TO PREACH GOOD NEWS THE POOR

Luke 4:14-30

Key Verse 4:18a

* JESUS GAVE THE GOOD NEWS TO HIS HOMETOWN PEOPLE (14-19)

1. When Jesus returned to Galilee after overcoming the devil's temptation, how is he described? (14a) Where did he go and what did he do? How was he received? (15) What did he do when he came to his hometown? Why?

2. When he was invited to read the scripture, what did he read? (Isa.61:1,2; 58:6) (How did these verses of Isaiah give hope to the people of Israel in exile in Babylon? [2 Ch.36:17-20]) Why did Jesus pick this passage?

3. What does this prophesy tell us about the Messiah's ministry? Who are "the poor" to whom Jesus brought good news? (Mt.5:3)

4. How does Jesus set prisoners free? (Heb.2:15; Jn.8:31,32; 2 Co. 3:17; Gal 5:1) How does he give recovery of sight to the blind? (Mk.10:51,52; Jn.8:12; 9:5-7; Ac.22:4-16)

5. How does Jesus release the oppressed? (Think about Mt.6:33,34; 11:28-30) What does it mean to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor?

* JESUS WAS REJECTED BY HIS HOMETOWN PEOPLE (20-30)

6. What comment did Jesus make about this scripture? What did he mean? What was their response? Why was their response inadequate? (Mk.1:15)

7. What did they want him to do? (23) What did he say to them? What does this mean?

8. What two stories from the Old Testament did Jesus tell them? (1 Ki.17:7-16; 2 Ki.5:1-14) What do these stories teach about God? About those who welcome God's servants? (24-27)

9. Why did the prophets Elijah and Elisha not go to Israelite widows and lepers, but to Gentiles? How did the people of Nazareth react to Jesus' Bile teaching? Why? What does this reveal about them?