Luke Chapter 4 — The Temptation and Early Ministry
Jesus overcomes temptation in the wilderness before returning to Galilee, where he begins teaching in synagogues and performing miraculous healings.
Open this chapter in the Biblicast app for the full reading experience with audio narration and explanations.
Notable Verses
Luke 4:4
“Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ””
Jesus uses scripture to resist the devil's first temptation during his forty-day fast.
Luke 4:18-19
““The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.””
Jesus identifies himself as the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy regarding the Messiah's mission.
Luke 4:43
“But he said to them, “I must preach the good news of God’s Kingdom to the other cities also. For this reason I have been sent.””
This verse clarifies Jesus' primary mission as a messenger of the Kingdom of God.
Chapter Summary
Luke Chapter 4 begins with Jesus being led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness, where he fasts for forty days and resists three specific temptations from the devil using Scripture. Following this, he returns to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. In Nazareth, he reads from the prophet Isaiah, declaring himself the fulfillment of the prophecy, which leads to his rejection by the local people. Jesus then travels to Capernaum, where he demonstrates his authority by casting out an unclean demon in the synagogue and healing Simon's mother-in-law of a high fever. As his reputation grows, he heals many others from various diseases and demons. Despite the crowds' desire for him to stay, Jesus emphasizes his mission to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God to other cities, continuing his ministry across the synagogues of Galilee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jesus responds to each of the three temptations by quoting specific verses from the book of Deuteronomy. He relies on the authority of written Scripture to reject the devil's offers of food, power, and testing God.
The people of Nazareth were initially amazed but became angry when Jesus compared them to the Israelites of Elijah's and Elisha's time, suggesting that God's grace extends to outsiders. Their wrath led them to attempt to throw him off a cliff.
In Capernaum, Jesus cast out an unclean demon from a man in the synagogue and healed Simon Peter's mother-in-law of a fever. He also healed many others who were brought to him with various diseases and afflictions.
Study Note
The reference to Elijah and Elisha highlights a recurring theme in Luke's Gospel: the inclusion of Gentiles in God's plan of salvation.
Related Chapters
Matthew Chapter 4
Contains a parallel account of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness.
Isaiah Chapter 61
The source of the prophecy Jesus reads and claims to fulfill in the Nazareth synagogue.
Deuteronomy Chapter 8
Provides the context for the scripture Jesus quotes about man not living by bread alone.
Continue in the App
Get the full experience — immersive audio, instant explanations, highlights, notes, and reading plans.