By The Rev. Ron Purkey
Guest Columnist

Read Luke 4:1-30

“And (Jesus) taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all” (Luke 4:15).

The Rev. Ron Purkey

One of the emphases in Luke 4 is our Lord’s spirit-led use of the word. Our words may not always accomplish much, but his word comes with authority and power. Remember, anyone can have their sins forgiven!

First, the Bible conquers Satan (Luke 4:1-13). Jesus was not tempted so that the father could determine the son’s character and ability, for the father had already approved the son (Luke 3:22) and would do so again (Luke 9:35). Nor was he tempted to give Satan a chance to defeat him, for Satan probably did not even want this confrontation, knowing that Jesus could overcome his every tactic.

Jesus was tempted so that he could personally experience what we go through and so be prepared to assist us (Hebrews 2:16-18; 4:14-16) and to show us how we can overcome the evil one by means of the Spirit of God (verse 1) and the word of God (verse 4). The first Adam was tested in a beautiful garden and failed, but the last Adam (Jesus Christ) was victorious in a terrible wilderness.

In the first temptation, Satan wanted Jesus to use his divine powers to meet his own needs outside of the will of God. It was a question of putting immediate needs ahead of eternal purposes.

In the next temptation, Satan asked for the worship that belongs only to God (“I will be like the most high” — Isaiah 14:14), offering Jesus all the world’s kingdoms in return (Psalm 2:7-8). It was actually an opportunity for Jesus to escape the cross, but he said no.

In the next temptation, Satan dared Jesus to test the father’s word by jumping off the temple; and he backed up his dare with an “edited” quotation from Psalm 91:11-12.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Jesus used the “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17) to defeat the tempter, quoting from the Bible. Jesus did not use his divine powers to win the victory; he used the same spiritual weapons that any of us can use, if we will yield to him (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Second, the Bible convicts sinners (Luke 4:14-30). The events that occurred immediately after his temptation are recorded in John 1:19-4:45. Luke picks up the story at the start of Jesus’ first tour of ministry in Galilee (Luke 4:14-9:50).

1. Jesus announced that the scriptures were fulfilled in him. He was anointed by the Spirit to minister to all kinds of needy people and bring them the salvation of the Lord.

2. He announced that the Year of Jubilee had begun. “The acceptable year of the Lord” refers to the 50th year when everything in Israel was restored to its proper place.

3. Jesus announced that all of this was by the grace of God. Christ’s words of grace were acceptable (verse 22), but not his words of judgment; and for this statement they tried to kill him.

Read Ron Purkey’s Bible study outlines free at rcpbibleoutlines.com. Purkey has been an ordained Baptist minister for 50 years.