Luke 4:20-22 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And sat down.— In agreement with the custom which we have spoken of at the end of the note on Luke 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, Luke 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, Luke 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, λογοις της χαριτος, 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 John 7:27 and the next note.