Bible Study Thread: Luke

[Seeler]

paradox – I am impressed with your ability to tolerate some of the comments on this thread.
I personally don't have the patience - particularly when I see the word.'period' after a statement.
To me that means' end of the discussion'. The person posting has nothing more to say on the subject (but for some reason they keep on posting) after indicating that their mind is closed to any further inspiration. It also indicates to me that they are no longer interested in what I have to say - if they ever were. Once somebody closes a statement with the word 'period' I take it as indicating that the conversation is over. I stop reading their posts or replying to them (I do scan for context of the thread.

 

[paradox3]

-----Now who's judging who ----Oh how easy it is ------paradox3 if you want to band me from this thread that is entirely up to you -----but I will not be bullied by you to post to your liking ---I believe what I believe and I will post what I believe ---so if you have a problem with that and can't handle my posts then by all means BAND ME ---cause I will post my beliefs like everyone lese does here and I will Not be Bullied by anyone ------All up to you now ------so I will wait for your decision on this matter ------

Yes, I have been assessing your posting style. I probably wouldn't call it judging but I can see why you might.

I am not bullying you. Nor am I seeking to have you banned from this thread.

Did I not say earlier you were welcome to continue posting your views here?

Here is what is not welcome: Insisting others are wrong and you alone are right. Telling others they are unbelievers when they identify as Christians. We are visited by the occasional atheist who would be happy to be called an unbeliever, of course.

Please continue to post your beliefs if you would like to. I have enjoyed many of your contributions on these threads.

Are you interested in discussion? That is your call. I will stop interacting with you if you cannot be more tolerant of other points of view. That doesn't mean I am asking you to leave.

 

[paradox3]

Reflection: Luke 4: 14 - 30

The rejection at Nazareth story appears quite early in Luke. But the writer doesn't say how long Jesus has spent in Galilee before coming to back to Nazareth, where he had been brought up.

Why do things change so quickly for Jesus? Is this a foreshadowing of the events of Holy Week?

In verses 25 - 27, Jesus almost seems to be saying He is not called to minister to the people of Nazareth and this results in their outrage.

Interesting that the people seek to hurl him off a cliff. "But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way." (v. 30)

 

[Mendalla]

Is this a foreshadowing of the events of Holy Week?

That's my first reaction. Being rejected by his own people, or at least the people of the town he is in, is a theme in stories of Jesus, with this being one of the more obvious examples. We do see it in other prophets' stories as well (e.g. Mohammad's flight from Mecca to Medina to escape persecution). It seems that rejection and outright persecution is part of the prophetic journey (which is likely a whole myth cycle unto itself, similar to Campbell's "Hero's Journey").

 

[unsafe]

unsafe says ----I am interested only in one thing and that is to bring in the Spiritual to the Scripture ------I am not here to get likes or to offend but I will not compromise my beliefs for anyone ----whether you engage with me or not is not an issue for me ----there is a Spiritual meaning to all scripture and that is what I want known ------

In your Luke 4 verses 14 -30 NIV for instance -----

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
14 Jesus returned to GalileeC)'> in the power of the Spirit,

This is huge in it's Spiritual meaning ---Why because without the power of the Holy Spirit we cannot be effective in our Preaching and Teaching and understanding of the Word -----Jesus did not start His Ministry until the Holy Spirit was upon Him -----this is very important -----if Jesus had to have the Holy Spirit to have the power to be effective in His Ministry ----What makes us Humans think we can just get the Spiritual effectiveness all by ourselves without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit ------If Jesus who is God needed it in His Humanness then we need it in our Humanness ------

 

[Jaebius]

That's my first reaction. Being rejected by his own people, or at least the people of the town he is in, is a theme in stories of Jesus, with this being one of the more obvious examples. We do see it in other prophets' stories as well (e.g. Mohammad's flight from Mecca to Medina to escape persecution). It seems that rejection and outright persecution is part of the prophetic journey (which is likely a whole myth cycle unto itself, similar to Campbell's "Hero's Journey").

Jesus lived his life on a downward path. He started out as God's Son in heaven. He had lived from eternity in glory. He then came to Earth where he was humbly born and then lived through persecution, insults, mocking, and finally the total degradation of the cross.

Ah, but then what a resurrection.

 

[paradox3]

-whether you engage with me or not is not an issue for me

Good to know. Thank you for your honesty.

 

[Waterfall]

It seems Jesus knew enough to leave when he was preaching to deaf ears. Very hard to speak some truths when no one will listen....especially hard when they know you in a different role.

 

[paradox3]

It seems Jesus knew enough to leave when he was preaching to deaf ears. Very hard to speak some truths when no one will listen....especially hard when they know you in a different role.

