Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 4:20
And he closed the book, and he gave [it] again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
20. he closed the book ] Rather, rolling up. Generally the Haphtarah consists of twenty-one verses, and is never less than three; but our Lord stopped short in the second verse, because this furnished sufficient text for His discourse, and because He wished these gracious words to rest last on their ears, rather than the following words, “ the day of vengeance of our God.”
the minister ] The Chazzan.
sat down ] The ordinary Jewish attitude for the sermon (Mat 23:2).
fastened on him ] A favourite word of St Luke, who uses it eleven times; elsewhere it is only found in 2Co 3:7; 2Co 3:13. The attitude of Jesus shewed that now for the first time He intended not only to read but to preach.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And he closed the book – That is, he rolled it up again. See the notes at Luk 4:17.
And he gave it again to the minister – That is, to the one in the synagogue who had charge of the books. The word means servant, and the office was not much unlike that of a sexton now. It was his duty, among other things, to take charge of the books, to hand them to the reader of the law, and then return them to their place.
And sat down – This was usual in speaking in their synagogues. See the notes at Mat 5:1.
Were fastened on him – Were intently fixed on him, waiting to see what explanation he would give of the words.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 20. Were fastened on him.] Were attentively fixed on him. The proper import of .
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Christ observeth the order used in their synagogues, when he that officiates had read such a portion out of the law as was appointed, or out of the prophets, as he pleased, he closed the book, or the roll, and gave it again to the officer, whose work it was to bring it, and then to carry it back, and lay it up; and then sat down, while he made his exhortation upon it. This Christ did, the people being in the mean time very attentive to hear what he would say. He begins to speak, and telleth them this was a prophecy concerning him,
This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears; that is, it is fulfilled in me, either primarily, or as I am the antitype to Cyrus. We must not think that this was all which Christ said, but thus he began his discourse.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
20. the ministerthe chazan,or synagogue-officer.
all eyes . . . fastened onHimastounded at His putting in such claims.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he closed the book,…. “Or rolled it up”; and so the high priest did, after he read in the book of the law, on the day of atonement, all that was necessary to be read, , “he rolled the book of the law”, and put it in his bosom f:
and he gave it again to the minister; the Chazan g, who was the minister, or servant of the congregation, who had the affairs of it upon him, to let in, and bring out, and to order all things; and particularly to take care of the book of the law, and the chest, or ark in which it was. If the same rule was observed giving and taking the book of any prophet, as the book of the law; then Christ gave it to the minister, and he received it with his right hand: for so it is said h,
“he that gives the book of the law to his friend, may not give it but with the right hand; and he that receives it may not receive it but with the right hand; for so was the giving of it on Mount Sinai, according to De 33:2.”
And sat down; as was the manner of the Jews, when they taught, or preached; [See comments on Mt 5:1].
and the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him: they looked very wistly at him, and were very attentive to what he should say, upon such a passage of Scripture, which they knew referred to the Messiah; and the rather, as they had known him formerly, and had heard that he was said to be the Messiah.
f Misn. Yoma, c. 7. sect. 1. g Bartenora in Misn. Sota, c. 7. sect. 7. h Massechet Sopherirn, c. 3. sect. 10.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He closed the book ( ). Aorist active participle of . Rolled up the roll and gave it back to the attendant who had given it to him and who put it away again in its case.
Sat down (). Took his seat there as a sign that he was going to speak instead of going back to his former seat. This was the usual Jewish attitude for public speaking and teaching (Luke 5:3; Matt 5:1; Mark 4:1; Acts 16:13).
Were fastened on him ( ). Periphrastic imperfect active and so a vivid description. Literally, the eyes of all in the synagogue were gazing fixedly upon him. The verb occurs in Aristotle and the Septuagint. It is from the adjective and that from , to stretch, and copulative or intensive , not privative. The word occurs in the N.T. here and in 22:56, ten times in Acts, and in 2Cor 3:7; 2Cor 3:13. Paul uses it of the steady eager gaze of the people at Moses when he came down from the mountain when he had been communing with God. There was something in the look of Jesus here that held the people spellbound for the moment, apart from the great reputation with which he came to them. In small measure every effective speaker knows what it is to meet the eager expectations of an audience.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
He closed [] . See on verse 17.
