Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day… I. THE ACCOUNT WHICH JESUS GAVE OF HIS MISSION. 1. He refers to His Divine qualification. (1) The Spirit was upon Him in unbroken plenitude. (2) He had the Spirit always with Him. 2. He refers to the fulfilment of a striking prophecy. Every word of God is pure, true, unalterable. 3. He declares the character of His work. (1) To preach the gospel to the poor. (2) To heal the broken-hearted. (3) Deliverance to the captives. (4) Recovering of sight to the blind. (5) He sets at liberty those that are bruised. (6) He proclaimed the year of jubilee to the people.The very reverse of their former state, made known the joyful sound of peace and plenty, of rest and festivity. The gospel era is emphatically "the acceptable year of the Lord." II. THE EFFECT IT PRODUCED UPON HIS AUDITORY. 1. They listened with marked attention. This was proper, necessary, pleasing. Some have their eyes closed in sleep, some gaze about, some look into their Bibles and hymn books; but they fixed their eyes upon the speaker. 2. They were filled with astonishment and wonder. No doubt at His wisdom, but equally so at the tenderness, condescension, and love with which He spake. 3. They were spell-bound, however, by prejudice. 4. They attempted to murder the Son of God. Truth flashed upon their minds, but they hated it; it exasperated them, and they tried to cast the messenger of mercy headlong down the hill, &c. Application: 1. To you Jesus has come with the message of life. 2. You stand in need of the blessings He bestows. 3. Do not allow prejudice to make Christ a stone of stumbling and rock of offence. 4. Embrace the message, and live. 5. Put on Christ, and profess Him to the world. (J. Burns, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. |
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