What is the meaning of Luke 4:22? All spoke well of Him • Luke pictures a real moment in Nazareth when the hometown crowd cannot deny what they see and hear—Jesus is impressive, and the approval is universal (Luke 4:15). • This is the fulfillment of Luke 2:52, where Jesus “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Years later, that favor is still evident. • The scene echoes John 7:46, where officers sent to arrest Him admit, “Never has anyone spoken like this man!” The verbal witness of common people validates the Lord’s uniqueness. • Genuine honor belongs to Christ, yet the text quietly reminds us that public opinion is fickle (cf. John 2:23-25). The same tongues praising Him now will soon doubt or even reject Him. and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips • “Gracious” highlights both tone and content. Jesus has just read Isaiah 61:1-2 and declared its fulfillment (Luke 4:18-21). Listeners are stunned that prophecy is unfolding before their eyes—and ears. • Psalm 45:2 anticipated Messiah: “Grace has anointed Your lips.” Luke shows that promise kept. • The crowd’s amazement resembles Matthew 7:28-29, where other listeners are astonished because He teaches “as one who had authority.” Authority and grace are perfectly married in Him (John 1:14). • His speech models what Colossians 4:6 commands of believers. The Savior’s words are truth delivered in divine kindness, attractive yet uncompromising. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked • Admiration collides with familiarity. They know His family and trade (Matthew 13:54-55; Mark 6:3), so they try to fit supernatural authority into natural categories. • The question is not mere curiosity; it carries skepticism. In John 6:42 similar words lead to outright unbelief. Nazareth voices the age-old stumbling block: “How can the ordinary be the vessel of the extraordinary?” • Luke 3:23 has already told the reader that Jesus “was thought to be the son of Joseph,” yet His baptism and genealogy prove His divine Sonship. The crowd’s low view of Him reveals their incomplete knowledge, not Christ’s limited nature. • The shift from praise to doubt warns modern readers: exposure to Jesus does not equal faith. Familiarity can breed contempt unless the heart bows to revealed truth. summary Luke 4:22 captures a swift movement of hearts—from unanimous praise, to astonished wonder, to skeptical questioning. The verse shows that Jesus’ gracious authority is undeniable, yet human pride resists the implications of His true identity. Belief requires more than admiration; it demands recognition that the hometown carpenter is, in fact, the promised Messiah and Son of God. |
    |