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- Luke Chapter 4
Good morning ☀️
Since there are new people signing up for the Bible study newsletter daily, I’ll begin every study with a call to read the chapter in the Bible BEFORE you read my notes.
First and foremost, we must give honor to the Word of God. Also, my notes will make more sense AFTER you’ve read the chapter. AND, I’ll make it easy for you…
I think most people know the story of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness. Growing up, when I read “wilderness,” I imagined mountains… with trees… and vegetation, maybe because I grew up in Colorado.
But that’s not the wilderness of the Bible, and that’s not Israel. This is a photo of the Judean desert.
Photo by Israel Biblical Tours
What can we learn from Jesus being tempted in the wilderness?
We can expect to be tempted:
The devil tempted Jesus with physical hunger, desire for power, and trust in God's protection. Jesus resisted each temptation by relying on the Word of God.
I have bad news. As a follower of Christ, you will be tempted. Maybe daily. Maybe without even realizing it.
More bad news: Often, the closer we get, the tighter satan’s grasp. I’m guessing you’ve seen it in your own life. You might be seeing it as you go through this study.
But…
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
Read (and study) the Bible:
In each response to the devil, Jesus quoted Scripture, demonstrating the importance of knowing and relying on the Word of God for guidance and strength in the face of temptation.
We must be intentional.
Reading and studying the Bible won’t happen by accident. Write out a commitment. Start small. Build a habit. Memorize ONE scripture. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.
Prepare yourself.
Immerse yourself in the scriptures, ensuring that God's teachings are engraved in your thoughts and held close to your heart, ready for the moments when the tempter comes.
“I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.”
Memorize and meditate on key Bible verses that address common temptations or challenges.
Use the Word of God as a weapon when facing temptation, just as Jesus did in the wilderness.
Resist the devil:
List the areas in your life where you’re more vulnerable to temptation. Acknowledging our weaknesses can be our greatest challenge.
Be mindful of the media, entertainment, and content you consume. Avoid material that promotes negative or sinful thoughts. That might include politics.
Avoid places, people, or activities that consistently lead you into temptation.
When faced with tempting situations, don't entertain them. Instead, remove yourself from the situation if possible.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Pray:
Jesus understands our temptations. We must go to Him first.
Pray specifically for strength to resist temptation and for wisdom to discern the devil's tactics.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
As I read through Luke’s account of the temptation in the wilderness, I realized that Jesus must have told His disciples about it.
Was it when they were walking together? Sitting around a fire at night? Maybe it was when one of the disciples confided their temptations to Jesus.
When I think about temptation in the Bible, I often think about Judas. And when I was a new Christian, I often thought… “How could Judas betray Jesus? I wouldn’t do that.”
Now, when I read about Judas, I ask myself, “Where am I betraying Jesus? How am I betraying Jesus? Holy Spirit, let me see it. Let the scales fall from my eyes.”
God answers those prayers.
“So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized.”
I don’t think we fully understand the closeness of the relationship Jesus had with the disciples. Or the close relationship we can have with Him ourselves.
The disciples walked with Jesus every day for three years. They were fully devoted to Him. They gave up everything… home… security… family… to be with Jesus. To follow Him. Daily.
What if… we did the same?
“And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee,”
In the Old Testament, there are prophecies about the coming Messiah being anointed by the Spirit of God. Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, fulfills these prophecies, indicating that he is the awaited Messiah.
"There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord."
When He entered His hometown of Nazareth, He stood up in the synagogue on the Sabbath and read a prophecy about being anointed by the Holy Spirit.
I can’t imagine the scene!
Jesus reads from scrolls that everyone listening was very familiar with…
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound."
And then!
“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Initially, the people in the synagogue are impressed with Jesus. They speak well of Him and are amazed at the gracious words He speaks.
But then they remember He's Joseph's son. They seem to express a degree of skepticism or surprise that someone from their own community could speak with such wisdom and grace.
Don’t miss the next three scriptures
25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land,
26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. [1 Kings 17:8-24]
27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian." [2 Kings 5:1-19]
WHAT is going on here? WHY is Jesus pointing out these specific accounts found in the Old Testament?
During the time of Jesus, some Jews strongly believed that God's prophets and blessings were exclusively for the Jewish people. They believed this because of their understanding of the covenant promised in the Hebrew Scriptures.
Jesus challenged those beliefs, teaching a more inclusive view of God's kingdom. To make his point, he gave historical examples of the prophets Elijah and Elisha ministering to Gentiles (non-Israelites), showing that God's grace had extended beyond the Jewish community.
Just for reference, Simon is Simon Peter, who becomes one of the 12 disciples.
Why did Jesus rebuke the demons and not allow them to speak?
This incident is commonly known as the "Messianic Secret," a theme found in the Gospels where Jesus instructs people and even demons to keep quiet about his identity as the Messiah.
That’s it for Chapter 4.
Remember, I’m not breaking down every verse like a commentary does. My goal is to ask questions. I’m skipping over the stories we all might be aware of or stories that explain themselves.
Who is that?
Why?
What caused this?
Where?
It’s not too late!
If you’re learning from this Bible study, if it’s encouraging, don’t keep it to yourself. We’re only on Chapter 4. There are still 20 chapters to go!
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Look for Chapter Five on Monday!
I love you,
George
Seeking after Christ
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33
P.S. If you have any questions or if I missed something you didn’t understand. I’d love to hear from you.