By Douglas K. Wilson, Ph.D.
Dean of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
REJECTED
Luke 4:16–30
True Identity (16–21)
Joseph taught Jesus well. From every indication in Luke’s account, Joseph was careful to follow the teachings of the law (Luke 2:22–24, 27, 39). He set the pattern for Jesus. Joseph had been entrusted with the welfare and safekeeping of the Son of God. With this in mind, it makes perfect sense that Jesus followed the custom to attend Sabbath service in the Nazareth synagogue.
Jesus came to fulfill prophecy. When invited to participate in the reading of Scripture, Jesus opened the scroll to Isaiah 61: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me … .”
This was a Messianic prophecy, for the Hebrew verb from Isaiah (mashach, root of the word Messiah) means that the one described was “anointed” by the Spirit. Jesus then made the remarkable statement that the prophet’s Messianic prophecies were fulfilled in their hearing. In essence, Jesus was announcing Himself to be the Messiah.
False Understanding (22–27)
To His listeners, this was false teaching. Jesus was Joseph’s adopted son who grew up in the sawdust of a carpenter’s shop, the little boy they watched grow into manhood. People knew Jesus, His parents and His brothers and sisters (Matt. 13:55–56a). Where did He gain understanding of the Scriptures? When did He go to “seminary school” (as some people like to call it)?
At this point in the narrative, Jesus referred to events which occurred previously in Capernaum. (Readers must keep in mind that Luke acknowledged other accounts of Jesus’ ministry (1:1–4), so his own account was not intended to be exhaustive.)
Jesus anticipated rejection by His neighbors, and His passionate words which first fascinated them eventually incited anger.
The people of Nazareth were blind to the reality that Mary’s boy was God incarnate. Though the tempter acknowledged Jesus as the “Son of God” (4:3, 9), folks in His hometown could not grasp or accept His teaching. This was John’s point when he wrote: “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11).
Misguided Response (28–30)
If the men of Nazareth perceived that Jesus was a false prophet, then their response was understandable, though misguided. Mosaic law, especially in Deuteronomy, made it clear that false prophets were to be executed (Deut. 13:5; 18:20). John recorded two similar incidents, times when Jesus was nearly stoned publicly for His teachings (John 8:59; 10:31–33).
Nazareth contains considerable contrasts in elevation. The synagogue, town well and businesses were located in the lower portion of town. The men intended to hike to the top of the hill and execute this false prophet by throwing Him off the summit. That walk would have taken considerable physical exertion. During their trek up the hill, they lost Jesus in the crowd.
Throughout history, there have been many misguided responses to Jesus. Jews deny the deity of Jesus. Gnostics denied His humanity, believing that Jesus simply appeared to live and die and rise again. Muslims claim Jesus as a prophet but not the crucified and risen Savior. Modernists are conflicted, with some characterizing Jesus as a free-thinking rebel and others seeing Him as a “good moral teacher.”
As C.S. Lewis pointed out, Jesus’ own teachings make it impossible for Him to be described as the latter. If the claims of Jesus were not true, then He was either insane or demonic — neither good nor moral. But since His self-revelation is true, He is much more than just a good teacher of ethics and morality. Jesus is Lord.
Our appropriate response is to take Jesus at His word and follow Him as our Lord. “But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).
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