His words had authority

Luke 4:31-37

Key Verse 32

“They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.”

Introduction:

In the previous passage, Jesus opened the scriptures written by Isaiah and explained that the prophecies contained in it told of him As he’d read, he began proclaiming freedom for prisoners. Jesus teaches God’s word wherever he went as the remedy for suffering caused by sins and evil spirits. May the Lord help us to be led by Jesus to serve many people in his name. Amen.

1. Read verses 31-32. What can we learn from Jesus who taught the people on the Sabbath in Capernaum? (16) How do the people respond to his teaching? What does it mean that Jesus’ words had authority?

1-1) Read verses 31-32.

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.

1-2) What can we learn from Jesus who taught the people on the Sabbath in Capernaum? (16)

“He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read,” -Verse 16

No matter where Jesus goes, he teaches the people. No matter what situation they may be in, he helps them with God’s word and miraculous powers given to him by God.

God’s word helps to teach people about sin and death and can lead many to salvation.

Jesus wanted to make God’s word known among the people so that they may know who God is and who Jesus is.

2 Chronicles 15:1-3 read, “The Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded. 2 He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 3 For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law.”

Jesus who is the High Priest teaches the people to have them know who the true God is and what the laws and wishes of God are.

Jesus came to this world in order to deliver God’s message as a faithful witness.

Revelation 1:5 says, “and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.”

There are so many false messages, through which demons can capture people with impure spirits.

Jesus set a good example in teaching the living words of God so that He may invite many people into His eternal kingdom.

Matthew 4:4, “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Jesus defeated Satan by putting God’s word into practice.

Isaiah 11:9 reads, “They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,

for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

May the Lord help us to be led by the same spirit so that we may serve many in His name.

Luke 4:43 44 read, “But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.”

1-3) How do the people respond to his teaching?

They were amazed.

The people must have received deep joy through listening the God’s word. Jesus himself is the bread of life.

1-4) What does it mean that Jesus’ words had authority?

“Authority” refers to God’s power.

As they heard Jesus’ words, they experienced God’s power releasing them from their sins and condemnation as Jesus’ words revealed God’s mercy.

When they heard Jesus’ words, they could have seen that Jesus’ words are different from those of their religious leaders.

What made Jesus’ words to be powerful?

Throughout the flow of the context so far, Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus was a living example of God’s word!

1 Thessalonians 1:5-10 show another example from an apostle Paul,

“because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven,whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.”

2. Read verses 33-34. What interrupts Jesus’ teaching? (33) What does the demon say? (34) What can we learn from this about demons?

2-1) Read verses 33-34.

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!”

2-2) What interrupts Jesus’ teaching? (33)

33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit.

A demon is an enemy who is trying to keep Jesus from teaching .

Jesus’ teaching was hindered by a man possessed by a demon.

Please notice the word, ‘possessed.’

We do not know when or why this man was possessed by evil spirits.

He could start surfing the internet and gradually he was being slaved with dirty thoughts and scenes.

Jesus created us according to His own image.

Our hearts and souls are supposed to be filled with His words instead of evil spirits.

There are so many people whose hearts are filled with evil spirits instead of God’s living words.

2-3) What does the demon say? (34)

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!”

Jesus did not ask him first, nor does this man ask for help.

It is the demon inside the man that divulged his identity, crying out at the top of his voice.

2-4) What can we learn from this about demons?

A demon or an impure spirit is not only ancient stories.

Without God’s words, people are inevitably gripped by a demon, an impure spirit.

For instance, the origin of Hellenism began in Greece.

The Greeks developed their own idea based on a humanistic point of view.

Greece became a nation of idol worshippers.

In Acts 17, Paul had found many nameless idols in the cities.

In our days many people identify themselves as demon worshipers.

The demon in this passage is very unhappy, especially when people heard the words of Jesus and revived their spirits, giving thanks to God.

This part reveals the true color of the demon who knows God, Jesus, and His words very well.

He knew that Jesus is the Holy One of God and the Son of God.

He knew that Jesus is more powerful than him.

He is afraid of the fact that he would be destroyed completely by Jesus.

3. Read verses 35. What does Jesus command the demon? (35) What happens to the man who had been possessed by the demon? What can we learn here?

3-1) Read verses 35.

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.

3-2) What does Jesus command the demon? (35)

35 “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!”

3-3) What happens to the man who had been possessed by the demon?

Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.

3-4) What can we learn here?

Jesus valued a man who was possessed by a demon, an impure spirit.

Jesus stopped his teaching and rescued him from a demon.

Jesus commanded a demon for Jesus knew who is behind.

The demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.

Thanks to Jesus’ sovereign command he was released from a demon.

4. Read verses 36-37. What do the people say about this? (Mark 1:27, 36-37) What power and authority have Jesus’ words had in your life? What can we learn from Jesus in helping others?

4-1) Read verses 36-37.

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.

4-2) What do the people say about this? (Mark 1:27, 36-37)

The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” - Mark 1:27

4-3) What power and authority have Jesus’ words had in your life?

We can experience God’s new power and authority daily through depending the words of Jesus.

4-4) What can we learn from Jesus in helping others?

Often times we do not rely on Jesus’ words but try to help others with humanistic way or sympathy. These are not bad. Thankfully though we have better one.

When we serve them with God’s words, we will know what kind of impure spirits are tormenting them day and night. Nothing can be bigger problem than these.

Also we will give them Jesus’ words as proper remedy to set them free from evils spirits.

We would like to grow as excellent Bible teachers like our Lord Jesus Christ.

Conclusion:

In this passage we learn how much Jesus wanted to teach the word of God, since the word of God has absolute authority. In reality though it was challenging for him to teach the word of God to the people continually for there was hinderance from a demon. Jesus wins victory always with His words. Praise Jesus who set a good example for us to follow in caring people properly.

One word: His words had authority!