Luke 4:14-30 discussion questions

1. Where did Jesus go and what did he do after defeating the devil (verses 14-15)? How did the people respond? How did the Holy Spirit work in and with Jesus? (3.22; 4.1)

2. Read verse 16. What did Jesus do in Nazareth, where he had been brought up? What does this show us about his childhood? Why do you think he began his ministry in this place and in this way?

3. Read verses 17-19. What passage did Jesus read in the synagogue? How does this scripture introduce Jesus, the Messiah? What does it tell us about his mission?

4. What is the good news? (3:18) Who are the poor (Mt 5.3; Lk7.22), the prisoners (Gal 3.22; Jn 8.32,36), the blind (Jn 9.5,41; Acts 26.16-18), the oppressed (Ex 6.6; Acts 7.34; Heb 2.14,15)?

5. Read verse 20-22. What did Jesus do and say after reading this scripture? How does he fulfill this prophecy of Isaiah? How did the people respond initially? Read verses 23-24. Why were they spiritually blind? How did Jesus rebuke them?

6. Read verses 25-27. What was the story of the widow of Zarephath (see 1 Kings 17:7-16)? How was she different from the widows of Israel of her time? What was the story of Naaman (see 2 Kings 5)? How was he different from the lepers in Israel? How did each exhibit faith? What else did these two people have in common?

7. Read verses 28-30. Why were the people in the synagogue furiously angry when Jesus told these stories from the Old Testament? How should they have responded?