The Spirit of the Lord Is upon Me

Observation

Setting. Straight from His baptism at the Jordan, Jesus is led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days (vv1–2), taken to a high place and to the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem (vv5, 9), then returns to Galilee (v14). He preaches in the synagogue at Nazareth, His hometown, on the Sabbath (v16), goes down to Capernaum (v31), heals in Simon’s home (v38), and goes on preaching in the synagogues (v44).

Structure:

• vv1–13 — the temptation: full of the Spirit, forty days, hungry (vv1–2); bread — “It is written” (vv3–4); the kingdoms — worship God only (vv5–8); the pinnacle, Psalm 91 — do not test God (vv9–12); the devil leaves “until an opportune time” (v13).
• vv14–30 — the Nazareth sermon: in the power of the Spirit; praised by all (vv14–15); the scroll of Isaiah — “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me” (vv16–19); “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled” (vv20–21); “Is this not Joseph’s son?” (v22); no prophet welcome at home; Elijah and the widow, Elisha and Naaman (vv23–27); rage, the cliff, He passes through (vv28–30).
• vv31–37 — authority over a demon: teaching with authority in Capernaum (vv31–32); “I know who You are — the Holy One of God!” (vv33–34); “Be quiet and come out of him!” (v35); “What is this message?” (vv36–37).
• vv38–44 — healing and sent: He rebukes the fever; she gets up and serves (vv38–39); at sunset He heals each one; demons silenced (vv40–41); a secluded place; “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also” (vv42–44).

Repeated words, with counts:

• “come / came / coming” ×11 — vv16, 25, 31, 34, 35 (×2), 36 (×2), 41, 42 (×2).
• “synagogue(s)” ×7 — vv15, 16, 20, 28, 33, 38, 44.
• “God” ×7 — vv3, 8, 9, 12, 34, 41, 43.
• “Spirit” (of God) ×4 — vv1 (×2), 14, 18; “unclean spirit(s) / demon(s)” — vv33, 35, 36, 41.
• “devil” ×4 — vv2, 3, 6, 13.
• “written / it is said” ×4 — vv4, 8, 10, 12 (and “written” in v17).
• “led” ×4 — vv1, 5, 9, 29.
• “Lord” ×4 — vv8, 12, 18, 19.
• “Nazareth / hometown” ×4 — vv16, 23, 24, 34.
• “left” ×4 — vv13, 38, 39, 42.
• “Son of God” ×3 — vv3, 9, 41.
• “rebuked / rebuking” ×3 — vv35, 39, 41.
• “teaching” ×3 — vv15, 31, 32; “preach / preaching” ×3 — vv18, 43, 44.
• “amazed / amazement / wondering” ×3 — vv22, 32, 36; “Elijah / Elisha” ×3 — vv25, 26, 27.
• “authority” ×2 — vv32, 36; “power” ×2 — vv14, 36; “Sabbath” ×2 — vv16, 31; “bread” ×2 — vv3, 4.

Contrasts: The devil’s “If You are the Son of God” ⟷ the Father’s “You are My beloved Son” (3:22). Bread ⟷ the word of God (v4). All the kingdoms ⟷ worship God only (vv5–8). “Praised by all” (v15) ⟷ “filled with rage” (v28). Gracious words ⟷ “Is this not Joseph’s son?” (v22). Many widows and lepers in Israel ⟷ a widow of Sidon and Naaman the Syrian (vv25–27). The demon’s noise ⟷ Jesus’ “Be quiet” (v35). The crowds “tried to keep Him” ⟷ “I must preach … to the other cities also” (vv42–43).

Shape of the chapter: alone in the wilderness (1–13), then rejected at home (16–30), then welcomed in Capernaum (31–41), then sent on (42–44). The Spirit frames it all — full of the Spirit (v1), in the power of the Spirit (v14), the Spirit upon Me (v18).

Chapter theme (my words): The Son of God wins where we lose, with the same Book we hold. He came to set captives free, and the only people who miss it are the ones who think they don’t need it. His word has authority over hell and sickness — and He won’t be kept by one crowd, because the kingdom must go everywhere.

