Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 4:40

"And when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them." — Luke 4:40 (ASV)

One of the most beautiful scenes in Scripture now follows. The crowds have apparently waited till evening, after the Sabbath was over. In the remaining hours of diminishing light, they perform the labor of love they could not do on the Sabbath, carrying the sick to Jesus. It is noteworthy that Jesus himself has not yet ventured out on the Sabbath to perform healings publicly . Luke carefully distinguishes between those who were just sick and those who were demon-possessed. This warns us not to assume that the gospel writers thought all disease was caused by demons. Luke mentions that Jesus laid his hands on the people who came to him, showing that Jesus was the source of the healing power and that he had a personal concern. The demons called Jesus “the Son of God” (see comment on v.34). Jesus’ command for them to be silent is here amplified from v.35.