Topical Bible: Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

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The account of Jesus being rejected at Nazareth is a significant event in the New Testament, illustrating the challenges and opposition Jesus faced during His earthly ministry. This event is recorded in the Synoptic Gospels, specifically in Matthew 13:53-58, Mark 6:1-6, and Luke 4:16-30. Each account provides unique details that contribute to a fuller understanding of the incident.

Context and Setting

Nazareth, a small town in Galilee, was Jesus' hometown where He had been raised. Despite His growing reputation as a teacher and miracle worker, the people of Nazareth struggled to reconcile His humble origins with His profound wisdom and authority. This event occurs after Jesus had begun His public ministry, performing miracles and teaching with authority in various regions.

Matthew 13:53-58

In Matthew's account, Jesus returns to Nazareth and teaches in the synagogue. The people are astonished by His wisdom and miraculous powers, yet they question, "Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?" (Matthew 13:55). Their familiarity with Jesus' family leads to skepticism and unbelief. Consequently, Jesus does not perform many miracles there "because of their unbelief" (Matthew 13:58).

Mark 6:1-6

Mark provides a similar narrative, emphasizing the astonishment of the Nazarenes at Jesus' teaching. They question His authority, citing His occupation as a carpenter and naming His family members. Mark notes that Jesus "was amazed at their unbelief" (Mark 6:6) and records His statement, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives, and in his own home" (Mark 6:4). This highlights the irony of Jesus being honored elsewhere but rejected by those who knew Him best.

Luke 4:16-30

Luke's account offers additional details, including Jesus reading from the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue. He declares, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:21), identifying Himself as the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecy. Initially, the people speak well of Him, but their attitude shifts when Jesus speaks of God's favor extending to Gentiles, as illustrated by the examples of Elijah and Elisha. This provokes anger, and they attempt to throw Him off a cliff. However, Jesus miraculously passes through the crowd unharmed.

Theological Significance

The rejection at Nazareth underscores the theme of prophetic rejection, a motif present throughout the Old Testament. Jesus, like the prophets before Him, faces rejection from His own people. This event also highlights the tension between divine revelation and human skepticism. Despite witnessing His wisdom and power, the Nazarenes' familiarity breeds contempt, preventing them from recognizing Jesus as the Messiah.

Lessons and Reflections

The rejection at Nazareth serves as a poignant reminder of the cost of unbelief and the importance of faith. It challenges believers to examine their own perceptions and openness to God's work, even when it comes from unexpected sources. The incident also foreshadows the broader rejection Jesus would face, culminating in His crucifixion, yet ultimately leading to the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan through His resurrection.

Topical Bible Verses

Luke 4:1-44
And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
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Mark 6:1-6
And he went out from there, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.
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John 6:1-71
After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.
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Matthew 13:1-58
The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
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John 7:5
For neither did his brothers believe in him.
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John 4:44
For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet has no honor in his own country.
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John 6:42
And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he said, I came down from heaven?
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Library

Jesus visits Nazareth and is Rejected.
... Part Fifth. From Second Passover Until Third.(Time: One Year.) LX. Jesus Visits
Nazareth and is Rejected. ^A Matthew 13:54-58; ^B Mark 6:1-6; ^C Luke 4:16-31. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lx jesus visits nazareth and.htm

Despised and Rejected by Friend and Foe
... CHAPTER XIV DESPISED AND REJECTED BY FRIEND AND FOE. ... warming himself, she looked
upon him, and said, "And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth." But he ...
/.../mark/jesus of nazareth a biography/chapter xiv despised and rejected.htm

Rejected in his Own Country
... Yet if, as it would seem, Nazareth rejected Christ because He was not a person of ...
The perfect and lowly humanity of Jesus is a stumbling block to some who will ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 6 1-6 rejected in his.htm

The Master Rejected: the Servants Sent Forth
... THE MASTER REJECTED: THE SERVANTS SENT FORTH. ... An easy day's journey would carry Jesus
and His followers from Capernaum, on the lake-side, to Nazareth, among the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the master rejected the servants.htm

Other Proofs from the Same Chapter, that Jesus, who Preached at ...
... And yet even at Nazareth He is not remarked as having ... verse He is said to have been
rejected [3684] by ... [3692] Whatever were the cures which Jesus effected, He ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter viii other proofs from the.htm

The Child Jesus Brought from Egypt to Nazareth.
... Now, Nazareth, if derived from netzer, answered to its name ... despised place ( John
1:45, 46), and Jesus, though in ... contempt of those who despised and rejected him ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xv the child jesus brought.htm

Jesus of Nazareth - A Biography
... CHAPTER XIV DESPISED AND REJECTED BY FRIEND AND FOE. CHAPTER XV CRUCIFIED, DEAD
AND BURIED. CHAPTER XVI JESUS OF NAZARETH RISES FROM THE DEAD. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mark/jesus of nazareth a biography/

The Gospel According to St. Luke
... Missionary work of Jesus in Galilee: iv.14-ix.6."Jesus preaches, is rejected
at Nazareth, goes to Capernaum, various miracles (iv.). ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter v the gospel according.htm

Parables in Relation to Similitudes. Jesus in his Own Country.
... all these things are to be rejected, or whether ... And it came to pass when Jesus had
finished ... by the expression, "His own country," is meant Nazareth or Bethlehem ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/16 parables in relation to.htm

Jesus in the Synagogue.
... to the edge of a cliff, for Nazareth was built ... rocks below, but turning away from
them, Jesus walked quietly ... when she saw her Son "despised and rejected of men ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xiii jesus in the.htm