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We must now consider the opening ministry of the Lord as it is recorded
in Luke 4, and then select those features that are peculiar to Luke's
presentation that will serve to indicate the way in which this Gospel was
written by the beloved physician and faithful attendant of the apostle of the
Gentiles. It supplies Paul's message with the historical basis it needs
without complicating the issues by introducing features like those of Matthew
10:5,6 and 15:24, where the Gentile is seen at a dispensational disadvantage.
Both Matthew 4 and Luke 4 record the temptation in the wilderness, Matthew's
record ending on the temptation that envisaged 'all the kingdoms of the
world', Luke's ending with the temptation to cast Himself down from the
pinnacle of the Temple. Matthew's Gospel being peculiarly associated with
Christ as King, the order chosen by him is suggestive. Whereas but one verse
suffices to set forth the Saviour's opening ministry in Matthew 4:17, Luke
devotes half a chapter to this opening ministry in the synagogue of Nazareth
(Luke 4:16-32). We learn that it was the Saviour's custom to read the lesson
in the synagogue (Luke 4:16), even as we read in verse 44 that 'He preached
in the synagogues of Galilee'. This is confirmed by Matthew 4:23. In
conformity with the rules laid down and repeatedly explained by the Rabbis,
Christ stood to read the Scriptures, but sat when He taught. It was the
custom to read the whole of the Law of Moses in the synagogue, but only
selected portions of the prophets were read. Each portion of the Law had its
own prearranged portion of the Prophets, called the Haphtorah.
'The Haphtorah is the Lesson from the Prophets recited immediately
after the reading of the law. Long before the destruction of the
second temple, the custom had grown up of concluding the reading of the
Torah on Sabbaths, Fasts and Festivals, with a selection from the
earlier prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings) or from the later
prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and from the Book of the twelve
prophets). (Note of the Chief Rabbi on the Pentateuch and the
Haphtorah).
'The Haphtorahs of the book of Genesis opens with Isaiah 42:5 to 43:10
and is entitled bereshith 'In the beginning'. Isaiah 54 to 55:5 is
entitled noach and accompanies the reading of Genesis 6:9-11'.
The portion of the Scriptures that went with the reading of the law that day
was taken from the prophecy of Isaiah, so we read:
'There was delivered unto Him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when
He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written' (Luke
4:17).
The portion that records this is complete as we can see by the
following outline:
A
He stood up.
B
The Book delivered to Him.
C
He opened the Book.
D
The place found.
D
The portion read.
C
He closed the Book.
B
He returned it to the minister.
A
He sat down.
In Megill: article 22 we read 'He that reads in the prophets, ought not
to read less than twenty-one verses', which seems a reasonable amount for a