Minister [] . See on Mt 5:25. Lit., as Rev., attendant.
Minister is likely to be misunderstood as referring to the president of the congregation, who, as the teaching elder, would have addressed the people if Jesus had not done so. It means the attendant who had charge of the sacred rolls. He was a salaried officer, a kind of chapel – clerk.
Sat down. As about to teach; that being the habitual position of a Jewish teacher.
Were fastened [ ] . The participle and finite verb denoting continuous, steadfast attention. The verb, from teinw, to stretch, denotes fixed attention. Indeed, the word attention itself, etymologically considered, conveys the same idea.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And he closed the book,” (kai ptukas to biblion) “And when, he had closed (rolled up) the scroll,” the book of Isaiah the prophet, from which He had read, Isa 61:1; and not only was Jesus in the book, but you and I are also in the book, described.
2) “And he gave it again to the minister, and sat down.” (apodous to huperete) “Returning it to the synagogue attendant,” who had handed it to Him to read, “he sat down.” It was a custom to stand to read, showing respect, then sit down to teach, denoting authority to explain, expound, interpret, or make application of the passage, Mat 7:28-29.
3) “And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue,” (kai panton hoi opthalmoi en te sunagoge) “And the eyes of all those who were in the synagogue,” astounded at what He had put into that reading, three times pressing the “me” to mean Himself, so that all hearing understood before He even began explaining or asserting that He was the Messiah.
4) “Were fastened on him.” (esan atenezontes auto) “Were gazing at, fixed, or glued on him,” on Jesus. For Jesus had just announced that the Holy Spirit had anointed Him, as prophet, and king, for six specific things itemized, Luk 4:18-19.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
20. The eyes of all who were in the synagogue God touched their hearts, I doubt not, with astonishment, which made them more attentive, and induced them to listen to Christ, while he was speaking. For they must have been withheld from opposing this discourse at the commencement, or breaking it off in the midst, when they were sufficiently disposed, as we shall see, to treat Christ with contempt.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(20) And he closed the book.Better, rolled up, as describing the actual manner of closing. The description is characteristic as indicating (1) that it probably came in the first instance from an eye-witness-and (2) the calmness and deliberation with which our Lord acted.
And sat down.This conveys to us the idea of falling back to a place of comparative obscurity among the congregation. To the Jew it implied just the opposite. The chair near the place from which the lesson was read was the pulpit of the Rabbi, and to sit down in that chair (as in Mat. 5:1; Mat. 23:2) was an assumption by our Lord, apparently for the first time in that synagogue, of the preachers function. This led to the eager, fixed gaze of wonder which the next clause speaks of.
Fastened on him.The Greek word so rendered is noticeable as being used twelve times by St. Luke, (chiefly in the Acts), and twice by St. Paul (2Co. 3:7; 2Co. 3:13), and by no other writer of the New Testament. It had been used by Aristotle in his scientific writings, and was probably a half-technical word which St. Lukes studies as a physician had brought into his vocabulary, and which St. Paul learnt, as it were, from him.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
20. Closed Rolled it up.
Minister The chazan.
Fastened They had known him in childhood and youth. His simple piety, his working at the trade of a carpenter, and humbleness of family, were fresh in their recollections. Strange and wonderful rumours had come home lately in regard to him. He had set up high claims, and pretended abroad to do great works. They will now see if he can stand the searching scrutiny of acute Nazareth. They knew (of course) beforehand that he could not; but they will hear and decide how well he can preach.
