Luke 4:37Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The devil wished also to disturb the order of things, and to deprive the Apostles of their dignity, and to incline the many to obey Him.

As if they said, What is this word by which he commands, Go out, and he went out?

For although He knew that they were disobedient and hard of heart, He nevertheless visits them, as a good Physician tries to heal those who are suffering from a mortal disease. But He taught them boldly in the synagogues, as Esaias saith, I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth. (Isa. 45:19.) On the sabbath day also He disputed with them, because they were at leisure. They wondered therefore at the mightiness of His teaching, His virtue, and His power, as it follows, And they were astonished at his doctrine, for his word was with power. That is, not soothing, but urging and exciting them to seek salvation. Now the Jews supposed Christ to be one of the saints or prophets. But in order that they might esteem Him higher, He passes beyond the prophetic limits. For he said not, “Thus saith the Lord,” but being the Master of the Law, He uttered things which were above the Law, changing the letter to the truth, and the figures to the spiritual meaning.

He spoke of Him not as a Holy One of God, as if He were like to the other saints, but as being in a remarkable manner the Holy One, with the addition of the article. For He is by nature holy by partaking of whom all others are called holy. Nor again did He speak this as if He knew it, but He pretended to know it.

Neither indignation at their treatment, nor displeasure at their wickedness, caused our Lord to abandon Judæa, but unmindful of His injuries, and remembering mercy, at one time by teaching, at another by healing, He softens the hearts of this unbelieving people, as it is said, And he went down to Capernaum.

In the fourth chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew, it is noted that the people were brought to Jesus.

(Matthew 4:24)

The word of the teacher is with power, when he performs that which he teaches. But he who by his actions belies what he preaches is despised.

As He was teaching in the synagogue of Capernaum, a disturbing shout suddenly pierced the air: ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?’ This cry came from an unclean spirit inhabiting one of the attendees. For an extended period, the adversary of God had been silent; the proclamation of God's kingdom posed a threat to his dominion. Ultimately, he could no longer contain himself. ‘You have come to destroy us. I know who You are, O Holy One of God!’ These statements revealed the spirit's desire to persuade Jesus to show him mercy and cease his persecution. Like a fugitive who unexpectedly encounters his master far from his domain, the spirit resorted to all possible tactics to escape the consequences he faced. However, his testimony received no credence.

Upon departing from Nazareth, Jesus Christ made His way to Capernaum. On the Sabbath closest to His arrival, He entered the synagogue as was customary and began to teach. His teaching resonated deeply with those present because it was delivered with authority (cf. Matt. 7:29). In the synagogue, there was a man oppressed by an unclean spirit, who was currently experiencing a convulsion. The malevolent spirit, in a state of fear, pleaded with Christ for mercy, indicating a sense of dread that He had come to vanquish the realm of darkness, confessing Him as the Holy One of God—an appellation reflecting the spirit's acknowledgment of Christ's purity and sanctity, in contrast to its own defilement.

The news of the miraculous healing of the man possessed by a demon spread rapidly in the area, leading many who were afflicted with various ailments to bring their troubles to Jesus. In this remarkable instance of the demon's expulsion, it is particularly noteworthy that Jesus was approached not by the man himself but rather by the demon. The afflicted individual merely conformed to the desires of the malevolent spirit, uttering words dictated by it; thus, when Jesus commanded, "Come out of him," His words were directed at the evil spirit. Blessed Theophylact, in his commentary on the Gospel of Luke, notes that the demon, attempting to entice the Lord through reproach, presumed that this would evoke pity from Him.

Christ desired to demonstrate clearly His mission to redeem the lost. He turned to the tormented individual and, recognizing him as a vessel possessed by an unclean spirit, He issued a firm command to the spirit: “Be silent and come out of him.” The authority of this Divine decree was undeniable. The man, tormented by the demon, collapsed to the ground, crying out and convulsing violently. However, this turmoil was momentary. The man arose, restored to health; every aspect of him indicated he had been liberated from the oppressive force that had dominated him and was now of sound mind. Such a magnificent and extraordinary miracle had never been witnessed before, leaving all who were there in a state of profound wonder as they returned home.