Luke 4:15

He taught. According to the Greek, “he continued teaching.” Teaching was the customary manner in which Christ imparted truth. In present-day definition preaching is a more formal presentation of truth; teaching, the less formal. Teaching tends to be more effective than preaching, for the listeners are participants, whereas in preaching they are primarily passive listeners. From time to time Jesus delivered more formal discourses, such as the Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon on the Bread of Life. But even concerning the Sermon on the Mount the record states, “And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying” (Matt. 5:2). Happy is the preacher who can give to his preaching the added quality of teaching.

Their synagogues. That is, the synagogues of Galilee. For a description of the synagogue and its services see pp. 56-58. Luke probably mentions the synagogue teaching of Jesus in anticipation of the incident he is about to narrate (vs. 16-30). Immediately following the synagogue incident at Nazareth he relates another that occurred in the synagogue in Capernaum (vs. 31-37), and observes again that Jesus “preached in the synagogues of Galilee” (v. 44).

Glorified. Or, “honored” or “praised.” Galilee was a more favorable field for the Saviour’s work than Judea (DA 232). Wherever Jesus went, “the common people heard him gladly” (Mark 12:37).