Very probably the mother and sisters of Jesus (if not his unbelieving brothers) were present on this occasion. That they resided still at Nazareth is clear from Mat 13:56. From the gallery, which many synagogues contain for women, they may have looked down upon the scene first of honour and then of rejection, through the lattice screen, by which it was separated from the male congregation.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.’
Having read the passage standing, a mark of respect for the Scriptures, He gave the scroll back to the Synagogue attendant and then sat down (probably in the special seat allocated) in order to preach. It was quite normal to speak sitting down. And all eyes in the Synagogue were fixed on Him ready for what He had to say. We are intended to sense the expectancy.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
The sermon and its effect:
v. 20. And He closed the book, and He gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on Him.
v. 21. And He began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
v. 22. And all bare Him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?
When Jesus had finished the reading of the lesson, He rolled the parchment together again and then returned it to the servant of the synagogue, who had charge of the sacred books. The Scriptures were very precious in those days, and every synagogue took the best care of its copies. He then sat down. During the reading of the Scripture-lesson, both the congregation and the reader stood. But during the talk, or sermon, the speaker as well as the audience were seated. His reading and His entire bearing had made such an impression upon all those present that all eyes were fixed upon Him in anxious expectation. Their interest had been aroused. Luke gives only the topic or the beginning of the Lord’s discourse: Today is fulfilled this scripture in your ears. That is the gist of the sermon: He that spoke these words through Isaiah, He stands today, at this moment, before your eyes; the promised Messiah has stepped into your midst. And then He surely invited them to come to Him with meek and contrite hearts, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled not only in their ears, but also in their hearts. Repentance and forgiveness of sins the Lord preached. The effect of Christ’s sermon is shown in the words: They bore witness to Him and were surprised at the words of grace which issued from His mouth. The confession was wrung from them, though they were reluctant at first about making the concession. The words about the grace of God whereby the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled came upon them as a surprise: they had not known that so much beauty was contained in the Old Testament. But that the admission was made very grudgingly in the majority of cases, appears from the question which passed around among the audience: Is not this man the son of Joseph? See Mar 6:2-3. The jealousy of small souls came to the foreground, feeling constrained to spoil the effect of the words of grace.
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Luk 4:20-22. And sat down. In agreement with the custom which we have spoken of at the end of the note on Luk 4:16 our Lord sat down to preach, after he had read the passage in the prophet which he made the subject of his discourse. The custom of preaching from texts of scripture, which now prevails throughout all the Christian churches, seems to have derived its origin from the authority of this example. In speaking to the congregation from theprophesy, he told them, it was that day fulfilled in their ears, Luk 4:21 for although no miracle had been done in their city, they were crediblyinformed of many which had been wrought by him; and, it may be also, at the passover had seen him do such things as fully answered the prophet’s description of the Messiah. By some illustration of this kind, Jesus proved his assertion in a sermon of considerable length, the subject of which only is mentioned by St. Luke, though at the same time he leads us to think of the sermon itself; for he tells us, Luk 4:22 that all the congregation bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. The phrase in the original, , signifies literally, words of grace, and probably refers to the agreeable manner of Christ’s discourse, as well as to the matter of it. And as they could not but take notice of the majesty and grace with which he spoke, so it must naturally fill them with admiration,consideringthemeanness of his birth and education. At the same time, the malevolence of their disposition led them to mingle with their praises a reflection, which they thought fully confuted his pretensions to the Messiahship,and shewed the absurdity of the application which he had made of Isaiah’s prophesy to himself as the Messiah.They said, Is not this Joseph’s son? See Joh 7:27 and the next note.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Luk 4:20-21 . ] to the officer of the synagogue, who had to take the book-roll back to its place, after it had been folded up by Jesus ( corresponding to the of Luk 4:17 ).
] in order now to teach upon the passage which had been read, this was done sitting (Zunz, Gottesd. Vortrge d. Juden, p. 337).
] He began. Bengel appropriately says: “Sollenne initium.”
