Luke 4:21-30

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary & sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • The Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto.
  • Stephen Carlson's Greek Synoptic Parallels.
  • Primary comparative texts about Prayer and Piety (includes texts about healing) from Philo, Josephus, Lucian, Pseudepigrapha, Babylonian Talmud, Midrash, Philostratus. At Mahlon H. Smith's Into His Own: Perspective on the World of Jesus. (Rutgers University)
  • "Prophet's Own Country," The Jesus Database, an online annotated inventory of the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus. Dr. Gregory C. Jenks, FaithFutures Foundation.
  • Chapter X, Chapter XIII, Adversus Judaeos, Tertullian (c. 198)
  • IV.8, IV.9, IV.35, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 210)
  • Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists, John Calvin, 1558: Luke 4:23-30.
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "Familiarity causes Christ to be condemned and therefore he often goes to strangers."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary (c. 1700).
    • "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."
  • From Wesley's Notes. John Wesley (1703-1791).
    • "A person of spiritual discernment may find in all the discourses of our Lord a peculiar sweetness, gravity, and becomingness, such as is not to be found in the same degree, not even in those of the apostles."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "Our Lord's long residence in Nazareth merely as a townsman had made Him too common, incapacitating them for appreciating Him as others did who were less familiar with His everyday demeanor in private life. A most important principle, to which the wise will pay due regard."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "This seems to have been answered to their whispered words and the thoughts he read in their hearts. They had heard of his fame in Capernaum, but they knew him as a poor young man, and his family was poor. "If he has such power as fame reports, let him better his own condition.""
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Luke 4:21-30, Roy Harrisville, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2010.
    • "Christ's epiphany is not two-dimensional and easy to take."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "On Staying Put - Or Not," Pilgrim Preaching, Keeping company with biblical texts and the people who hear and preach them, a weblog for preaching, by Mary Hinkle, Luther Seminary.
    • "Maybe the people want Jesus to establish himself at home, to set up shop there, to give something back. They like it when he is reading and speaking in the synagogue. The young rabbi could establish himself right at home."
  • "First Thoughts on Year C Gospel Passages in the Lectionary," Epiphany 4, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "The mission and message of Jesus according to Luke is about undermining the dehumanising categories wherever they have been applied (usually to people seen as threats). This is not about a naive denial of danger where it exists, but it is about living out the freedom that love brings so that people never lose their value, are never written off. That really is good news also in today’s world."
  • Exegetical Notes by Brian Stoffregen at CrossMarks Christian Resources.
    • "Do we really want a gracious God? Certainly we do -- for ourselves; but can we have a gracious God if we don't believe that the same grace is given to those sinners outside our church doors, outside our faith, outside our boundaries of acceptability?"
  • Preaching the Lesson, Paul Scott Wilson, Lectionary Homiletics sample, 2010.
    • "Revelation is always two-way, it must be given and it must be received. Revelation that is not received is not yet revelation."
  • Lectionary Blogging, John Petty, Progressive Involvement, 2010.
    • "Luke's purpose is different than Mark's.  What Luke wants to do is offer additional confirmation of Jesus' prophetic role and make the simple point that the mark of a true prophet is to be rejected."
  • Holy Textures, Understanding the Bible in its own time and in ours, Luke 4:21-30, David Ewart, 2010.
    • "Recall that in Jesus' day it was DIShonourable to boast, to seek fame and celebrity, to deliberately do anything for the purpose of drawing attention to oneself."
  • Commentary, Luke 4:14-30, Madeline McClenney-Sadler, The African American Lectionary, 2008.
    • "Praise be to God that we have an opportunity to be the hands, feet, and mouths that offer liberation to the captive, friendship to the friendless, and a hand-up to those who are down."
  • Jesus Now, Luke 4:21-30. Lectionary, study and worship resources from Faith Futures Jesus Then & Now.
  • "Have You 'Herd'?" Peter Woods, I Am Listening, 2010.
    • "Some mobs, some crowds, some passionate, vindictively righteous assemblies, can get so enraged, so angry, so violent, so hynotised by their fulminations that truth, light, and Universal Love, are able to depart from amongst them so swiftly they don’t even notice."
  • "Forgiveness is God's Purpose," study guide for adults, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Forgiveness," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2001.
