Jesus's three responses to Satan's temptations each begin with "It is written," making this the only Gospel passage where Scripture quotation becomes a weapon of spiritual warfare.
Luke 4
The Temptation of Jesus
1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness
2for forty days, being tempted by the devil. He ate nothing in those days. Afterward, when they were completed, he was hungry.
3The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
4Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”
5The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6The devil said to him, “I will give you all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I want.
7If you therefore will worship before me, it will all be yours.”
8Jesus answered him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’”
9He led him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here,
10for it is written, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you;’
11and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest perhaps you dash your foot against a stone.’”
12Jesus answering, said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”
13When the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until another time.
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
14Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and news about him spread through all the surrounding area.
15He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
16He 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.
17The 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,
19and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
20He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
22All testified about him and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth; and they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
23He said to them, “Doubtless you will tell me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in your hometown.’”
24He said, “Most certainly I tell you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.
25But 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.
26Elijah was sent to none of them, except to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.
27There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman, the Syrian.”
28They were all filled with wrath in the synagogue as they heard these things.
29They 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.
30But he, passing through the middle of them, went his way.
Jesus Teaches and Heals in Capernaum
31He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. He was teaching them on the Sabbath day,
32and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority.
33In the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon; and he cried out with a loud voice,
34saying, “Ah! what have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God!”
35Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” When the demon had thrown him down in the middle of them, he came out of him, having done him no harm.
36Amazement came on all and they spoke together, one with another, saying, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!”
37News about him went out into every place of the surrounding region.
Healing Simon's Mother-in-Law and Many Others
38He rose up from the synagogue and entered into Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a great fever, and they begged him to help her.
39He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she rose up and served them.
40When the sun was setting, all those who had any sick with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.
41Demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Rebuking them, he didn’t allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.
42When it was day, he departed and went into an uninhabited place and the multitudes looked for him, and came to him, and held on to him, so that he wouldn’t go away from them.
43But he said to them, “I must preach the good news of God’s Kingdom to the other cities also. For this reason I have been sent.”
44He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.
Font Size 17pt
Line Spacing
Theme
Luke 4 presents Jesus beginning his public ministry after successfully resisting Satan's temptations in the wilderness for forty days. Jesus announces his messianic mission by reading from Isaiah in his hometown synagogue of Nazareth, declaring the prophecy fulfilled, but faces rejection from those who knew him as Joseph's son. The chapter concludes with Jesus demonstrating his divine authority through teaching and miraculous healings in Capernaum, establishing the pattern of his ministry.
Context
Following his baptism and genealogy in chapter 3, this chapter launches Jesus' public ministry, setting the stage for the extensive Galilean ministry that dominates the following chapters.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-13 The Temptation of Jesus Jesus, led by the Spirit into the wilderness, resists three temptations from Satan using Scripture.
- 14-15 Jesus Begins Ministry in Galilee Jesus returns in the Spirit's power and begins teaching in synagogues to widespread acclaim.
- 16-21 Jesus Reads from Isaiah In Nazareth's synagogue, Jesus reads from Isaiah 61 and declares the messianic prophecy fulfilled.
- 22-30 Rejection at Nazareth The hometown crowd turns hostile when Jesus explains why prophets are rejected in their own communities.
- 31-37 Teaching and Exorcism in Capernaum Jesus demonstrates his authority through teaching and casting out an unclean spirit in the synagogue.
- 38-44 Healing Ministry Expands Jesus heals Simon's mother-in-law and many others, then continues preaching throughout Judea.
The Temptation of Jesus
4:1–4:13 gospel dialogue defiant
Jesus faces three temptations from Satan in the wilderness, responding to each with Scripture and demonstrating perfect obedience to God. His victory over temptation prepares him for his ministry and establishes his authority over evil.
person_contrast
Jesus's three responses to Satan's temptations each begin with "It is written," making this the only Gospel passage where Scripture quotation becomes a weapon of spiritual warfare.
