Chronological Bible Study – Oct 5
What I Noticed Today (Matthew 4; Luke 4-5)
Matthew 4
Matthew 4 records the temptation of Christ by Satan.
In verses 1-2, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert (wilderness) to be tempted (tested) by Satan. After fasting 40 days and nights, Jesus was hungry.
Note: It is interesting that Jesus did not get hungry during the fast, but after the 40 days and nights. Also, note the parallel with the spirit who led the people of Israel out of Egypt into the wilderness for 40-years.
In verses 3-4, Satan challenged Jesus to turn the stones into loaves of bread. Jesus answered, quoting Deuteronomy 8:3.
In verses 5-7, Satan took Jesus to Jerusalem to the pinnacle of the temple and said throw yourself down the angels will protect you. Jesus answered, quoting Deuteronomy 6:16.
Note: In tempting Jesus, Satan quoted from Psalm 91:11-12 taking the verse out of context (Satan is the deceiver!).
In verses 8-11, In Satan’s third test, Satan took Jesus to a high mountain showing him all the kingdoms of the world promising that if Jesus worshiped him, he would give these kingdoms to Jesus. Jesus answered quoting Deuteronomy 6:13, and 10:20.
With that, Satan left Jesus and the angels came to minister to him.
Note: Satan’s temptations of Jesus are similar to his temptations of Eve. Satan tempted both with an appeal to their physical appetite, with an appeal to personal gain, and with an appeal to power.
In verses 12-17, Jesus heard that John the Baptist had been imprisoned, so Jesus left Nazareth and went to Capernaum in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali. This fulfilled Isaiah 9:12. Jesus’ public ministry began as he preached repentance for the kingdom of God is at hand.
In verses 18-22, Jesus called the first disciples Simon (Peter) and his brother Andrew who were fishermen, to become fishers of men. Immediately they left their nets and began to follow Jesus. From there, Jesus called James the son of Zebedee and his brother John who were also fishermen, and they also left their nets and boats and immediately followed Jesus.
Note: This was not Jesus' first meeting with these men. See John 1:35-42.
In verses 23:25, Jesus went throughout all of Galilee teaching in the synagogues, proclaiming the gospel, and healing disease. News of his ministry spread throughout Syria (north of Galilee). Jesus healed all those who came to him. As a result of his ministry, great crowds from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem and Judea, and the region west across the Jordan River.
Note: The reference to “Decapolis” is a region of 10 largely Gentile cities south of the Sea of Galilee. It is important to note, even in the beginning, Jesus’ ministry was to both Jews and Gentiles.
Luke 4
In verses 1-13, (See also Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13) Jesus, was led by the Holy Spirit away from the Jordan River into the wilderness for 40 days to be tempted by Satan:
- After 40 days of fasting, Jesus was hungry, and Satan tempted Him, saying if you are the Son of God, turn this stone into bread. Jesus answered man does not live by bread alone (Deuteronomy 8:3).
- Satan then tempted Jesus by saying he would give Him the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would worship him. Jesus answered, worship the Lord your God only (Deuteronomy 6:13).
- Finally, Satan took Jesus to Jerusalem, and standing on the top of the temple said throw yourself down from here, quoting Psalm 91:11-12. Jesus answered you should not test the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 6:16).
Note: Satan had tempted Jesus to meet His physical needs, to gain power (immediate control of kingdoms), and to gain acceptance (people would have reacted to Jesus had He been miraculously protected by angels).
Luke 4:14-9:50
This section records Jesus’ primary ministry in Galilee.
In verses 14-30, (See also Matthew 4:12-17, Mark 1:14-15) Luke summarizes Jesus’ ministry in Galilee.
In verses 14-15, Jesus, directed by the Holy Spirit, returned to Galilee. News about Him spread, and He taught in the synagogue (vv. 14-15).
In verses 16-30, (See also Matthew 13:53-58, Mark 6:1-6), Jesus was rejected in Nazareth. Jesus taught in the synagogue reading from Isaiah (Isaiah 61:1-2). Jesus sat down and explained; He fulfilled this prophecy.
Note: It was common for a man to stand while he taught in the synagogue and then sit down when he explained the teaching.
The people were amazed but said, isn’t he Joseph’s son? They wondered how Joseph’s son could possibly be the Messiah. Jesus reminded the people through the examples of Elijah with the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-16) and Elisha with Naaman the Leper (2 Kings 5:1-9) how the people had rejected prophets of God. The people were furious over the Gentile references (the widow of Zarephath and Naaman) and tried to kill Jesus, but He left them.
