Jesus in the Synagogue in Nazareth - Luke 4:16

Luke the physician shared how, “Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all”, and in chapter four and verse sixteen of his book Luke shared how Jesus, “came to Nazareth” and “went into the synagogue” where we read:

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up:

and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

The verse reads, “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up:” Luke began with the words, “and he came to Nazareth” or “and Jesus went forth to the village and town of Nazareth which means the guarded one”, “where he had been brought up” which means “Nazareth was the place where Jesus was nourished, supported and fed”. Luke shared how Jesus went back to “Nazareth” where He was raised.

The verse continues, “and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.” Luke added the words, “and, as his custom was” which means “and in the manner and usage Jesus was accustomed to”, “he went into the synagogue” or “Jesus arose and entered the assembly of Jews formally gathered together to offer prayers and listen to the reading and expositions of the scriptures” “on the sabbath day” which means “on the the seventh day of each week which was a sacred festival on which the Israelites were required to abstain from all work”, “and stood up to read” or “and rose to His feet to acknowledge, recognize and distinguish accurately as He read”. Luke shared how Jesus was accustomed to going to the “synagogue” on the “Sabbath” or “seventh day of the week” and rose to His feet to “read” from the scriptures.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus went back to His hometown Nazareth, and we discover that He had a “habit” or “custom” of going to the “worship place” on the “Sabbath day”. We also see how Jesus arose to “read” from the scriptures which was a normal practice within the “synagogue”. Jesus regularly went to the “worship place” or as it is known today, to “church”, and those who think this through should learn from His example. He obviously had a place of honor among the people who were in the “synagogue” because they allowed Him to “read” before them. God desires to have people “read” His “scriptures” because in them they will discover the plan of “salvation” given to mankind through His Son Jesus. Those who are wise will go to “church” and “read” God's word. Let all who read these words be inspired by Jesus' example.

Next time Luke shares how, “there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".