Interpretation

Why did the Spirit lead Jesus into temptation? Not to make Him fall but to prove Him. Sproul sets the scene against Eden: “Adam was tempted on a full stomach”; Jesus, after forty days. Henry: “Those are well armed against the strongest temptations that are full of the Holy Ghost.” Israel failed forty years in the wilderness; Jesus answers from Deuteronomy, the book about that failure.

Were the temptations real? Yes. Guzik: “We sometimes think that Jesus’ temptations were not real because they were not exactly like ours.” They were heavier, because He never gave in. Hebrews 4:15: tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

What was each temptation about? Bread: meet your own need apart from the Father. Kingdoms: the crown without the cross. The pinnacle: force God to prove His love. Each time, “It is written.” Spurgeon: “That is Christ’s sword.” The devil can quote too — Guzik: he “is a Bible expert” — but Scripture interprets Scripture (Sproul).

Did the devil really own the kingdoms? He claimed “it has been handed over to me” (v6). Jesus did not argue the point; later Scripture calls him “the god of this world” (2 Cor 4:4) — a usurper with real but limited reach. The kingdoms belong to the Son, and He will take them His way — through the cross and at His return.

Why did Jesus stop reading in the middle of Isaiah 61:2? He read “the favorable year of the LORD” and closed the book before “the day of vengeance of our God.” Guzik: “a 2,000-year-old comma between the two phrases.” Spurgeon: “Our Lord wisely ceased reading at those words.” I believe the first coming opened the year of favor and His second coming will bring the day of vengeance — the same pattern the prophets and Revelation show.

What is the “favorable year”? The Jubilee (Lev 25), when debts were cancelled and slaves went home. Sproul: “the year of Jubilee, the time when all debts are canceled,” “the greatest Emancipation Proclamation in the history of the world.” Henry: Christ “came in God’s name to discharge poor sinners that were debtors and prisoners to divine justice.”

Why did Nazareth turn so fast? Familiarity — “Is this not Joseph’s son?” (Henry: “Familiarity breeds contempt”) — and grace to outsiders. Elijah went to a Sidonian widow, Elisha cleansed a Syrian. Spurgeon: “God holds the keys of the casket of grace, and distributes as he pleases.” Sproul: with Jesus “there is never neutrality.”

Why silence the demons? Their testimony was true but poisoned. Spurgeon: “That is an old trick of the devil, to acknowledge the excellence of the Preacher.” Sproul: demons know the truth and hate it. Henry: “a confession upon the rack.”

What were the miracles for? Compassion, and attestation. Sproul: “Miracles point to the attestation of God Himself to the person performing the miracle.” He ties the sign-miracles to the apostolic age; others would say more about healing today. All agree God still hears prayer — and Jesus Himself put preaching first (v43).

Word study (Greek):

• tempted — peirazō (G3985): to test or tempt (v2); ekpeirazō, put to the test (v12).
• devil — diabolos (G1228): slanderer, accuser (vv2, 3, 6, 13).
• it is written — graphō (G1125): gegraptai, written and still standing (vv4, 8, 10).
• opportune time — kairos (G2540): a fitting season (v13).
• anointed — chriō (G5548): root of Christos, Messiah (v18; Acts 10:38).
• release — aphesis (G859): release, forgiveness (v18; 1:77; 3:3; 24:47).
• oppressed — thrauō (G2352): broken, crushed (v18).
• favorable — dektos (G1184): acceptable, welcome (vv19, 24).
• today — sēmeron (G4594): v21.
• authority — exousia (G1849) / power — dynamis (G1411): right and might (vv6, 14, 32, 36).
• rebuked — epitimaō (G2008): vv35, 39, 41.
• holy — hagios (G40): “the Holy One of God” (v34).
• must — dei (G1163): the divine necessity (v43; 2:49; 9:22; 24:44).
• kingdom — basileia (G932): vv5, 43.

