Luk 4:16-20 | JFB | STEP | (See on .) Note.-- A large gap here occurs, embracing the important transactions in Galilee and Jerusalem which are recorded in Joh 1:29-4:54, and which occurred before John's imprisonment ( ); whereas the transactions here recorded occurred (as appears from , ) after that event. The visit to Nazareth recorded in (and ) we take to be not a later visit, but the same with this first one; because we cannot think that the Nazarenes, after being so enraged at His first display of wisdom as to attempt His destruction, should, on a second display of the same, wonder at it and ask how He came by it, as if they had never witnessed it before. 16. as his custom was-- Compare . stood up for to read-- Others besides rabbins were allowed to address the congregation. (See .)

‏ Luke 4:16-20

CHAPTER 4 Lu 4:1-13. Temptation of Christ.

Lu 4:14-32. Jesus Entering on His Public Ministry, Makes a Circuit of Galilee--Rejection at Nazareth.

Note.--A large gap here occurs, embracing the important transactions in Galilee and Jerusalem which are recorded in Joh 1:29-4:54, and which occurred before John's imprisonment (Joh 3:24); whereas the transactions here recorded occurred (as appears from Mt 4:12, 13) after that event. The visit to Nazareth recorded in Mt 13:54-58 (and Mr 6:1-6) we take to be not a later visit, but the same with this first one; because we cannot think that the Nazarenes, after being so enraged at His first display of wisdom as to attempt His destruction, should, on a second display of the same, wonder at it and ask how He came by it, as if they had never witnessed it before.

16. as his custom was--Compare Ac 17:2.

stood up for to read--Others besides rabbins were allowed to address the congregation. (See Ac 13:15.)

18-19. To have fixed on any passage announcing His sufferings (as Is 53:1-12), would have been unsuitable at that early stage of His ministry. But He selects a passage announcing the sublime object of His whole mission, its divine character, and His special endowments for it; expressed in the first person, and so singularly adapted to the first opening of the mouth in His prophetic capacity, that it seems as if made expressly for this occasion. It is from the well-known section of Isaiah's prophecies whose burden is that mysterious "Servant of the Lord," despised of man, abhorred of the nation, but before whom kings on seeing Him are to arise, and princes to worship; in visage more marred than any man and His form than the sons of men, yet sprinkling many nations; laboring seemingly in vain, and spending His strength for naught and in vain, yet Jehovah's Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and be His Salvation to the ends of the earth (Is 49:1-26, &c.). The quotation is chiefly from the Septuagint version, used in the synagogues.

20. the minister--the chazan, or synagogue-officer.

all eyes ... fastened on Him--astounded at His putting in such claims.