BURKITT : | Lu 4:1 | Lu 4:2 | Lu 4:3 | Lu 4:4 | Lu 4:5-8 | Lu 4:9-13 | Lu 4:14-21 | Lu 4:22-24 | Lu 4:25-27 | Lu 4:28-30 | Lu 4:31-37 | Lu 4:38-39 | Lu 4:40-41 | Lu 4:42-44 |
Reference
25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; 26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. (Luke 4:25-27 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Here our Saviour by a double instance confirms what he had last told his countrymen at Nazareth, namely, that prophets are most despised by their own countrymen and acquaintance, and that strangers oft-times have more advantage by a prophet than his own people.
The first instance of this which our Saviour gives them, is in the days of Elias, though there were many widows then in his own nation, yet none of them were qualified to receive his miracles, but a stranger, a widow of Sarepta.
The second instance was in the days of Elisha; when though there were many lepers in and about the neighborhood, yet they being his countrymen, despised him, and none were qualified for a cure but Naaman the Syrian, a man of another country.
Thus the prophets of God, like some fishermen, catch least in their own pond and do more good by their ministry among strangers, than among their own countrymen, kinsfolk, and near relations: No prophet is accepted in his own country.