  • "Proclaiming the Righteous Reign of Jesus: Luke 4 and the Justice of God," David L. Tiede, Texts in Context, Word & World, Luther Northwestern Theological School, 1987.
    • "The platform of Jesus' mission and the content of his call to discipleship are filled with God's passion for the outcast, the poor, the oppressed, and the lost."
  • "The Voice in the Wilderness," Sea Raven, Liberal Christian Commentary, 2010.
    • "As John Dominic Crossan puts it, John the Baptist was a sole proprietor, but Jesus started a franchise.  The question for today is, what kind of franchise, and is it still worth signing up for, given the work and the end result?"
  • "Embracing the Excluded," Resources for Prophetic Worship, Speaking to North Carolina Justice Issues, North Carolina Council of Churches, 2007.
  • "Exegetical Considerations: 3rd & 4th Sunday after Epiphany," Richard Carlson, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Using Greek for Sunday Text Preparations.
    • "What is the literary context of this text? How does that context provide an interpretive framework for this passage?"
  • Kairos CoMotion Lectionary Discussion, Luke 4:21-30, Wesley White. "A place of conversation regarding Progressive Christianity."
    • "What are you remembering and anticipating this day?"
  • "Jesus Rejected at Nazareth," Gospel Analysis, Sermons from Seattle, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington. Detailed background and exegesis.
  • Laterally Luke, by Brian McGowan, Anglican priest in Western Australia.
  • Expository Essay, Luke 4:22-30, Dr. William R. Long. Part 2.
  • "Book 'Em," William Willimon, The Christian Century, 2004.
    • "Jesus moves right on from Nazareth to Capernaum, another Sabbath, another sermon, where the congregational demons cry out to him, 'Let us alone!' (Luke 4:34). But he won’t, thank God. He is free to administer his peculiar sort of grace, whether we hear or refuse to hear. This is our good news."
  • "God's Love Is Universal," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • "Expectations," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. Adult Study, Children's Story, Family Activity, Support Materials.
    • "What do people expect from religion and the Church? What happens when their expectations are unfulfilled? Explain."
  • "No Prophet Is Welcome in His Hometown," Jerry Goebel, One Family Outreach. "Focus on scripture from a justice perspective." Exegesis, study, and teen study and activities.
    • "Jesus didn’t have to sneak out, he could have yelled; 'Here I am, get me!' all the way down the road to Capernaum.  They still wouldn’t have noticed; they were too busy with their personal indignation.  The indignant will never glimpse God.  Yet, how horrible, how sorrowful; Jesus was right there and he walked away. With a ho-hum and an uncovered yawn, Jesus slipped right out the back of their church."
  • "He Broke All of the Rules," Ordinary 4, Fr. Gerry Pierse, C.Ss.R., from Sundays Into Silence: Reflections on the Sunday Gospels in the Light of Christian Meditation. Claretian Publications.
    • "The way of Christian meditation is a way of being still before God. There are no words or images to divert one from reality. One just sits with reality and comes away from prayer better able to face and cope with this reality, painful though it may be."
  • "The Offense," John Stendahl, The Christian Century, 1998. At Religion Online.
    • "As we visit with Jesus in Nazareth -- or maybe as Jesus visits us in our own settlement -- ought we perhaps to understand his impatience and perhaps even to feel it ourselves, this irritation with old suppositions and preoccupations?"
  • Lectionary Commentary and Preaching Paths (Epiphany C4), by Dennis Bratcher, at The Christian Resource Institute.
    • "In such an environment God’s work is provincialized into maintenance rather than mission, taking care of those who should be healthy instead of seeking out those who need healing (Lk 5:31-32). It is expressed in a willingness to settle for security rather than risk everything for the Kingdom. It is a willingness to leave things as they have always been rather than embrace newness. It is an eagerness to face the future only if that future is the same as yesterday."
• Articles & Background:
  • "Rejection of Jesus," Luke 4:16-20, Wikipedia.
  • "Nazareth's Rebellious Son: Deviance and Downward Mobility in the Galilean Jesus Movement," Rick F. Talbott, Biblical Theology Bulletin, 2008.
  • "AIDS and the Church," Earl E. Shelp and Ronald H. Sunderland, The Christian Century, 1985.