The really interesting thing in Luke's rendering of the story is that it begins with people speaking well of Him and being amazed at His gracious words. Jesus anticipates their future rejection and this causes them to be outraged.

Matthew and Mark simply present the people of Nazareth as unbelieving and questioning.

 

[Jaebius]

Reflection: Luke 4: 14 - 30

...Is this a foreshadowing of the events of Holy Week?

Yes, I believe so. It includes a mob rejecting Jesus' message and seeking to kill him.

Interesting that the people seek to hurl him off a cliff. "But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way." (v. 30)

Whether he rendered himself invisible, or whether they were made blind, or whether their arms were paralyzed, isn't stated. It was Jesus' power that stayed their hands.

 

[paradox3]

Whether he rendered himself invisible, or whether they were made blind, or whether their arms were paralyzed, isn't stated. It was Jesus' power that stayed their hands.

Yes, I had that impression as well. Is this ever counted as one of the miracle stories, do you know?

 

[Jaebius]

Thoughts on Luke 4:14-15...

Jesus turned back into Galilee, where he'd been before.

In the Spirit, he made this journey which meant the public beginning of the work in which he spent his life's last years.

He'd been known before in Galilee near Cana, and so now the news about him spread through the area. It preceded him wherever he went, it made people eager to hear him.

And he took up evangelism's work; he taught in synagogues, he tried to impart God's kingdom's lessons.

And he was praised by all, for all felt his preaching's power. And some acknowledged his mission's divinity.

 

[Jaebius]

Yes, I had that impression as well. Is this ever counted as one of the miracle stories, do you know?

There seem to be some who consider it a miracle, or at least entertain the idea that it might have been.

Source: Luke 4:30 Commentaries: But passing through their midst, He went His way.

"More probably that Jesus by divine power, by the force of a word or look, stilled their passions, arrested their purposes, and passed silently through them." - Barnes' Notes on the Bible.

"passing through the midst, &c.—evidently in a miraculous way, though perhaps quite noiselessly," - Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary.

"or else he put on another form, or made himself invisible to them; or he held their eyes that they could not see him, or know him, as in Luke 24:16 however it was, he made use of, and showed his divine power;" - Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible.

"But certainly there is implied a restraint of his enemies which was miraculous and dependent on the will of Jesus." - Meyer's NT Commentary.

On the flipside...

"The words do not necessarily involve a directly supernatural deliverance, as though the multitude had been smitten with blindness, or our Lord had become invisible. We have no right to insert miracles in the Gospel records." - Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers.

"This is rather a mirabile than a miraculum, since no miracle is asserted or necessarily implied." - Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges.

 

[Jaebius]

Thoughts on Luke 4:16-19...

Jesus came to Nazareth. This town had been his home for 30 years. There he'd grown up; there he'd worked at his carpenter's trade, together with his father Joseph.

Now he came in a new capacity, as a rabbi. When the Sabbath came, he followed his custom of going to the synagogue.

On the Sabbath of which our text speaks Jesus was present as usual. The Law's reading had been done. Next in order came the reading from the prophets. Now Jesus arose to read.

It was a courtesy which was given any rabbis who were visiting that they could read one of the lessons and add to that reading remarks to clarify it.

When Jesus arose, the synagogue's servant took out of the ark the parchment on which Isaiah's prophecies were written. It was a strip, fastened at either end to a rod.

In reading, the parchment was unrolled at one end and rolled up at the other, an area being seen in the middle of the rolls, from which the reader read in Hebrew, which was then translated into Aramaic.

As Jesus now rolled the parchment apart, he came to the text Is. 61:1-2. It was a text which was apt for a meamar, a sermon, of introduction, for it told about the Messiah's work.

God's Spirit rests upon Jesus, because he has been anointed with the Spirit without measure. He's Jesus the Christ.

The Gospel's preaching's his work. To the poor he preaches the Gospel, to those that feel their spiritual poverty's depth; with Jesus they'll find the riches that last throughout eternity.

Jesus has been sent to heal those that felt shame. To preach to the captives held bound by shame and Satan; he cuts the cords with which the foes have held the souls.

He gives sight to the blind, that their eyes may no longer beheld in shame's darkness; he grants God's children's liberty to those that were abused, that were their own lusts' slaves.

And this together meant God's acceptable year. Jesus' delighted when his harvest's bountiful. It's the year in which shame's erased, in which God's heritage, which was lost through shame's recovered.

 

[paradox3]

There seem to be some who consider it a miracle, or at least entertain the idea that it might have been.

Source: Luke 4:30 Commentaries: But passing through their midst, He went His way.