Key insights to carry (from the Deep Dive):

1. The second Adam wins — hungry and alone, He passed at every point (Sproul).
2. Every answer from Deuteronomy — the Son succeeds where Israel failed.
3. “It is written” still stands — Christ’s sword (Spurgeon).
4. The devil can quote the Bible (Guzik).
5. He leaves for a season — never out of God’s hand (Spurgeon).
6. The comma that has lasted two thousand years (Guzik).
7. Release is forgiveness — the great Emancipation Proclamation (Sproul).
8. Grace offends the proud — Zarephath and Naaman.
9. Demons know and hate (Sproul).
10. He must move on — the kingdom to the other cities (v43).

Cross-references: Exod 17:1–7; 34:28; Lev 25:8–17; Deut 6:13, 16; 8:2–3; 1 Kings 17:8–24; 19:8; 2 Kings 5:1–14; Ps 91:11–12; Isa 53:4; 58:6; 61:1–2; Matt 4:1–11; Mark 1:21–39; Luke 3:22, 38; 9:22; 24:44; John 8:36; Acts 10:38; 2 Cor 4:4; Eph 6:17; Heb 2:18; 4:15; Jas 2:19; 4:7; 1 John 3:8.

Application

Command to obey — answer temptation with the Word. Jesus didn’t debate the devil; He quoted Scripture, three times, from memory. If the Son of God needed “It is written,” so do I. I’ll pick the one temptation that finds me most often and memorize one verse for it this week — a drawn sword, not a Bible on the shelf.

Sin to confess — wanting the crown without the cross. The devil’s middle offer is the one that gets me: the shortcut, the result without the obedience, worship of whatever gets me there faster (vv5–7). I confess the places I have bowed to a shortcut — in ministry, in money, in my own fight with old sins. “You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.”

Promise to trust — release to the captives. Jesus read it and said “Today.” The favorable year is open right now. Many of the men I sit with are literal captives; all of us have been captives to something. The release He proclaims is forgiveness first, and then freedom. Sproul calls it the greatest Emancipation Proclamation in history. I believe it for me, and I’ll say it out loud to a man who needs it.

Truth to face — familiarity can kill wonder. Nazareth knew Jesus too well to receive Him. I have heard these stories my whole life. I don’t want to be the man who says, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” and walks out angry when grace goes to someone I didn’t expect.

Example to follow — rise and serve; get alone; move on. Simon’s mother-in-law got up and served the moment Jesus healed her. Jesus Himself worked till sunset, then went to a secluded place, then left a crowd that wanted to keep Him because He was sent. Healing turns into service; work is fed by solitude; and the mission goes where the Father sends.

Questions for the table (from the Deep Dive):

1. The devil attacked right after God said “You are My beloved Son.” When have I been hit hardest right after a spiritual high? (4:1–3, 13; 3:22) He left Him until an opportune time.
2. Which of the three tests do I fall to most often — bread (my appetites), kingdoms (power and shortcuts), or the pinnacle (testing God)? (4:3–12; Heb 4:15) Every answer came from Deuteronomy.
3. What verse do I have ready, like a drawn sword, for the temptation I face most? (4:4, 8, 12; Eph 6:17) It is written.
4. Jesus said He came to proclaim release to the captives. What am I captive to, and do I believe He has come to set me free? (4:18–19; John 8:36) The greatest Emancipation Proclamation (Sproul).
5. The people of Nazareth were too familiar with Jesus to receive Him. Where has familiarity made me dull to Him? (4:22–24, 28) Familiarity breeds contempt (Henry).
6. Simon’s mother-in-law got up and served. When Jesus has helped me, how have I turned it into serving others? (4:38–39; 1 Pet 4:10) Spiritual fever soon disappears before holy, unselfish activity (Spurgeon).

Worship. The Son of God was hungry in the desert and would not make bread for Himself. He was offered every kingdom and chose the cross. He stood in a small-town synagogue and read His own commission — good news for the poor, release for captives, sight for the blind — and said, “Today.” Demons trembled at His word, fevers fled, and a whole town found healing at His hands as the sun went down.

Prayer. Lord Jesus, You were tempted in all things as I am and never sinned. When the tempter comes back at an opportune time, put Your Word in my mouth. Keep me from the shortcut and from bowing to anything but You. You came to release captives — release me, and use me to tell other men that the favorable year is still open. Don’t let familiarity make me cold. Rebuke what is sick in me, raise me up, and send me to serve. Amen.