I have entitled our message today, “No Hometown Hero.” This term is often used for an athlete who plays for their home team, having a major impact, like helping them win a championship. This athlete then goes off to play college or professional sports; and when he or she later returns to become a teacher or some other community leader, this person is welcomed home with great fanfare. Perhaps, even the local newspapers and television stations will come out to take pictures and interview them. But, as we will see in our passage today, when Jesus returned to Nazareth, He was not welcomed as a hometown hero. His reception was just the opposite! So, let us go ahead and get started with verses 53-54.
The People Were Astonished (vv. 53-54)
53 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there. 54 And when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?”
Jesus shared His parables from His base of operations at Peter’s house in Capernaum,(1) a city that had a population of approximately 1,500 people.(2) When He finished speaking, He departed and came to the place that Matthew calls “His own country” (vv. 54, 57). This description of Nazareth seems rather odd, since it only had a population of about 400 people.(3) It is not a place that we would consider sizeable enough to be a full-blown country, as it was just a small town. Based on the Greek (patris), the first part of verse 54 would be better translated, “When He had come to the fatherland of His own town.”(4) I believe this passage emphasizes the necessity of ministry in one’s hometown, but we also see a word of caution.
When Jesus arrived, He began teaching in the synagogue, which was a scaled-down version of the temple. Though larger towns and cities had multiple of these structures, Nazareth likely had only one.(5) “In the synagogue, there was no definite person to give the address. Any distinguished [Jewish] stranger who was present, might be asked by the ruler of the synagogue to speak, or anyone who had a message might venture to give it. There was no danger that Jesus would not be given the opportunity to speak.”(6)
In verse 54, we read how they were “astonished” when they heard His teaching. Jesus had grown up in Nazareth. Why had they not heard Him teach before? Luke chapter 2 answers this question. We read that when Jesus was twelve-years-old (v. 42), He wandered off from His parents, entered the temple at Jerusalem, and began teaching (vv. 43-46). Luke 2:47 tells us, “And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers,” and then, Luke 2:51 says that afterward, “He went down with [His parents] and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.” So, the people of Nazareth had not heard Him teach before, as Jesus was “subject” to His parents after that astonishing incident in Jerusalem.
Had the twelve-year-old boy continued teaching when He arrived back home in Nazareth, and had He taught there consistently for the next 21 years, then perhaps the townsfolk would have been accustomed to His teaching, rather than being so astonished. But instead of being about His heavenly Father’s business (Luke 2:49), Jesus worked at the same trade as His earthly father, and did not teach, as He was being obedient to His parents (Luke 2:51).(7) Keep in mind, however, that Luke 2:52 says that “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” during that time. He spent the greater part of his life working a trade alongside Joseph, that He might set an example to the world of honesty and integrity through hard work.(8)
So, does honesty and integrity, and having favor with God and men, allow a person to minister effectively in their hometown? Well, let us attempt to answer this question, as we look at verses 55-57a.
Familiarity Breeds Contempt (vv. 55-57a)
55 “Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” 57a So they were offended at Him.
In verse 55, we see how they asked about Jesus, “Is this not the carpenter’s son?” They looked to Joseph to suggest that Jesus was just an ordinary person; nothing special, and certainly not divine. “The Greek word here, signifies . . . both a carpenter and a blacksmith; and Munster's Hebrew Gospel renders it, ‘the blacksmith’s son.’ But the generally [held] notion of the ancient Christians is that He was a carpenter, and that Jesus was brought up to the same business, which lay in making ploughs and yokes.”(9) It was an honest living, but it was also “lackluster,” as they say. Commentator Adam Clarke says, “This insulting question seems to [show] that our Lord’s family was a very obscure one; and that they were of small repute among their neighbors.”(10)
Commentator John Gill says that the people of Nazareth “knew His education, how that He had not been . . . to school, had never learned [the] letters of men, or received any instructions from their learned doctors; and therefore, [they] could not imagine how He came by such . . . divine knowledge, and by what power He performed such wonderful things; looking upon Him to be a mere man . . . not knowing that He was the wisdom of God, and the power of God; which, had they been acquainted with [God], there would have been no room nor reason for such questions.”(11)
The people then turned to His mother, brothers, and sisters, trying to find any way they could to deride Jesus (vv. 55-56). Gill says, “The Jews ought not to have made these remarks, since many of their great doctors were of [humble] parentage; as Rabbi Zachariah was a butcher’s son, and Rabbi Jochanan a blacksmith’s son; hence [the] advice of Rabbi Juda ben Bethira, ‘take heed that ye do not reproach the sons of the common people, for from them comes forth the law’.”(12) There are probably some pastors today from wealthy and influential families, as God can use anyone; but it does seem like the majority are from humble beginnings, and they are still humble to this day.
