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Text: Luke 4:16-32
The format for the sabbath teaching in the synagogue is different than our format here. The minister or Rabbi may have several readings and songs. Some of the readings were done by the congregation members willing to read and maybe give a word of exhortation. Jesus reads (verse 18). So what happens when the LORD Jesus Christ is given the scroll of Isaiah and reads a passage about himself? He reads the passage without explanation, hands the scroll back to the minister, and sits down. The people wait for some word of explanation and blessing with their eyes on him. And Jesus notices the congregation waiting for something else to be said. And from his seat, it looks like, he says this day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
Preaching liberty in Christ (vs 22)
- Luke says that day Jesus preached gracious words to the congregation. No doubt gracious words about being made free from sin. Liberty means forgiveness of sins and full justification by God.
- Gracious words about Him being the Son (not the servant) that makes free (If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed)
- Gracious words about Him being the Spirit that brings freedom (Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty).
- Everyone wants freedom from sin and they loved his sermon! Not exactly.
- Men love darkness when their deeds are evil. They don’t want exposure. They don’t appreciate the light and the liberty that comes with the light.
- People love the pleasures of sin, even though it only lasts a season.
Prophet without honor (vss 22-31)
- Strange opposition to liberty
- It’s not what you thought freedom looked like so you’re not willing to believe God.
- Self-righteousness prevents people from coming to Christ.
- They understand that he’s claiming to be the Christ. But Jesus is too common to believe in. He’s just Joseph’s son, right?
- Jesus foretold the cross when they would say Physician, heal thyself.
- He then showed in Israel’s history how God’s miraculous work was done among the heathen people instead of Israel. And how the prophets were not accepted in their own place.
- Elijah and the justified heathen widow of Sarepta
- Elisha and the justified heathen leper named Namaan.
- The Jews understood Jesus was preaching God’s opposition to them, but liberty would be offered to them in Him. But nobody wants to hear that God is opposed to you. And you are not his children. He’s not for you. He’s for the one you think is dirty but has trusted Him.
- So the chapel service ends with a bunch of self-righteous people trying to murder their only hope of salvation!
Power over sin (vs 32)
- Jesus goes to a town he’s not from and has a warmer reception there. There, they are astonished at his teaching because it has power.
- For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
- The heart is what the judge of all the earth is after.
- Your self-righteousness is your blindness.
- If you want to please men then you can’t please God.
- You can’t serve God and money.
- There is an appearance of righteousness and there is actual heart righteousness.
- Love your enemies.
- Narrow is the way.
- You’ll be judged according to your measure of judgment.
- If you bring an offering to God, but hate your brother, you’re unacceptable.
- If you don’t commit adultery good, but if you look at a woman to lust after you’ve committed adultery in your heart.
- Matthew 5-7 are some of the details of his teachings that lead to them saying that he teaches with authority.
- Jesus Christ is the spirit of holiness. His doctrine is clean and powerful.
- For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
