53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. 54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? 57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. 58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. (Matthew 13:53-58 KJV)
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
We have here Christ in his own country. He went about doing good, yet he did not leave any place until he had finished his testimony there. His own countrymen had rejected him once, yet he came to them again. Christ does not take refusals at their first word but repeats his offers to those who have often rejected them. Christ had a natural affection for his own country. His treatment this time was much the same as before—scornful and spiteful.
They expressed their contempt of him. When he taught in their synagogue, they were astonished—not because they admired his doctrine in itself, but because they could not believe it came from him. Two things they criticized him for:
First, his lack of formal education. They admitted he had wisdom and performed mighty works, but they questioned where he had gained them, knowing he had not studied under their rabbis. They judged him by his background rather than by the wisdom he displayed. Instead of recognizing divine assistance, they turned his lack of formal education into a reason for doubt.
Second, the humility of his family: (1.) They upbraided him with his father: “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?” There was no shame in being the son of an honest tradesman, yet they used it against him. They ignored that this carpenter was of the house of David, a son of David, and instead focused on his humble background.
(2.) They upbraided him with his mother: “Isn’t his mother called Mary?” She was a common woman with no noble title, and they used this against him, as if worth were measured by status rather than character.
(3.) They upbraided him with his brothers: James, Joses, Simon, and Judas—good men but poor men, and therefore despised. Because they were ordinary, Christ was dismissed as ordinary too.
(4.) They also mentioned his sisters, who lived among them, implying that someone from such a family could not be extraordinary. Instead of esteeming him because he was one of them, they despised him. They stumbled at these things, fulfilling the prophecy that he would be a sign spoken against.
How he responded to their contempt: (1) He was not troubled by their contempt for him. He did not express offense or indignation but simply noted that prophets are often undervalued in their own country. Prophets should be honored, and they usually are, but familiarity breeds contempt, and they are often least respected at home.
(2) Their unbelief limited his works there. He did not perform many miracles because of their lack of faith. Unbelief is the great barrier to Christ’s blessings. The gospel is the power of God for salvation, but only to those who believe. If mighty works are not done in us, it is not because Christ lacks power or grace but because we lack faith. “By grace you are saved through faith,” and without faith, even the greatest power remains unreceived.