In answering the question of whether honesty and integrity, and having favor with God and men, allows a person to minister effectively in their hometown, there are two things to consider. First, the rules of society are often in conflict with the rules of the kingdom. A person can be a hard worker and behave like a saint, but if they lack the “right kind” of education, or if they are not wealthy and influential, they might be viewed with disdain. Joseph and Mary started out with the gold, myrrh, and frankincense of the magi, but by the time Jesus was thirty-three, the wealth had probably dried up. Commentator Matthew Henry says that “mean and prejudiced [people] are apt to judge men by their education, and to inquire more into their rise than into their reasons.”(13)
The second thing to consider is the old saying, “familiarity breeds contempt.” In time, people can overlook your better qualities to focus on your faults, no matter how few or insignificant they may be. Or, perhaps one time of losing your cool can erase decades of trust. Keep in mind that Jesus had no faults. 1 Peter 1:19 says that Jesus was without spot or blemish, and 1 Peter 2:22 says that He “committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth.” However, Jesus was raised as a common worker, and that was a strike against Him in the eyes of the pious and religious. His character and favor with God would work to His benefit elsewhere in His public ministry, but not in Nazareth.
In verse 57a, we read that “they were offended at Him” (eskandalizonto en autoi). This statement can also be translated as, “they stumbled at Him, they turned against Him” and “they were repelled by Him.”(14) So, does this encounter serve as a ministerial rule of thumb? Will those who seek to share the gospel in their hometown always meet with resistance? Will people stumble at us, and will our message repel people? I do not know for certain, but based on the experience of Jesus, I must wonder about those who return home to pastor or plant a church, and receive a hero’s welcome. So, let us now look at verses 57b-58, to see the spiritual repercussions of the people taking offense at Jesus.
They Stumbled Spiritually (vv. 57b-58)
57b But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” 58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Jesus spoke up and said, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house” (v. 57). According to A.T. Robertson, this was a proverb found in Jewish, Greek, and Roman literature,(15) and because Jesus was using it against them, these familiar words probably cut deep. Luke tells us that, after Jesus spoke them and shared His mission, the people were moved to throw Him out of the synagogue and toss Him over a cliff. However, Jesus miraculously passed through them undetected and went His way (see Luke 4:24-30).(16)
In verse 58, we read that “He did not do many might works there.” However, I must point out that Jesus did do “some” mighty works. As I stated earlier, “I believe this passage emphasizes the necessity of ministry in one’s hometown.” Even if only a few are saved, it is worth every uncomfortable or agonizing moment.
The phrase “mighty works” is from the Greek word dunameis, which is the word for “miracles.” Because the people of Nazareth were so familiar with Jesus, His miracles were limited among them. “It [was] difficult for them to look with the eyes of faith upon One whom they have been accustomed to behold with the eyes of the flesh.”(17) Clarke points out a common observation and possible misconception concerning this passage. He says, “Faith seems to put the almighty power of God into the hands of men; whereas unbelief appears, to tie up even the hands of the Almighty.”(18)
Look again at what Matthew said: “He DID NOT DO many mighty works there” (v. 58). This statement needs to be compared with Mark’s perspective, found in Mark 6:5. Mark stated, “He COULD DO NO mighty works there.” “He did not do” or “He could not do.” There appears to be a limitation to either “His willingness” or “His ability” to heal. So, which is it? Did Jesus see their lack of faith and choose to limit the number of miracles, or did the people’s lack of faith limit what Jesus was able to do? If we are to better understand these two statements by Matthew and Mark, we must first answer another question, which is this: “Of what did the people’s unbelief consist? Or rather, what did it entail?”
