to rejection. The people of his hometown see him only as “Joseph’s son” and are unwilling to accept him as the Messiah. This highlights the difficulty people often have in recognizing the divine in the familiar.
However, in Capernaum, we encounter a different response. Here, Jesus’ teaching is received with reverence, and his power over demons and illnesses is evident. He heals people, showing that his mission goes far beyond preaching the word – he brings healing and liberation.
Summary:
Luke 4 provides a comprehensive view of Jesus’ early ministry. He is tempted in the wilderness but resists all temptations through the power of God’s word. In Nazareth, he reveals his mission but is rejected by his own people. In contrast, in Capernaum, his teaching and miracles are received with awe. This chapter portrays Jesus as the one who has come to proclaim the kingdom of God, to heal, and to overcome the power of evil.
WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING – Ellen White | The Desire of Ages
Chapter 63—“Thy King Cometh”
This chapter is based on Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-19.
Read online here
Commentary
Introduction
Chapter 63 highlights the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, based on the accounts from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It represents the moment when Jesus is publicly recognized as the Messiah and the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 becomes clear. The events are filled with jubilation, hope, and deep misunderstandings about the true nature of Jesus’ mission. The contrast between the people’s joy and Jesus’ personal sorrow over Jerusalem’s fate adds emotional depth to the narrative.
Commentary
The triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is a significant event that seamlessly aligns with the prophetic writings of the Old Testament. Zechariah 9:9 foretold the arrival of a humble king on a donkey, and this moment is now fully realized in its splendor. Jesus, who had long refused royal honors, now allows himself to be celebrated as the Messiah. This not only reveals his self-identification as King but also his conscious preparation for the forthcoming sacrifice.
The crowd accompanying Jesus is filled with great enthusiasm. They see him as an earthly deliverer who will overthrow Roman rule and restore the Kingdom of Israel. This misunderstanding illustrates how much the people failed to grasp the true nature of Jesus’ mission. They expected a political ruler, but Jesus’ kingdom was spiritual. While the crowd shouts “Hosanna,” Jesus feels deep sorrow, knowing the suffering that awaits both him and Jerusalem. This tension between the people’s joy and Jesus’ grief over the city’s hardened heart makes this passage so poignant.
Particularly significant is the moment when Jesus weeps over Jerusalem. Despite the jubilation surrounding him, he knows that the city will not accept the true salvation. The prediction of Jerusalem’s destruction and the symbolic meaning of this event are central to understanding Jesus’ mission: He came to save, but many rejected him.
Summary
Chapter 63 describes the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, accompanied by the fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy about the coming Messiah. While the crowd rejoices in anticipation of an earthly king, Jesus is deeply moved as he foresees the suffering awaiting Jerusalem. His entry marks the beginning of the final phase of his life, in which he will offer himself as the Savior of the world. The events illustrate the contrast between the expectation of an earthly ruler and the true spiritual mission of Jesus as the Redeemer of humanity.
WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING – Ellen White | The Desire of Ages
Chapter 64—A Doomed People
This chapter is based on Mark 11:11-14, 20, 21; Matthew 21:17-19.
Read online here
Commentary
Introduction
Chapter 64 is based on the accounts in Mark 11:11-14, 20-21 and Matthew 21:17-19. It describes the symbolic cursing of the barren fig tree by Jesus and places this act in the context of the spiritual condition of the people of Israel. The cursing serves as a sign of the consequences of hypocrisy and spiritual fruitlessness, and it is a warning to the Jewish people and all generations who reject God’s grace. Jesus speaks with sorrow about the future judgment of Jerusalem, which results from their rejection of the Messiah.
Commentary
The parable of the fig tree is central to this chapter. Jesus uses the barren fig tree as a symbol for the people of Israel, who outwardly appear devout but inwardly bear no true fruits of faith. The Jews in Jesus’ time presented an external appearance of deep religious life, with their magnificent temple and elaborate worship services. But like the fig tree, which bears only leaves, they lack inner fruit: righteousness, love, and mercy.
Jesus approaches the tree, seeking fruit, just as He came to His people seeking genuine fruit of faith. Instead, He finds only hypocrisy and self-righteousness. The cursing of the tree is a powerful symbol of the impending judgment on Jerusalem. The destruction of the fig tree illustrates the consequences of rejecting God’s grace.
This event not only illustrates the punishment for Israel but also serves as a warning for all time. Anyone who claims to serve God but produces no fruits of faith stands under the same judgment. God’s grace cannot be endlessly abused, and the rejection of His message leads to spiritual withering.
Jesus weeps over Jerusalem because He knows the city will reject the remedy—Himself as the Messiah. His sorrow reveals the infinite love of God, who longs for His people’s repentance, but the responsibility for the coming destruction rests solely on those who refuse to accept His grace.
Summary
Chapter 64 illustrates the cursing of the fig tree as a symbolic representation of Israel’s spiritual condition. The tree, full of leaves but bearing no fruit, represents the people who outwardly appear devout but fail to produce true righteousness. Jesus uses this image to show the consequences of rejecting His grace: spiritual withering and the coming judgment on Jerusalem. Jesus’ sorrow over the city reflects God’s deep love, which hopes for repentance even in the face of rejection. This warning applies to all who reject God’s grace.
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