Category: counsel

Friday, March 20, 2020

“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” (Mark 6:4 KJV).

What valuable lesson can we learn from Nazareth—a moral the Nazarenes deliberately failed to learn?

The Lord Jesus Christ’s first sermon recorded in Scripture is found in Luke chapter 4. Verse 16 starts, “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.” Nazareth is where He grew up, so He is well-known here. He visits their synagogue and describes His ministry—which has just begun—by reading to them Isaiah chapter 61.

“[20] And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. [21] And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. [22] And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?” (Pay attention to their question in verse 22. It is highly significant to the issue we are currently discussing, so we will return to it later.)

“[23] And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. [24] And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. [25] But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias [Elijah], when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; [26] But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. [27] And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus [Elisha] the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.”

Let us see how Nazareth responds to Jesus’ first sermon….

Thursday, March 19, 2020

“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” (Mark 6:4 KJV).

What valuable lesson can we learn from Nazareth—a moral the Nazarenes deliberately failed to learn?

Jesus’ mother Mary and legal father Joseph were from Nazareth, a town in Galilee or northern Israel (Luke 1:26; Luke 2:4). They moved south to tiny Bethlehem Judah for His birth (Luke 2:4-7), before returning north to Nazareth (Luke 2:39). When King Herod the Great purposed to kill young Jesus—approximately two years of age—the angel of the Lord instructed Joseph to take Jesus and Mary down into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-18).

Matthew chapter 2 continues: “[19] But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, [20] Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. [21] And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. [22] But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: [23] And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Luke chapter 2 summarizes Christ’s childhood: “[51] And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. [52] And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” When His earthly ministry begins, He is about age 30 years (Luke 3:23). After spending almost His entire three decades of life growing up in Nazareth, He travels south to be water baptized of John the Baptist in the Jordan River (Matthew 4:13). Therefore, Nazareth is Jesus’ “own country” (Matthew 13:54; cf. today’s Scripture).

The Nazarenes know the Lord Jesus Christ better than anyone else. Yet, the sad reality is they mistreat Him like everyone else….

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

“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” (Mark 6:4 KJV).

What valuable lesson can we learn from Nazareth—a moral the Nazarenes deliberately failed to learn?

Read today’s Scripture in context: “[1] And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples 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? [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. [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. [5] And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. [6] And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.”

We turn to Matthew 13:53-58 for the companion passage: “[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? [55] Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? [56] And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? [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. [58] And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.”

Someone is “without honour,” and in the most unexpected place….