31 Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. 32 And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority. 33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, 34 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. 36 Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” 37 And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.
In verses 31-37, Jesus demonstrated His power over the demonic world.
4:31
Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee,
Jesus left Nazareth and went to Capernaum in Galilee, a village on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. He made this town His home, which was also the hometown of Peter and Andrew. Jesus performed many miracles in this town. He had an itinerant ministry in Galilee.
and was teaching them on the Sabbaths.
Jesus was in the habit of teaching in the synagogues on Sabbath days. Today, a synagogue from the second century may stand on the city’s original site.
4:32
And they were astonished [shocked] at His teaching, for His word was with authority.
People embraced Jesus’ teaching with a sense of wonder. Their astonishment did not lead to faith. Jesus’ teaching was unlike that of any rabbi before Him. His authority of clear teaching from Scripture impressed the people (Mt 7:28, 29).
4:33
Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice,
While Jesus taught in the synagogue, a demon-possessed man cried out with a loud voice.
4:34
saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
The demon recognized Jesus as “the Holy One of God,” a name for the Messiah. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 Jn 3:8).
4:35
But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him.
Jesus cast out a demon from the possessed man. The man was not hurt in the process.
4:36
Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is!
The crowd was amazed by Jesus’ teaching and His power over the demonic world.
For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”
Jesus defeated these fallen angels or demons by a command originating in His “authority.”
4:37
And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.
News about Jesus’ power spread beyond Capernaum.
PRINCIPLE:
Demons serve the purposes of Satan on earth.
APPLICATION:
The world system is both demonic and controlled by Satan (Eph 2:1-2; 1 Jn 5:19). Non-believers are children of the devil (Jn 8:44). He is the god of this world (Jn 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). Satan blinds the lost from believing in Christ (2 Co 4:4) and deceives the world with false teaching (2 Co 11:13-15).