] in your ears is this Scripture (this which is written, see on Mar 12:10 ) fulfilled to wit, by the fact that the voice of Him of whom the prophet prophesied has entered into your ears. A concrete individualizing mode of expression. Comp. Luk 1:44 , Luk 9:44 ; Act 11:22 ; Jas 5:4 ; Sir 25:9 ; 1Ma 10:7 ; Bar 1:3 f.; LXX. Isa 5:9 . How decisively the passage before us testifies in favour of the fact that from the beginning of His ministry Jesus already had the clear and certain consciousness that He was the Messiah! [88] Moreover, that nothing but the theme of the discourse delivered by Jesus is here given is manifest from the passage itself, as well as from Luk 4:22 ; but He has placed it remarkably close to the beginning of His discourse, and so led the hearer all at once in mediam rem (comp. Zunz, as above, p. 353). Grotius well says: “Hoc exordio usus Jesus explicavit prophetae locum et explicando implevit.”
[88] Comp. Beyschlag, Christ. d. N. T . p. 36 f.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
Ver. 20. Were fastened on him ] A good help against distractions. Our hearts are fickle and fugitive, if not hard held to it.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
20. ] It was the custom in the synagogues to stand while reading the law, and sit down to explain it. Our Lord on other occasions taught sitting , e.g. Mat 5:1 ; Mar 4:1 ; Mar 13:3 .
The was the whose duty it was to keep the sacred books.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Luk 4:20 . , folding, in Luk 4:17 (T. R.) = unfolding. , the officer of the synagogue; cf. the use of the word in Act 13:5 . , looking attentively ( , intent, from and ), often in Acts, vide , e.g. , Luk 13:9 .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
closed = rolled up. Compare Luk 4:17. Because it was not yet manifest whether the King and the Kingdom would be received or rejected. See App-72.
the minister = the servant (or “verger “), who put it away. Not the President, who first received it from the servant (Hebrew. chazan) and “delivered “it to the reader.
sat down:i.e. to teach.
were fastened = continued fixed. Almost peculiar to Luke. See Luk 22:56, and ten times in Acts. Elsewhere only in 2Co 3:7, 2Co 3:13.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
20. ] It was the custom in the synagogues to stand while reading the law, and sit down to explain it. Our Lord on other occasions taught sitting, e.g. Mat 5:1; Mar 4:1; Mar 13:3.
The was the whose duty it was to keep the sacred books.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Luk 4:20. , having given it again) with due decorum.-, He sat down) Whilst teaching and applying the text which He had read. He had stood up, Luk 4:16.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
and he: Luk 4:17, Mat 20:26-28
and sat: Luk 5:3, Mat 5:1, Mat 5:2, Mat 13:1, Mat 13:2, Joh 8:2, Act 13:14-16, Act 16:13
And the: Luk 19:48, Act 3:12
Reciprocal: Act 3:4 – fastening Act 11:6 – fastened
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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Thayer defines the original for minister as “an attendant.” It was customary, after the reading had been done, for the reader or someone else to offer some comments if it was his desire (Act 13:14, etc.). All eyes were fastened on him. They were wondering if this famous man would also become their “guest speaker.”
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Luk 4:20. And he closed the roll, or, rolling up the roll. How much he read is not known; the usual lesson from the prophets is said to have comprised twenty-one verses.
To the attendant, whose duty it would be to put the roll back in its place.
And sat down, to explain what He had read, that being the usual position of those making such expositions. It was our Lords usual posture when teaching. Comp. Mat 5:1; Mar 4:1; Mar 13:3.
