Jesus Enrages Nazareth

Prophets Not Accepted in Their Hometown

(Luke places this story early, Matthew later.) {Matthew}

Coming to his hometown of Nazareth, Jesus taught in the synagogue. His wisdom and power to do miracles amazed the people. They knew his parents, Joseph, a carpenter, and Mary; his brothers, James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas and his sisters. (Personal Thought: no sisters’ names. Women, in general, weren’t as valued as men at that time or in this time in many places.)

Jesus offended the people. (Luke gives a more detailed reason why.) He did few miracles there because of their lack of faith and said, “Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet not honored.”

Luke Adds References to Elijah and Elisha

(Luke emphasized Jesus’ coming for all people, not just the Jews.) Jesus read from the scroll of Isaiah: ‘The Spirit of the Lord has appointed me to preach good news to the poor, proclaim freedom for prisoners, sight to the blind, and to release the oppressed.’ (Personal Thought: though sometimes literal miracles, I think Jesus mostly referred to this in the figurative sense of people’s spirits needing to be freed.)

Everyone staring at him, Jesus said, “This scripture in now fulfilled.” Everyone praised him, amazed at the word’s coming from Joseph’s son. He said, “You will quote the proverb to me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do the miracles you’ve done elsewhere in your hometown.’

“As proof no prophet is accepted in his hometown, I tell you that in Elijah’s time when a famine went on for three and a half years in Israel, he was not sent to the many widows of Israel, but to a widow in Sidon. In Elisha’s time, though many in Israel suffered with leprosy, only Namaan the Syrian, was cleansed.”

Feeling Slighted

Furious, the people drove Jesus out of town and up to a cliff in order to throw him down, but he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.