    • "An uncompromising affirmation of the church’s ministry to the poor is central to the church’s servanthood, they urge, since Jesus came preaching the Good News to the poor, and announcing freedom to the broken victims of human indignities and oppression. God’s servants have a special responsibility to act with justice and righteousness, and to speak prophetically in the name of a just, righteous and compassionate God."
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.
  • Abogunrin, Samuel O., "Jesus' Sevenfold Programmatic Declaration at Nazareth: An Exegesis of Luke 4:14-30 from and African Perspective," Black Theology, 2003.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Baawobr, Richard K., "Opening a Narrative Programme: Luke 4:16-30 and the Black Bagr Narrative," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2007.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Crockett, Larrimore C., "Luke 4:25-27 and Jewish-Gentile Relations in Luke-Acts," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1969.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Evans, Craig A., "Luke's Use of the Elijah/Elisha Narratives and the Ethic of Election," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1987.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Kimball, Charles A., III, "Jesus' Exposition of Scripture in Luke 4:16-30: An Inquiry in Light of Jewish Hermeneutics," Perspectives in Religious Studies, 1994.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Miller, Donald G., "Luke 4:22-30: Expository Article," Interpretation, 1986.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Nolland, John, "Classical and Rabbinic Parallels to 'Physician, Heal Yourself' (Luke 4:23)," Novum Testamentum, 1979.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Nolland, John, "Impressed Unbelievers a Witnesses to Christ (Luke 4:22a)," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1979.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Poirier, John C., "Jesus as an Elijianic Figure in Luke 4:16-30," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2009.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Rogness, Michael, "'You Are My Son, the Beloved': The Epiphany Gospels," Word & World, 2004. (Section on this text begins on page 88.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Russell, Letty, "Prophet without Violence," The Christian Century, 1992.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Siker, Jeffrey S., "'First to the Gentiles': A Literary Analysis of Luke 4:16-30," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1992.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Stendahl, John, "The Offense," The Christian Century, 1998.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Tiede, David L., "Proclaiming the Righteous Reign of Jesus: Luke 4 and the Justice of God," Word & World, 1987.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Walker, T. Vaughn, "Luke 4:16-30," Review and Expositor, 1988.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Willimon, William H., "Book 'Em," The Christian Century, 2004.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Reviews:
• Sermons:
  • "Nazareth," Jeremy Troxler, Faith and Leadership, 2007.
  • "Offended by the Nice Little Kid from Nazareth," Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington.
  • Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors:
    • Epiphany 4, 28 January, 2007, Timothy J. Hoyer.
    • "Not Just for the People in the Club," Epiphany 4, 1. February 2004, Walter W. Harms.
  • Father Andrew M. Greeley, "Priest, Author, Sociologist," Commentary and Homily:
    • Ordinary 5, 2010
    • Ordinary 5, 2007
    • Ordinary 3, 2007
    • Ordinary 3, 2004
  • "Accepting People As They Are," Mel Williams, Watts Street Baptist Church, 2004. (Click View/Open in gray rectangle.)
• With Children:
  • "Questions About Jackie and Charlie," children's story by Larry Broding, word-sunday.com.
  • "Jesus Makes Enemies in his Hometown," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
  • "Hometown Boy Makes Good," children's sermon, coloring page. Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons 4 Kids.
• Drama:
  • "A Prophet in His Own Land," "The Good News," from A Certain Jesus by Jose Ignacio and Maria Lopez Vigil. Ideal for catechetical and liturgical dramatization of today's gospel. Claretian Publications.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art, Luke 4:20-21, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators.
  • Clip Art Images: Luke 4:21-30, Luke 4:21-30 #2, Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú.
  • Luke 4:21-30, Luke 4:24-30, Luke 4:24-30, Liturgical Drawing, Maria d.c. Zamora, Claretian Resources, Philippines. ("Download and use these for free.")
  • Luke 4:21-30 at Cerezo Barredo's weekly gospel illustration. Liberation emphasis.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
  • Prophet/Prophecy
  • Individuality/Identity
  • Healing
  • Suffering Servant
• Find Worship Resources & Suggested Other Readings for use with this text:
  • Epiphany 4C
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Luke