Luke 4:16-17

Luke reminded his readers that Jesus had grown up in Nazareth where this incident took place. He also drew attention to Jesus’ piety by noting His regular habit of attending synagogue services, probably to teach as well as to worship. This was the synagogue that the Roman centurion, whose beloved servant Jesus later healed, had built for the Jews of Capernaum (cf. Luke 7:2-10).

"It was our Lord’s custom to attend public worship, a custom His followers should imitate today (Hebrews 10:24-25). He might have argued that the ’religious system’ was corrupt, or that He didn’t need the instruction; but instead, He made His way on the Sabbath to the place of prayer." [Note: Wiersbe, 1:184.]

One of the synagogue rulers (Jairus? cf. Mark 5:22; Luke 8:41) may have asked Jesus to read the Scriptures since Jesus was a popular teacher. Customarily Jewish teachers stood to read the Scriptures, out of respect for them, and then sat down to expound them. [Note: Martin, p. 214. See Edersheim, 1:430-50, for explanation of synagogue worship and arrangements.] No one knows for sure if someone asked Him to read this particular passage or if He chose to do so, but the context favors the second alternative by stressing Jesus’ initiative.