Matthew 13:54-58

Mat 13:54-58 The King in His own Country

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? With what emotion did our Lord return to his native place! How ready he was to associate with former friends, for "he taught them in their synagogue." How eagerly they came together to hear their young countryman, who had made so great a stir! How amazed they were at the masterly way in which he touched great subjects, and wrought great deeds! Astonishment led to enquiry. They began to ask how it could be. The question, "Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? "might have been brought forward reverently, and have led to their obtaining a most instructive reply; but some flavoured their question with impertinent unbelief, and this cost them dear.

Lord, grant that my questions may never savour of incredulity. Give me to be astonished at what thou dost, and yet not to be astonished that thou shouldst be able to do such mighty works.

55, 56. Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? His pedigree seemed to them to be of the lowliest. He had sprung from among themselves: his reputed father was a village artisan; his mother was plain Mary, and his relations commonplace parties enough. This ought to have gratified and encouraged them; but it did not. They grew sarcastic, and harped upon the family names of James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas. They hinted that he could not have learned much wisdom in a carpenter's shop; and as he had not been among the rabbis to obtain a superior education, he could not really know much. How could he have attained to such eminence? He was a mere nobody. Why, they knew him when his parents lost him when they went up to the feast at Jerusalem! They could not listen to the talk of the carpenter's son.

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 stumbled at that which should have been a stepping-stone for them. Poor souls! How like to many in these days, who must have glitter and pretence, or they think nothing of the profoundest wisdom! If they can understand a sermon, they conceive that it cannot be a good one; if a man acts simply and naturally, he cannot in their eyes be worthy of much notice. Still is it commonly the case that, where a man is known, his neighbours find it hard to think that he can be really great. Distance lends enchantment: a cloud increases the apparent size. This is folly.

58. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Unbelief bound his hands. Why should he spend his sacred energy among a people who would not be profited thereby? Where he would have chosen to do most, he was forced to do least, because he saw that all he did would be wasted on them. The Lord save us from such a state of mind!

Give us, O Lord, faith to the full; that for us, and in us, and by us, thou mayest be able to do many mighty works of grace!