Harmony of the Gospels
-AD 28-
Nazareth
Title: Nazareth’s Second Rejection of Christ
Matthew 13:53-58, Mark 6:1-6
-Matthew-
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?
Jesus came home to where He had grown up. He came back to Nazareth. And it was his custom to go to the synagogue on the Sabbath, and to teach from God’s word. The people were impressed by His teaching and they wondered, “Whence hath this man this wisdom?” However, even though they admitted that He was wise, they were offended by what He said.
55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
This was a small town, where everybody knew everybody. They knew that His father was Joseph, the carpenter, and that He was also a carpenter.
They knew His mother and that her name was Mary. They also knew His four brothers.
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
Jesus also had sisters and they lived in Nazareth, so they were well known.
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.
They could not understand how He could know so much scripture, and show such great ability to teach, because He was uneducated and came from a poor family. That’s what offended them, because they were very proud of their studies, and knowledge of the scriptures. And so Jesus said, “A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.” At this point in His ministry, even His own family did not believe in Him.
58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Faith was the usual condition of His miracles. He did not do any mighty works here where there was so much unbelief. Unbelief is the only sin which God doesn’t have a cure for.
-Mark-
1 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.
He had been in Capernaum, before coming to Nazareth. Notice that it says, “His disciples follow him.” That’s what every true disciple of Christ should do; follow Him.
2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?
He may have entered the city on a week day, but He did not reveal himself until the Sabbath. And then He expounded the Law and preached the Gospel in their synagogue. They were astonished at His teaching and because He taught like a person with authority. Now, they knew Him and His family very well, and that He did not have a formal education, so He could not have learned these things from men. Therefore, they wondered how He came about all this knowledge and ability.
3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
Mary was a poor woman, and may have been a widow by this time. They knew her and her other children, which were conceived by ordinary means after Christ’s miraculous birth. They were unable to conceive of Him as the Messiah due to His humble birth and life, which they were well aware of. So they refused Him, were offended by His words and even claimed that He did His miracles and got His knowledge through the working and power of Satan.
4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
Some of those who objected to Him may have been distant relatives of Mary or Joseph, and they were offended by one who they know was born and raised in poverty, yet claimed to be the Messiah. They would not accept Him or His message.
5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
It was not fit for Him to do any miracles there because of their unbelief and contempt for Him. It is not that He couldn’t do any miracles, but that He would not do any. His emphasis there was on the Word, which He gave out liberally. But it was because they refused to believe, that He did not do any miracles. He had the power to remove their unbelief, if He chose to. He did that for the man who brought his dumb child, And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief, Mark 9:24 (KJV). These people never even asked Him for a miracle, but completely rejected Him.
It was never the case that faith contributed anything to the cure, but that Christ chose to make it the vehicle by which He worked the cure.
There were a few sick folk that had faith who came to Him and asked for Healing. This verse says that He laid Hands on them and cured them.
6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.:
“And he marvelled because of their unbelief,” because He had done many miracles in other places and they knew it and should have believed, and it surprised Christ that they did not believe. So he left Nazareth and went to other cities in the region, instructing the country people in the things of the kingdom of God. It is not recorded that He ever returned to Nazareth.
