Studies In Luke: Rejected in Nazareth (Luke 4:16-30)
Studies in Luke—Rejected In Nazareth—4:16-30
- “No prophet is acceptable in his hometown” (24)
- “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household” (Mk. 6:4)
- Luke opened with a joyous note of expectation and hope, antici-pation and salvation—now he adds an additional preview of Is-rael’s tragic rejection of Christ.
- On the Sabbath, in the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus read from Isaiah 61:1,2: “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, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (18,19).
- Jesus then stated, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (21).
- Nazareth’s reaction:
- “All spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words” (22).
- Then came the doubt, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” (22).
- After Jesus rebuked them with examples from Elijah and El-isha’s time, “all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which the town was build, so that they could throw him down the cliff” (28,29).
- Luke then tells of the glad acceptance of Jesus in Capernaum, in Simon’s house, and by the multitudes (31-44).
- Who had they rejected? The very Son of God!
- Why did they reject Him? Unbelief! He was “Joseph’s son”!
- They said, “Prove it!” – But Jesus did not do miracles for a show.
