In this section Jesus first announces his mission and second, travels across the land inviting the outcasts, sick, lame, and sinners into restoration in his Kingdom.
Luke 4:14 Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and news about him spread through all the surrounding area. 15 He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
16 He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written,
18 “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,
19 and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Isaiah 61:1-2
20 He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
22 All testified about him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, and they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
After leaving the wilderness Jesus travelled through the region of Galilee. As he walked toward his hometown, Nazareth, he stopped at the synagogues along the way to teach about the Kingdom of God. Once in Nazareth he entered the synagogue and read a prophecy from Isaiah:
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.”
Isaiah 61:1-2
After reading the 800-year-old prophecy, Jesus startled the crowd by announcing that he was the fulfillment of Isaiah 61:1-2.
How had Jesus fulfilled this prophecy?
At the Jordan River, Jesus had beenanointed in the baptism of John. And, not only that, but the Holy Spirit had descended upon Jesus like a dove and everyone heard the voice of God declare that Jesus was the Son of God the Father. And with the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within him Jesus who would establish his Kingdom on earth, preaching good news to:
The poor: helpless beggars, those with low or no social status, women, children, the destitute, and even social outcasts like the tax collectors and prostitutes would be redeemed and become heirs in Christ’s kingdom. Luke 6:20
The broken hearted: those in despair over sin, Psalm 51:17 or those who have suffered loss, failure, and disappointment who would experience joy in Christ’s kingdom. John 15:11
The captives: those captive to Satan, 2 Timothy 2:26 and those in deep debt and those held in slavery who would finally be granted freedom in accordance to God’s liberating Law as revealed by God in Leviticus 25.
The blind: the physically blind would miraculously see. The spiritually blind would be given the light of the knowledge of God. 2 Corinthians 4:6
The crushed; those who have given up and can see no way out from under the weight of their troubles will have their burdens lifted up. 1 Peter 5:6-7
In a promise that is beyond imagining, through Jesus, the social outcasts, the poor, the broken-hearted, the slaves, the blind, and the crushed, will, like Jesus, all be anointed with the Holy Spirit. The power that would, in the future, raise Jesus from death, will be given to all who have repented and turned to Jesus. Jumping way ahead in Luke’s story, Jesus said: “John baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Acts 1:5
Luke 4 is not a mission of structural change and social transformation, but a mission to announce the good news of his saving power and merciful reign to all those brokenhearted – that is, poor – enough to believe. (Kevin DeYoung, thegospelcoalation.org, 7-20-10) The book of Acts is especially important because in it we can actually see the scope and nature of the earliest Christian mission. If you are looking for a picture of the early church giving itself to creation care, plans for societal renewal, and strategies to serve the community in Jesus’ name you won’t find them in Acts. But if you are looking for preaching, teaching, and the certainty of the Word, this is your book.
(Kevin DeYoung, What is the mission of the church? Crossway)
Luke 4:23 He said to them, “Doubtless you will tell me this parable, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in your hometown.’” 24 He said, “Most certainly I tell you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25 But truly I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land. 26 Elijah was sent to none of them, except to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman, the Syrian.”
28 They were all filled with wrath in the synagogue, as they heard these things. 29 They rose up, threw him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill that their city was built on, that they might throw him off the cliff. 30 But he, passing through the middle of them, went his way.
The crowd was incredulous, saying: “Wait a minute. Who are you fooling? We know who you are… Isn’t this Joseph’s son? How can the carpenter’s kid bring good news to the poor, heal the broken- hearted, release the captives, and give sight to the blind? Sure, he can build a house or make a chair but how can he proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord?”
Jesus, knowing and understanding their skepticism challenges them to pay attention to the Scriptures. Jesus reminds them that no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. Jesus then gives them two examples. Elijah found more faith in the widow, Zarephath, in the land of Sidon than he found in Israel. 1 Kings 17 Similarly, Elisha found a willingness to believe in God in the Syrian commander, Naaman. 2 Kings 5 Elijah and Elisha had faced rejection and persecution by the very people that God had sent them to minister to.
The crowd didn’t like being scolded by Jesus and when they heard these things… they were all filled with wrath. They attempted to murder him on the spot. But miraculously Jesus passed through the middle of them and went his way.