Luke 4:20-30 A Prophet Is Not Received In His Hometown

And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant andsat 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 were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, “ Is this not Joseph’s son?” And He said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we heard was done at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’” And He said, “Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown. But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; and yet 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 Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, He went His way.

Once again we are dealing with a faith issue in Nazareth. No prophet is accepted in his own town were Jesus’ words. No great signs and wonders done here either. The reason is because they were trying to make Jesus as small as they are, instead of recognizing him for who he is which is the promised Messiah. They could account for no more of a man than a carpenter’s son, and when Jesus reproved them for their belief, instead of taking correction, they drove him out of the city.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, people are self-centered and lacking in faith if the reason for their faith is anything short of You. The whole world gets in our way when it comes to belief, so this day, create in all who hear this message the ability and the will be rest in You alone for all of our needs. In Your holy name I pray Amen.