Chapter 4:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Lightfoot
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| McGee
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Mark John
Luke 4
Concise Complete
The temptation of Christ. (1-13) Christ in the synagogue of
Nazareth. (14-30) He casts out an unclean spirit and heals the sick. (31-44)
Verses 1-13 Christ's
being led into the wilderness gave an advantage to the tempter; for there he was
alone, none were with him by whose prayers and advice he might be helped in the
hour of temptation. He who knew his own strength might give Satan advantage; but
we may not, who know our own weakness. Being in all things made like unto his
brethren, Jesus would, like the other children of God, live in dependence upon
the Divine Providence and promise. The word of God is our sword, and faith in
that word is our shield. God has many ways of providing for his people, and
therefore is at all times to be depended upon in the way of duty. All Satan's
promises are deceitful; and if he is permitted to have any influence in
disposing of the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, he uses them as
baits to insnare men to destruction. We should reject at once and with
abhorrence, every opportunity of sinful gain or advancement, as a price offered
for our souls; we should seek riches, honours, and happiness in the worship and
service of God only. Christ will not worship Satan; nor, when he has the
kingdoms of the world delivered to him by his Father, will he suffer any remains
of the worship of the devil to continue in them. Satan also tempted Jesus to be
his own murderer, by unfitting confidence in his Father's protection, such as he
had no warrant for. Let not any abuse of Scripture by Satan or by men abate our
esteem, or cause us to abandon its use; but let us study it still, seek to know
it, and seek our defence from it in all kinds of assaults. Let this word dwell
richly in us, for it is our life. Our victorious Redeemer conquered, not for
himself only, but for us also. The devil ended all the temptation. Christ let
him try all his force, and defeated him. Satan saw it was to no purpose to
attack Christ, who had nothing in him for his fiery darts to fasten upon. And if
we resist the devil, he will flee from us. Yet he departed but till the season
when he was again to be let loose upon Jesus, not as a tempter, to draw him to
sin, and so to strike at his head, at which he now aimed and was wholly defeated
in; but as a persecutor, to bring Christ to suffer, and so to bruise his heel,
which it was told him, he should have to do, and would do, though it would be
the breaking of his own head,
genesis 3:15 . Though
Satan depart for a season, we shall never be out of his reach till removed from
this present evil world.
Verses 14-30 Christ
taught in their synagogues, their places of public worship, where they met to
read, expound, and apply the word, to pray and praise. All the gifts and graces
of the Spirit were upon him and on him, without measure. By Christ, sinners may
be loosed from the bonds of guilt, and by his Spirit and grace from the bondage
of corruption. He came by the word of his gospel, to bring light to those that
sat in the dark, and by the power of his grace, to give sight to those that were
blind. And he preached the acceptable year of the Lord. Let sinners attend to
the Saviour's invitation when liberty is thus proclaimed. Christ's name was
Wonderful; in nothing was he more so than in the word of his grace, and the
power that went along with it. We may well wonder that he should speak such
words of grace to such graceless wretches as mankind. Some prejudice often
furnishes an objection against the humbling doctrine of the cross; and while it
is the word of God that stirs up men's enmity, they will blame the conduct or
manner of the speaker. The doctrine of God's sovereignty, his right to do his
will, provokes proud men. They will not seek his favour in his own way; and are
angry when others have the favours they neglect. Still is Jesus rejected by
multitudes who hear the same message from his words. While they crucify him
afresh by their sins, may we honour him as the Son of God, the Saviour of men,
and seek to show we do so by our obedience.
Verses 31-44
Christ's preaching much affected the people; and a working power went with it to
the consciences of men. These miracles showed Christ to be a controller and
conqueror of Satan, a healer of diseases. Where Christ gives a new life, in
recovery from sickness, it should be a new life, spent more than ever in his
service, to his glory. Our business should be to spread abroad Christ's fame in
every place, to beseech him in behalf of those diseased in body or mind, and to
use our influence in bringing sinners to him, that his hands may be laid upon
them for their healing. He cast the devils out of many who were possessed. We
were not sent into this world to live to ourselves only, but to glorify God, and
to do good in our generation. The people sought him, and came unto him. A desert
is no desert, if we are with Christ there. He will continue with us, by his word
and Spirit, and extend the same blessings to other nations, till, throughout the
earth, the servants and worshippers of Satan are brought to acknowledge him as
the Christ, the Son of God, and to find redemption through his blood, even the
forgiveness of sins.
Chapter 4:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Lightfoot
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| McGee
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Mark John
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
