1. His Rejection at Nazareth
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His Rejection at Nazareth
Scriptures
Luke 4:14-30
Vocabulary
 Synagogue—a house of assembly, prayer, and the focal point for Jewish life where the Old Testament was read and studied.
The scripture for Lesson 14 is Luke 4: The vocabulary word is “Synagogue” which is a house of assembly, prayer, and the focal point for Jewish life where the OT was read and studied.
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2. This is a map showing the region of Galilee where the city of Nazareth is located. It is the city where Jesus was raised and where he is teaching in this lesson, in his home town. The red arrow points to Nazareth.
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3. His Rejection at Nazareth
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His Rejection at Nazareth
After leaving Samaria, Jesus continues on to Galilee where He teaches in the synagogues, heals people, and casts out demons. Matt. 4:23-25.
While in Galilee, Jesus stops in His home town of Nazareth to teach a Bible class in the synagogue. Lk. 4:16
At that time worship in the synagogue followed a general format:
Men sat on one side and women on the other.
The more wealthy, powerful, and influential people sat up front.
Services began with a reading of Deut. 4:1 “And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to perform, in order that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you ...”
Then a recitation of Thanksgiving.
There was a reading first from the Pentateuch (first five books of the OT) and then from the prophets; finally, a sermon was given. An important visitor might be asked to do the reading and give the sermon.
The service ended with a closing prayer.
Read and explain the items and scriptures. Explain the points about the synagogue and the format how a service was conducted.
Matthew 4:23–25 (NASB95)
23Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.
24The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them.
25Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.
Luke 4:16 (NASB95)
16And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.
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4. 19To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”
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His Rejection at Nazareth
Jesus reads a scripture from Isaiah 61:1-2a as seen in Luke 4:18-19.
Luke 4:18–19 (NASB95)
18“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed (downtrodden),
19To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”
Isaiah 61:1–2 (NASB95)
1The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;
2To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,
In the synagogue of Nazareth where Jesus was raised, He reads from Isaiah 61:1-2a as seen recorded in the Gospel of Luke 4: The Isaiah passage is a prophesy about Jesus. The Luke passage is where Jesus is quoting the prophesy about him as seen in the Isaiah passage. The prophesy in Isaiah was given approx. 600 years before Jesus was born. 4/24/16 Only Mark.
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5. His Rejection at Nazareth
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His Rejection at Nazareth
Jesus reads a scripture from Isaiah 61:1-2a Luke 4:18-19a.
His purpose in reading the above scripture is to announce His Messianic mission (work) and this prophecy authorizes his public ministry.
In the verse in Luke from Isaiah the terms “poor”, “captives”, “blind” and “downtrodden” refer to spiritual status rather than physical problems.
“Poor” is better translated as “afflicted”; the Hebrew term means one who is weak or afflicted by more powerful forces.
“Captive” refers to those that are bound under the rule of Satan, the old sin nature, and spiritual death.
“Blind” refers to the lack of ability to see the truth apart from the Holy Spirit.
The “Downtrodden” is parallel with the captives; it also refers to the mental and physical effects of being broken down or oppressed.
The “favorable year” is a reference to the first advent (His first appearing).
Explain the purpose of His reading the scripture in Luke as announcing his ministry as the Messiah and explain the spiritual status rather than physical problems, Poor, captive, blind and downtrodden as parallel to captives. Explain point 6 i.e. the first advent. Stress that point 3 refers to unbelievers that live under the rule of Satan, their sin nature and spiritual death—they have no human spirit. Jesus is talking to Jews in Israel, which are mostly unbelievers.
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6. His Rejection at Nazareth
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His Rejection at Nazareth
He stops reading in the middle of a sentence in Isaiah 61:2a, because the remainder of the prophecy refers to the Second Advent (His second coming) .
He then says that these scriptures have been fulfilled before them and that He is the Messiah. Luke 4:21
At first, they were impressed with the way He spoke and His authority, but then began to react when they realized what He was actually saying; He was claiming to be the anointed messenger of God. Verse 22
However, their mood changed when they realize he is talking about their poor spiritual condition.
They attempt to reject His teachings because of His background; they knew Jesus’ family and figured that He was nothing more than the young boy who had grown up among them. Verse 23
He anticipates their rejection of His message in verse 23.
They want Him to prove Himself by performing the same type of miracle they heard that He did in Capernaum; throughout the gospels the demand for miracles is a characteristic of the unbeliever. Verse 23
Explain these points and read the scriptures. The last part that he leaves out in the Isaiah prophesy it “And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,. The last part is a prophesy for the second coming where Jesus will come as a King will judge the world. The first coming was as the suffering servant to save the world.
Luke 4:21–23 (NASB95)
21And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (in other words He is here at the first advent, appearing to save, the Messiah was now on the scene with them )
22And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”
23And He said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we heard was done at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’ ”
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7. His Rejection at Nazareth
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His Rejection at Nazareth
He responds that miracles are not designed for negative volition since miracles do not change what a person is. Verse 24
He gives them two examples of the limited nature of miracles by citing the ministries of Elijah and Elisha, who were sent only to certain individuals because of the negative volition that prevailed in Israel during their lives. Verses 25-27
In verses they realize that Jesus is saying that they are like their negative (unbelieving) ancestors and that He will not do any miracle for them.
They respond in murderous rage and attempt to kill Him, but He escapes. Verses 29-30
Explain these points and read the scriptures.
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8. His Rejection at Nazareth
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His Rejection at Nazareth
Things to note about Jesus’ Teaching at Nazareth:
Jesus did not compromise truth in order to maintain friendly relations with those that knew Him from childhood.
He taught with authority and did not appeal to other teachers like their Rabbis did.
He told them what they needed to hear, not what they wanted to hear.
He did not compromise in any way and did not cater to the crowd by giving them what they wanted.
Note the similarity between the way their services (Jewish services in the synagogue) were conducted and the modern practice of letting guest teachers into the pulpit.
This practice leads to confusion since sheep are not designed to follow more than one shepherd (pastor-teacher); it also undermines the authority of the pastor-teacher who is charged with the responsibility of feeding and shepherding his own flock. Jn. 21:15-17; IPet. 5:1-4
Explain the points and the point 6 as how the services in the synagogues with more than on person teaching and giving a sermon as how that is like today where the pulpit is shared with guest speakers and how this leads to confusion since sheep are not to follow more that one shepherd the P-T as seen the verses on the following pages.
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9. His Rejection at Nazareth
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His Rejection at Nazareth
John 21:15–17 (NASB95)
15So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.”
16He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.”
17He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.
1 Peter 5:1–4 (NASB95)
1Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,
2shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;
3nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
These verses tell us what the duties of the P-T is in shepherding the flock of God.
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