The fourth chapter of Luke has an encounter between Jesus and his hometown. I have heard many messages about this story, but they have often focused on prosperity messages about how his hometown, because they knew him, didn’t have enough faith in him to earn or enable blessings. This could be coming from the lack of detail in Mark 6 and Matthew 13.
And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.
Matthew 13:53-58
The first point I’ll make about this text is that, within this book, the reason for their offense is not given. They start out marveling at how much wisdom he has despite his humble origins. Then it says they took offense. This has led some to believe that they were offended because of his origins. We will address that from Luke in a bit (the actual reason is more obvious there). Their mention of him being from Nazareth, however, is related to their shock at how wise he is rather than anything they’re upset about.
The second point is that it says he could do no mighty work there because of their unbelief. Many contend that this is proof that he wished to do more blessings there, but was either unable or unwilling because they didn’t have enough faith. However, we really can’t say from this text what mighty work he was restricted from doing (it seems as though miraculous healing was something he did do, so it may be something else).
Luke to the Rescue!
This account has a lot more detail and it was very interesting as I was reading through it a bit more focused this time how much I noticed while stepping through. Let’s start breaking it down.
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”
Luke 4:16-22
He was allowed to read and explain a text and the text he chose was one about good news for the poor, liberty, curing blindness, and the Lord’s favor (Isaiah 61:1). At this point he is the hometown hero! They know some of what he’s done elsewhere. Now he’s come into town and starts talking about freedom from oppression, healings, and blessings?! Far from being offended, they’re celebrating him, until his teaching turns to address them specifically.
23 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘“Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’”
Luke 4:23
The proverb he mentions here seems to be in reference to the idea that, since he worked a lot of miracles everywhere else, he would certainly do the most in Nazareth (just as a physician, who takes care of the health of others, would likely be most careful to care for himself). He knows they’re eager to reap miracles the likes of which Capernaum had never dreamed of.
And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff.
Luke 4:24-29
Instead, Jesus points out how it’s common for a prophet to do miracles for those outside of his home and people, rather than focus on materially blessing his own home. Rather than consider the wisdom of this teaching as well they are enraged to the point of murder. They were not interested in learning from wisdom they didn’t believe could be found in Nazareth. They wanted liberation from oppressors! They wanted health and wealth! How dare he bless others more than his hometown!
They missed out on what could have been the start of a mighty spiritual awakening. He offered eternal life and joy, and they were so focused on seeing a few wonders and solving their temporary problems that they hated him for it.
Are You Jesus’s Homeboy?
Are you making the same mistake today as his hometown neighbors did then? Are you looking for a Jesus who will fix your health, finances, or social standing? While we have promises of some blessing in these areas now and in the next those problems will be gone forever, it is unbelief to reject the mightier work of spiritual renewal and knowledge of God. We are called to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. All the other things are just bonuses.