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
4:14–4:30 gospel speech defiant
Jesus announces his messianic mission by reading from Isaiah in the Nazareth synagogue, declaring the prophecy fulfilled. When he suggests God's favor extends beyond Israel, citing examples from Elijah and Elisha's ministries, the crowd becomes enraged and attempts to kill him.
quotation_chain
Jesus transforms Isaiah's future-tense prophecy ("The Spirit of the Lord is upon me") into present reality with his shocking declaration "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.
Jesus Teaches and Heals in Capernaum
4:31–4:37 gospel narration triumphant
Jesus teaches with authority in Capernaum and demonstrates his power by casting out an unclean demon from a man in the synagogue. The crowd is amazed at both his authoritative teaching and his command over evil spirits, spreading news of him throughout the region.
person_contrast
Luke uniquely pairs Jesus' teaching authority with immediate demonic recognition, as the unclean spirit identifies him as "the Holy One of God" before any human confession.
Healing Simon's Mother-in-Law and Many Others
4:38–4:44 gospel narration hopeful
Jesus heals Simon's mother-in-law and many others, casts out demons, then declares his mission to preach God's Kingdom to other cities. This passage demonstrates Jesus' healing power and his understanding of his broader evangelistic calling.
person_contrast
Jesus "rebukes" both fever and demons using identical Greek verb *epitimao*, treating physical illness with the same authoritative command typically reserved for spiritual opposition.
Insights
Jesus transforms Isaiah's future-tense prophecy ("The Spirit of the Lord is upon me") into present reality with his shocking declaration "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.
Luke uniquely pairs Jesus' teaching authority with immediate demonic recognition, as the unclean spirit identifies him as "the Holy One of God" before any human confession.
Jesus "rebukes" both fever and demons using identical Greek verb *epitimao*, treating physical illness with the same authoritative command typically reserved for spiritual opposition.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Luke 4:1 4 references
Parallels 2
Luke 4:2 5 references
Lexicals 5
Mark 1:13 Lexical
He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals; and the angels were serving h…
Matthew 4:2 Lexical
When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward.
Matthew 4:1 Lexical
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Revelation 2:10 Lexical
Don’t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison…
2 Timothy 2:26 Lexical
and they may recover themselves out of the devil’s snare, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
Luke 4:3 2 references
Luke 4:4 1 reference
Luke 4:6 2 references
Lexicals 2
Luke 4:8 2 references
Luke 4:9 3 references
Lexicals 3
Matthew 4:6 Lexical
and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concern…
Acts 5:21 Lexical
When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and taught. But the high priest and those who were wit…
Matthew 4:5 Lexical
Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple,
Luke 4:10 1 reference
Luke 4:11 2 references
Luke 4:13 1 reference
Luke 4:14 5 references
Lexicals 5
Mark 1:28 Lexical
The report of him went out immediately everywhere into all the region of Galilee and its surrounding area.
Luke 7:17 Lexical
This report went out concerning him in the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.
Matthew 9:26 Lexical
The report of this went out into all that land.
Acts 9:31 Lexical
So the assemblies throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were built up. They were multiplied, walking…
Luke 11:24 Lexical
The unclean spirit, when he has gone out of the man, passes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says,…
Luke 4:15 1 reference
Luke 4:16 5 references
Lexicals 5
Acts 17:2 Lexical
Paul, as was his custom, went in to them; and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
Acts 15:21 Lexical
For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
Acts 16:13 Lexical
On the Sabbath day we went outside of the city by a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat…
Luke 6:6 Lexical
It also happened on another Sabbath that he entered into the synagogue and taught. There was a man there, and his right…
Mark 1:21 Lexical
They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught.
Luke 4:17 2 references
Luke 4:18 1 reference
Luke 4:22 2 references
Luke 4:25 5 references
Lexicals 5
James 5:17 Lexical
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it didn’t rain on the eart…
John 2:20 Lexical
The Jews therefore said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple! Will you raise it up in three days?”
Luke 2:37 Lexical
and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshiping with fastings and p…
Luke 13:7 Lexical
He said to the vine dresser, ‘Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none.…
Luke 21:11 Lexical
There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heav…
Luke 4:27 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 8:2 Lexical
Behold, a leper came to him and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.”
