Luke 4 - Introduction

Jesus Triumphs Over Temptation In The Wilderness And Reveals Himself As The Anointed Prophet.

The words ‘Of God' meaning ‘son of God' at the end of chapter 3 lead us straight into a narrative where Jesus as the Son of God is prominent, and where He is ‘full of the Holy Spirit'. He now has to consider the task to which as Son of God, as He has been reminded He is by what followed His baptism, has called Him. He has been called to a full orbed ministry. It is more than just to preach. ‘Full of the Holy Spirit' signifies more than ‘filled (pimplemi) with the Holy Spirit', for the latter always refers to being inspired in preaching and prophesying, whereas the former includes having divine wisdom (Acts 6:3) and divine faith (Acts 6:5) and includes the performing of miracles (Acts 6:5 with Luke 6:8; Luke 8:6). This filling (pleres) can be permanent (the Ephesians are told to ‘go on being filled' (pleroo) in Ephesians 5:18) and we are probably not intended to see the phrase as applying just to what happens next but as applying to His whole ministry. His anointing in the Holy Spirit is in order that He might proclaim the Good News and perform miracles (Luke 4:18) and will continually be the source of His power and authority throughout.

Note On Being Full (pleres) Of The Holy Spirit.

If we are to properly understand teaching about the Holy Spirit we must carefully interpret the different phrases used about Him. Two distinct verbs are used about the filling of the Holy Spirit, pleroo and pimplemi, and the former connects with the noun pleres. Let us glance at them in order.

1). ‘Full (pleres) of the Holy Spirit.' This is used of Jesus' permanent and unique experience of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1), an experience which began with His being ‘drenched in the Holy Spirit' after His baptism, and undergirded all His ministry from then on, resulting in His rejoicing in Spirit (Luke 10:21) and finally promising His disciples that He will send to them power from above (Luke 24:49). In His case we can hardly doubt that ‘full of the Holy Spirit' is to be read in all through Luke's Gospel. The Holy Spirit was not given by measure to Him (John 3:34). The same phrase is used in Acts in order to describe those who were recognised as being in a good spiritual state, as manifested by being full of wisdom, faith or spiritual insight (Acts 6:3; Acts 6:5; Acts 7:55; Acts 11:24). It was men who were full of the Holy Spirit who went out preaching and performing wondrous miracles of healing and casting out evil spirits (Acts 6:3, with Luke 6:8; Luke 6:10; Luke 8:5).

2). ‘Filled (pleroo) with the Holy Spirit.' This ‘being filled' (pleroo) is in both cases of its use evidence of continuing spirituality and reveals itself in joy and praise, and is for all believers (Acts 13:52; Ephesians 5:18). It is clearly distinguished from the use of pimplemi.

3). ‘Filled (pimplemi) with the Holy Spirit'. The result of this filling is always inspired words. In the case of John the Baptiser and Paul it is a permanent experience, otherwise it is a temporary experience for a particular purpose. It parallels ‘the Spirit of the Lord came upon --' in the Old Testament which could also be permanent or temporary. It is found in Luke 1:15; Luke 1:41; Luke 1:67; Acts 2:4; Acts 4:8; Acts 4:31; Acts 9:17; Acts 13:9.

End of note.