"More probably that Jesus by divine power, by the force of a word or look, stilled their passions, arrested their purposes, and passed silently through them." - Barnes' Notes on the Bible.

"passing through the midst, &c.—evidently in a miraculous way, though perhaps quite noiselessly," - Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary.

"or else he put on another form, or made himself invisible to them; or he held their eyes that they could not see him, or know him, as in Luke 24:16 however it was, he made use of, and showed his divine power;" - Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible.

"But certainly there is implied a restraint of his enemies which was miraculous and dependent on the will of Jesus." - Meyer's NT Commentary.

On the flipside...

"The words do not necessarily involve a directly supernatural deliverance, as though the multitude had been smitten with blindness, or our Lord had become invisible. We have no right to insert miracles in the Gospel records." - Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers.

"This is rather a mirabile than a miraculum, since no miracle is asserted or necessarily implied." - Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges.

Very interesting information, Jae. Thank you for providing it.

Two new words of the day for me: mirabile and miraculum.

 

[unsafe]

unsafe says ----
So we see in verses 16-21 --Jesus is in His Home Town and at first is accepted as He Reads from the scroll and all were amazed at what He said -----

this shows us the 2 scriptures --IN COMPARISION

Bible Gateway passage: Isaiah 61:1-2, Luke 4:18-19 - King James Version

Isaiah 61:1-2 (KJV)
61 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;


Luke 4:18-19 King James Version (KJV)
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

unsafe says -----
First ---- 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me ---this shows and tells us how He Qualified for His Work ----Without the Holy Spirit we are not Rightly Qualified to do God's work

Second ----because he has anointed me ----This speaks of His Commission -----His being anointed signifies both His being fitted for doing the Job at hand and His Calling to do God's will -----when God appoints one for a service He equips them for the job -----


unsafe says ------this was His anointed calling ----- the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;


So for What He was called to do He was commissioned and qualified and this is the way it should be today ------this ensures God gets the Glory not us -----

unsafe says -----Now here is where it gets dicey -----as Jesus relates to what He just read to the people ------and we see He does not mince His Words --Jesus knew what was in their Hearts ------they did not believe who He was --to them He was just the Son of Mary and Joseph ---They said, “How is this possible? Isn’t he Joseph’s son?”


unsafe posting Luke 4 ERV
23 Jesus said to them, “I know you will tell me the old saying: ‘Doctor, heal yourself.’ You want to say, ‘We heard about the things you did in Capernaum. Do those same things here in your own hometown!’” 24 Then he said, “The truth is, a prophet is not accepted in his own hometown.

25-26 “During the time of Elijah it did not rain in Israel for three and a half years. There was no food anywhere in the whole country. There were many widows in Israel during that time. But the fact is, Elijah was sent to none of those widows in Israel. He was sent only to a widow in Zarephath, a town in Sidon.

27 “And there were many people with leprosy living in Israel during the time of the prophet Elisha. But none of them were healed; the only one was Naaman. And he was from the country of Syria, not Israel.”


unsafe says -----They took offense ---they were unbelieving of who Jesus really was ----

This I got from Google -----
Bible unbelief
Unbelief is believing something other than what God has said about a situation. ... You can believe in Him, but still not believe what He says. The Bible calls this an evil heart—a hardened heart (Hebrews 3:12). And a heart of unbelief grieves God.

 

[Waterfall]

When does the annointing take place in Luke? I wonder if it was at his baptism and these people remember him as he was before? Or do you think it was at his birth or even before?

 

[paradox3]

My concordance gives me Luke 4:18 as the first mention of it in this gospel.

The next mention is the woman in Luke 7 who anoints His feet.

 

[Mendalla]

There seem to be some who consider it a miracle, or at least entertain the idea that it might have been.

Maybe he just put on the One Ring?

I don't really see a miracle there, just him extricating himself from the mess, possibly taking advantage of indecision by the crowd or something. At least that's how I'd play it in my film version of Luke's Gospel.

 

[unsafe]

Luke 4:28-30 (AMP)
28 As they heard these things [about God’s grace to these two Gentiles], the people in the synagogue were filled with a great rage; 29 and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the crest of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to hurl Him down the cliff. 30 But passing [miraculously] through the crowd, He went on His way.


unsafe says and Posting a reference scripture ----In Luke 24 AMP verse 16--we see Jesus was walking with the Disciples but they kept from recognizing Him ---


The Road to Emmaus
13 And then, that very day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. 15 While they were talking and discussing it, Jesus Himself came up and began walking with them. 16 But their eyes were [miraculously] prevented from recognizing Him.


unsafe says ----so it seems to me He did the same here in Luke 4 ------