“Luke’s description [of Jesus’ visit to His hometown] . . . includes a demand from the people that Jesus do the kinds of miracles they had heard [that] He had performed in Capernaum (Luke 4:23).”(19) So, the kind of unbelief Jesus was dealing with was a demand for proof from a people who “are ignoring the evidence they have already seen, and [are] insincerely demanding more.”(20) “They were so prejudiced, so set against Him, that they were not in a condition to judge [the] evidence and to be convinced.”(21) Back in Matthew 12:39, Jesus told the Pharisees, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign.”
Jesus “felt it morally impossible to exercise His [benevolent] power in their behalf in the face of their unbelief. It closed the door against the operation of His power. He refused to force Himself upon those who did not want Him.”(22) “We are not to suppose that His power was ‘limited by’ the belief or unbelief of people.”(23) “God and His Son could do anything, but they have chosen to ‘limit themselves’ in accordance with human response.”(24) Commentator David Guzik explains that since God chooses to work in concert with human agency, our unbelief can and may hinder the work of God, by limiting what He personally chooses to do.(25) It is much like saying, “I could not give my son a reward, because of his bad behavior.”(26)
Time of Reflection
So, allow me to close, by applying this last insight of a father not rewarding his son’s bad behavior. When it comes to eternity, God will work through your belief, or through your faith in His Son, to save you from your sins. But He will also work in accordance with your unbelief, to refuse the gift of eternal life. Ultimately, the choice is yours; to believe or not to believe; to receive or not to receive. If you go to heaven when you die, it is because you have chosen to confess Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; but if you go to hell, it is because you have chosen to deny Him. God does not send anyone to hell. He allows people to make their own decision as to where they spend eternity.
In Deuteronomy 30:19, Moses declared the word of the Lord, saying, “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore, choose life.” He continued to say that you must choose life “so that you might live.” If you want to live eternally, then you must choose Jesus. Romans 10:9-11 says, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame’.”
NOTES
(1) Adam Clarke, “Matthew to the Acts,” Clarke’s Commentary, vol. 5 (Nashville: Abingdon Press), p 152.
(2) “The Small Ministry of Jesus,” Missionary Church: https://mcusa.org/news/the-small-ministry-of-jesus (Accessed December 18, 2025).
(3) Ibid.
(4) “Patris,” Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3968/kjv/tr/0-1/ (Accessed December 18, 2025); see Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.
(5) John Gill, John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible, https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/matthew-13-54.html (Accessed December 11, 2025).
(6) William Barclay, “The Gospel of Matthew,” The Daily Bible Study, vol. 2 (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1958), p. 102.
(7) Clarke, p 152.
(8) Albert Barnes, “Barne’s Notes on the Whole Bible,” StudyLight.org: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/matthew-13.html#verse-58 (Accessed December 11, 2025).
(9) Gill.
(10) Clarke, p 152.
(11) Gill.
(12) Ibid.
(13) Matthew Henry, The NIV Matthew Henry Commentary in One Volume (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992), p. 73.
(14) A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1930), p. 111.
(15) Ibid., pp. 111-112.
(16) Frank Stagg, “Matthew,” The Broadman Bible Commentary, vol. 8 (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1969), p. 161.
(17) Clarke, p 152.
(18) Ibid., p 152.
(19) “Matthew 13:58,” BibleRef: https://www.bibleref.com/Matthew/13/Matthew-13-58.html (Accessed December 12, 2025).
(20) Ibid.
(21) Barnes.
(22) D. E. Hiebert, The Gospel of Mark (Greenville, SC: Bob Jones University, 1994).
(23) Barnes.
(24) James Brooks, “Mark,” The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman, 1991), p. 100.
(25) David Guzik, “Study Guide for Matthew 13,” Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/matthew/matthew-13.cfm (Accessed December 11, 2025).
(26) “Matthew 13:58,” BibleRef.