In verses 31-44, (See also Mark 1:21-28), Jesus traveled to Capernaum and was teaching in the synagogue when a demon-possessed man came to Him. The demon cried out, leave us alone, Jesus of Nazareth—I know who you are—the Holy One of God. Jesus rebuked the demon and ordered him out of the man. The people were amazed Jesus had the authority and power to cast out demons and news of Him spread.
In verses 38-41, (See also Matthew 8:14-17, Mark 1:29-34), Jesus left the synagogue and went to Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was sick, so Jesus healed her. News spread about the healing, and by evening sick people came to be healed. Many people had demons that He cast out, and the demons recognized Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus rebuked them, not allowing them to speak because they knew He was the Messiah.
In verses 42-44, (See also Mark 1:35-39) the next morning, Jesus went out to a quiet place to pray. The people found Him and wanted to keep Him from leaving, but he said He needed to preach the Good News in other towns as well.
Note: There is a stark contrast between the people of Nazareth who rejected Jesus and the people of Capernaum who wanted Him to stay.
Luke 5
In verses 1-11, (See Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20), a large crowd was gathering around Jesus as He stood by the shore of Lake Gennesaret (another name for the Sea of Galilee). Jesus got into a boat owned by Simon and went out into the lake, sat down, and started teaching the people on the shore. When He finished speaking, he told Simon to go out into deeper water and put down his fishing nets. Simon protested, saying they had worked all night and caught nothing, but he lowered his nets anyway. They caught so many fish they called for another boat and filled both boats with fish to the point of almost sinking the boats. Simon Peter, James, and John were all amazed at the catch. Jesus said from now on; you will be fishers of men. They brought their boats to shore, left everything, and followed Jesus.
In verses 12-16, (See also Matthew 8:1-4, Mark 1:40-45), a young man with leprosy approached Jesus, calling Him Lord, and asking to be healed. Jesus reached out and touched him, which healed him. Jesus told him to say nothing but to show yourself to the priests and make the required offering for his cleansing. The news of the healing spread, and large crowds came to be healed. Jesus often withdrew to deserted places to pray.
Note: There were strict laws requiring the segregation of people with skin diseases from the general population (Leviticus 13).
Note: Skin diseases like leprosy were considered incurable apart from an act of God. In scripture, we have only two recorded instances of God healing a leper (Miriam in Numbers 12 and Naaman in 2 Kings 5). Therefore, the priests would not have been accustomed to having someone show up having been healed and ready to make an offering as required in Leviticus 14:1-32.
In verses 7-26, (See also Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-2), one day, when Jesus was teaching, the Pharisees and scribes came to observe Jesus healing first-hand. Some men came carrying a paralyzed friend on a mat, hoping to have Jesus heal him. They couldn’t get into the house because of the crowd, so they went up to the roof, cut through the roof, and lowered him into the room in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus pronounced his sins as forgiven. The Pharisees and scribes were furious because only God has the power to forgive sins. Jesus knew their thoughts and said the Son of Man had the authority and power to heal as well as to forgive sins. The paralyzed man was immediately healed, he got up, and went home praising God. The crowd who witnessed the healing was in awe and gave praise to God.
In verses 27-39, (See also Matthew 9:9-17, Mark 2:13-22), after healing the paralyzed man, Jesus went out and saw Levi (Levi named Matthew in Matthew 9:9) the tax collector sitting in his office. Jesus called Levi to follow him, so Levi got up and followed Jesus. Levi hosted a banquet for Jesus with other tax collectors. The scribes and Pharisees complained to Jesus’ disciples that Jesus was eating with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus replied the healthy do not need a doctor, only the sick. Jesus said he had not come to call the righteous but the sinners to repentance.
They (the Pharisees and scribes) asked Jesus why John’s disciples fasted and said prayers like the Pharisees, but your disciples eat and drink. Jesus answered with three parables:
- The wedding guests do not fast while the groom is with them, but when the groom is taken away, they will fast.
- A new unshrunk piece of fabric is not put on an old piece because when they are washed, the new will tear the old.
- New wine is not put into an old wineskin because it will burst the skin, and both will be ruined.
Note: In each parable, the pair do not go together: feasting and fasting, a new patch on an old garment, and new wine in an old wineskin. The point is that Jesus’ teaching was new, and the Pharisees wanted to hold onto the old teaching.
Some thoughts for further consideration:
- Crowds pressed upon Jesus wherever He went in the countryside, wanting Him to heal the sick. It was an exhausting ministry. But several times, we read that Jesus left the crowds behind to spend time by Himself in prayer. Jesus was rejuvenated and refreshed by His prayer life with the Father. In the midst of our busy, tiring days, we should remember we too need time in prayer to be rejuvenated and refreshed.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.