And the eyes of all in the synagogue, etc. The man brought up among them was about to address them for the first time; the report from other places had preceded this visit; the passage read was remarkable, and doubtless there was something in the appearance of our Lord, especially under these circumstances, which would command unusual attention.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Luk 4:20-21. And he closed the book, and gave it again to the minister , to the servant, who had brought it to him. From the manner in which we apply the word minister, in speaking of our churches, the English reader is apt to be led into a mistake by the common version, and to consider the word here as meaning the person who presided in the service; whereas it denotes only a subordinate officer, who attended the minister, and obeyed his orders in what concerned the more servile part of the work. Among other things he had the charge of the sacred books, and delivered them to those to whom he was commanded by his superiors to give them. After the reading was over, he deposited them in their proper place. Campbell. And sat down The Jewish doctors, to show their reverence for the Scriptures, always stood when they read them, but when they taught the people they sat down. See Mat 23:2. Thus we here find our Lord sitting down in the synagogue to preach, after he had read the passage in the prophet, which he made the subject of his discourse. The custom of preaching from a text of Scripture, which now prevails throughout all the Christian churches, seems to have derived its origin from the authority of this example. And the eyes of all were fastened on him They looked on him with great attention, expecting him to explain the passage. And in addressing the congregation on it, he told them, it was that day fulfilled in their ears Namely, by what they heard him speak; words which imply, that, whatever allusion there might be in the prophecy to the good news of the deliverance of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity, it was primarily and principally intended to be understood of the spiritual salvation of mankind from ignorance and error, sinfulness and guilt, depravity and misery, by the Messiah, who, and not Isaiah, nor any other prophet, is to be considered as speaking in the passage, as is explained more fully in the notes there.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Vers. 20-22. The Preaching.
The description of the assembly, Luk 4:20, is so dramatic, that it appears to have come from an eye-witness.
The sense of , He began (Luk 4:21), is not that these were the first words of His discourse; this expression describes the solemnity of the moment when, in the midst of a silence resulting from universal attention, the voice of Jesus sounded through the synagogue.
The last words of the verse signify literally, This word is accomplished in your ears; in other words, This preaching to which you are now listening is itself the realization of this prophecy. Such was the text of Jesus’ discourse. Luke, without going into His treatment of His theme (comp., for example, Mat 11:28-30), passes (Luk 4:22) to the impression produced. It was generally favourable. The term bare witness alludes to the favourable reports which had reached them; they proved for themselves that His fame was not exaggerated. signifies here, they were astonished (Joh 7:21; Mar 6:6), rather than they admired. Otherwise the transition to what follows would be too abrupt. So the term gracious words describes rather the matter of Jesus’ preachingits description of the works of divine gracethan the impression received by His hearers. They were astonished at this enumeration of marvels hitherto unheard of. The words, which proceeded forth out of His mouth, express the fulness with which this proclamation poured forth from His heart.
Two courses were here open to the inhabitants of Nazareth: either to surrender themselves to the divine instinct which, while they listened to this call, was drawing them to Jesus as the Anointed of whom Isaiah spake; or to give place to an intellectual suggestion, allow it to suppress the emotion of the heart, and cause faith to evaporate in criticism. They took the latter course: Is not this Joseph’s son? Announcements of such importance appeared to them altogether out of place in the mouth of this young man, whom they had known from his childhood. What a contrast between the cold reserve of this question, and the enthusiasm which welcomed Jesus everywhere else (glorified of all, Luk 4:15)! For them this was just such a critical moment as was to occur soon after for the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Joh 2:13-22). Jesus sees at a glance the bearing of this remark which went round amongst His hearers: when the impression He has produced ends in a question of curiosity, all is lost; and He tells them so.
Fuente: Godet Commentary (Luke, John, Romans and 1 Corinthians)
Verse 20
The minister. The expression to minister, in the Scriptures, means to attend upon, to serve. A minister is an attendant, or a servant. Preachers of the gospel received the name of ministers from the idea that they are the servants of Christ and the church. The minister, in this case, was the attendant who had charge of the books.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
Probably Luke narrated these events step by step because his Gentile readers would have been unfamiliar with synagogue worship. His description also heightens the sense of anticipation in the story. The people present were alert and expectant, waiting to hear Jesus’ comments on the passage.