Mark 1:40 Lexical
A leper came to him, begging him, kneeling down to him, and saying to him, “If you want to, you can make me clean.”
Matthew 11:5 Lexical
the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the po…
Matthew 10:8 Lexical
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give.
Luke 7:22 Lexical
Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the…
Luke 4:29 4 references
Lexicals 4
Acts 9:40 Lexical
Peter sent them all out, and knelt down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes…
Acts 7:58 Lexical
They threw him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul…
Acts 26:11 Lexical
Punishing them often in all the synagogues, I tried to make them blaspheme. Being exceedingly enraged against them, I pe…
Acts 21:5 Lexical
When those days were over, we departed and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way…
Luke 4:31 1 reference
Luke 4:32 2 references
Luke 4:33 5 references
Lexicals 5
Mark 1:23 Lexical
Immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out,
Acts 8:7 Lexical
For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been p…
Revelation 18:2 Lexical
He cried with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a…
Mark 1:26 Lexical
The unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.
Luke 8:28 Lexical
When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, “What do I have to do with you, Je…
Luke 4:34 1 reference
Luke 4:35 3 references
Lexicals 3
Mark 1:25 Lexical
Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”
Matthew 17:18 Lexical
Jesus rebuked the demon, and it went out of him, and the boy was cured from that hour.
Mark 4:39 Lexical
He awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was a great calm.
Luke 4:36 5 references
Lexicals 5
Mark 1:27 Lexical
They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching? For with authorit…
Mark 9:25 Lexical
When Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, “You mute and deaf…
Mark 6:7 Lexical
He called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spir…
Matthew 10:1 Lexical
He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal e…
Luke 11:24 Lexical
The unclean spirit, when he has gone out of the man, passes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says,…
Luke 4:38 5 references
Lexicals 5
Acts 28:8 Lexical
The father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery. Paul entered in to him, prayed, and laying his hands on him, heal…
Mark 1:30 Lexical
Now Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him about her.
Mark 1:29 Lexical
Immediately, when they had come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
Luke 7:44 Lexical
Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for…
Mark 7:24 Lexical
From there he arose and went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He entered into a house and didn’t want anyone to…
Luke 4:39 2 references
Luke 4:40 2 references
Luke 4:41 5 references
Lexicals 5
Mark 1:34 Lexical
He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons. He didn’t allow the demons to speak, becaus…
Matthew 17:18 Lexical
Jesus rebuked the demon, and it went out of him, and the boy was cured from that hour.
Luke 8:38 Lexical
But the man from whom the demons had gone out begged him that he might go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,
Mark 9:25 Lexical
When Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, “You mute and deaf…
Luke 11:14 Lexical
He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke; and the multitudes marvele…
Luke 4:42 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 11:7 Lexical
As these went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, “What did you go out into the wilderness…
Luke 9:12 Lexical
The day began to wear away; and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the sur…
Acts 21:5 Lexical
When those days were over, we departed and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way…
Matthew 14:13 Lexical
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, the…
Matthew 14:15 Lexical
When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, “This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send th…
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
v. 1
v. 2
v. 3
v. 4
v. 5
v. 6
v. 7
v. 8
v. 9
v. 10
v. 11
v. 12
v. 13
v. 14
v. 15
v. 16
v. 17
v. 18
v. 19
v. 20
v. 21
v. 22
v. 23
v. 24
v. 25
v. 26
v. 27
v. 28
v. 29
v. 30
v. 31
v. 32
v. 33
v. 34
v. 35
v. 36
v. 37
v. 38
v. 39
v. 40
v. 41
v. 42
v. 43
v. 44
Lemma
Morphology
Semantic Range
Theological Significance
Translation Notes
Key Passages
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter
Loading map...
Timeline
Temptation
~30 ADSatan's temptation of Jesus in the wilderness for forty days after his baptism. Jesus' victory over temptation demonstrated his sinlessness and qualified him as the perfect sacrifice for sin.
Jesus overcomes Satan's three temptations in the wilderness, proving his obedience to God.
The Temptation of Jesus