Jesus Rejected At Nazareth Series

Scripture

Last time we looked at a summary of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee (4:14-15). Today I would like to examine an example of Jesus’ teaching.

Let’s read about Jesus’ teaching in Luke 4:16-30:

16 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. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

18 “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,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

20 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. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 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?” 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.” 24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25 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, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 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.” 28 When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29 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. 30 But passing through their midst, he went away. (Luke 4:16-30)

Introduction

What is the best sermon that you have ever heard?

For some of you it may be the sermon that brought you to saving faith in Jesus Christ. For others it may the sermon that brought you great comfort in a time of great sorrow, or clear guidance in a time of indecision. Or for others still it may be the sermon that brought you back to God after wandering away from him.

Of all the sermons that have ever been preached in history, no one has ever preached a better sermon than the first one that Jesus preached in his hometown of Nazareth. The sermon is a marvelous example of Jesus’ teaching, which was the primary focus of his ministry while on earth. Jesus’ teaching contains glorious truths about himself, and how anyone can receive the good news he spoke about.

Today, let’s examine an example of Jesus’ teaching as set forth in Luke 4:16-30.

Lesson

An analysis of an example of Jesus’ teaching in Luke 4:16-30 will show us how people responded to Jesus’ teaching.

I. The Setting for Jesus’ Teaching (4:16)

First, look at the setting for Jesus’ teaching.

Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up (4:16a). Although he was born in Bethlehem and later made Capernaum his hometown (Matthew 4:13), Jesus was always known as “Jesus of Nazareth” (4:34; 18:37).

And as was his custom, Jesus went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day (4:16b). This was the synagogue where he had attended his entire life. Every Sabbath day Jesus was in worship at the synagogue. Jesus maintained a regular pattern of worship. This was his custom. Jesus sang the Psalms, listened to God’s Word, and prayed to his Father.

If going to the worship service every week was Jesus’ custom, then surely it should be ours as well? I doubt that Jesus ever missed a worship service. Weekly worship attendance is the foundation of any life that glorifies God.

On this particular Sabbath day, Jesus was asked to read the Scripture for that day. The synagogue ruler could invite any visiting teacher or qualified male to read the Scripture.

Jesus, of course, knew almost everyone in the synagogue that day. He had started his public ministry about a year earlier and his ministry was astounding people. They had never heard such teaching or seen such miracles. So, there was tremendous excitement when the hometown hero had come back and was about to read and expound the Scripture.