Luke 4:31-41—Scripture Study
By Pastor Chris Simmons – Trinity Lutheran Church, Paso Robles CA
A reinforcement/supplement study to our Sunday service meant for “Building up the body of Christ… the manifold Wisdom of God made known” (Ephesians 4+3)
For the Week of February 16, 2025
We continue through the beginning of Jesus ministry. When you think of “ownership” what comes to mind? Often first thoughts are of “rebellion” like the colonies being ruled over by Britain in the Revolutionary war, or being forced to rent from an unfair landlord… Jesus speaks with authority, even commanding/rebuking demons and illness. The reason? Jesus is not satisfied with sharing ownership of us. He refuses to partner with sin, death and the power of the devil. He wants to own everything about us… our sins, our shortcomings… So we can have freedom under His rule. Prayers on a blessed study!
—Pastor Chris Simmons
Discuss: What is the difference between “owning” vs “renting” something? Any stories you have about a bad rental experiencel? An apartment? Dorm Room? Car?
Luke 4:31-37(NIV)- Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit
31 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. 32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.
33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 34 “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
35 “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.
36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” 37 And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.
People were amazed that Jesus’ words had “authority” . This word ἐξουσία - exousia- Is a Greek word reserved only for those who had the right to act, command, or control, like a military leader or ruler. This means there was something different about Jesus teaching. What amazed the people was that the words He taught actually happened. His words had “authority”, they did what He said they would. When He told cripples to walk, they walked. When He told the blind to see, they’d see. As apparent in this reading, at His word, demons were rebuked and quieted at His command. 35 “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.
This authority amazed people yet again, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” . It’s amazing because not only did they do amazing things, it was what Jesus actually said was carried out… something we know that’s not all that common, even in our interpersonal relationships.
Discuss: Consider… do your words “do” what they “say”? Be it in parenting when you tell a child to “behave” or “be quiet” did it always work? What about promises to you or to others, is there always 100% follow through? Why or why not?
Luke 4:38-39(NIV)—Jesus Heals Many
38 Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. 39 So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.
This is an interesting follow up. Bossing people around, sure we see that work for us on occasion. Telling someone who is tired to buck-up and get moving, that works once in a while, telling a child to clean their room or for a spouse to take out the garbage, yes we see that work on occasion. We see our words carry “authority”, meaning the power to act… but what about with a fever? Trust me, I’ve tried, those days where I’m sick and I try to give myself those motivational speeches “come on, keep going, you don’t have time to be sick” only for my words to not carry “authority” as I inevitably slow down and crash into my bed… sick…
We see Jesus command demons, who have the ability to communicate and respond. In Mark 4, we see Jesus command a storm to cease 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. Not that I can calm a storm… but I can argue even storms feel lively and reactionary to a point… But, a fever? Compared to demons and a wild storm, a fever seems like small potatoes. Yet this illness, along with most all illnesses, are debilitating and seem to “own you” for a season. The theme continues to build, as Jesus demonstrates that His desire that nothing holds power over us, except His word. Even the fever here obeys his authoritative word “So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her.”
Discuss: When was the last time you were sick? Something like a bad cold or fever… How debilitating was it? Did you feel at a different time of life you could just “tough it out” and it just gets harder to “bounce back”? Any luck in commanding it to go away? (if so, give me your secret…)
Overall you see Jesus' authoritative words come to life… Jesus silences and sends away unclean spirits… God’s Words bears authority for your sake too, pointing out your uncleanness due to sin, yet also promising deliverance from sin and attacks of the evil one.
Luke 4:40-41
40 At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. 41 Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.
An interesting note on the demons shouting “You are the Son of God” but Jesus would not allow them to speak… why?
While in Twin Falls running a gym, I started a Senior exercise program… At one point I ran two classes for 40 seniors each, each a one hour class. Each class started to require 2 teachers because I just couldn’t be everywhere at once. We employed a 19 year old to help with the class. One day a senior asked him to turn Fox News on the TV in the gym, so he did… not five minutes later another senior said “how dare you show that mindless drivel in here… turn on CNN” so he changed it to CNN… the person that asked for Fox News said “how dare you promote this garbage… turn on Fox News” So he changed it back… by the end of it I run back over to break up a shouting match turned shoving match between two senior ladies, who both left the gym… Now, I’m not about to tell you which news station is better than the other… what I will say is this… the mouths from which they received the news mattered a great deal to them.
Here, Jesus teaches the same thing. He likewise silenced the demons because He knew that they would misrepresent Him to the people and distort the nature of His mission.
Discuss: Fox News or CNN?(joking…) Why does it matter to get your news and information from a reliable source? Can people be “possessed by preference” to the point of not listening to anyone who disagrees with them? What is it like being in a discussion with those types of people?
Jesus heals many people by a word and a touch. His works reveal the bond between sin and sickness, which corrupts the world and touches our lives. Be it possessed by demons or fever, Jesus desires for nothing to have ownership over us… unless it's Him!
2nd Corinthians 1:20-22
20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
God anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, put His Spirit into our hearts as a deposit of the guarantee of what is to come… the promises of God fulfilled in Christ. Earlier, you discussed what it means to “own” … there is a different sense when you “own” it. You care for it unlike a rental that’s owned by something else. You care for its problems because you own them too… you care for where it’s broken because you own that brokenness too.
To Jesus, you are not being rented from sin, death, and the power of the devil. You are not owned by demon possession or by illness… Jesus would not stand for it, He is not satisfied in sharing. That’s why, by His body and Blood, by his authoritative words from the cross “It is Finished”... That you are bought back by Him…. once again “owned” by God.
And in that ownership, all the promises of God, those words of forgiveness and life are “Yes” in Christ. In that ownership there is freedom, as Christ owns our sins, owns our problems, owns our brokenness, He even owns our death, so we can have his life.
Pray that Jesus would deliver you from evil and protect you from the effects of sin. Christ can forgive and restore you by His grace, because by His authoritative word, He has claimed you as His very own, so nothing can own you again.
Discuss: What things do you own that you would like to restore? Old furniture? Antiques? Relationships with old friends?
Prayer
What seems to “own” too much of you? An illness? A Sin? A temptation? Pray to be set free by the authoritative Word of Jesus.
Are you “possessed” by something so much so you would bring harm to others because of it? Maybe it is a news source preference? A temptation? A need to be right?
Are there people in your life you are treating like a “rental” when you should see them as Christ does “owned by God”?
Lord God, we are so grateful that you would go to such lengths in order to own us as one of your very own. You bought us back, owning all our sins and brokeness. Help us to love others as you have loved us, seeing the “ownership” you have in our lives and the lives of others… and how, by your Spirit, we in part own part of their wellbeing. We pray this all in your name Jesus. Amen.