And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The people are astonished by Jesus' teaching and miracles, but their question, "Where did this man get these things?" reveals they're focused on how he got his abilities rather than who he is. They marvel at the "wisdom given to him" and the "mighty works" but fail to recognize that these aren't just talents he possesses, but manifestations of God's own power and wisdom working through the Son.
And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just returned to his hometown of Nazareth, a place where he grew up and where his earthly family still lives. On the Sabbath, he goes to the local synagogue to teach, and while his message and the wisdom behind it amaze many, they quickly become offended by him because they know him and his humble background. This rejection sets the stage for Jesus to declare a prophet is rarely honored in his own home.
Jesus returned to His hometown, but the people there didn't see Him as the Messiah. Why would His own neighbors reject Him?
Jesus entered Nazareth, His own hometown, and as was His custom, He taught in the synagogue on the Sabbath. The people were astonished by His wisdom and the mighty works He performed. However, this astonishment quickly turned into offense.
Why the Shock?
They knew Jesus intimately. They knew His family, His mother, His brothers and sisters. They'd seen Him grow up, likely knowing Him as a carpenter, a craftsman. To them, He was just 'the carpenter's son.' This familiarity blinded them to the divine power and wisdom now evident in Him.
The Paradox of Revelation
It’s a profound paradox: the more intimately we know Jesus, the deeper our understanding and reverence should grow. Yet, for the people of Nazareth, their close acquaintance with Jesus became an obstacle. They couldn't reconcile the Jesus they thought they knew with the Messiah speaking and acting with divine authority. Their local knowledge became a stumbling block, preventing them from recognizing God’s work right before their eyes.
The crowd was amazed by Jesus' teaching and power, but their amazement didn't lead them to faith. What's the difference between wonder and worship?
The reaction of the Nazarene crowd is a stark reminder that intellectual assent or even awe at a miracle doesn't equal saving faith. They were 'astonished,' struck with wonder. They recognized that something extraordinary was happening – 'What wisdom is given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands?'
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The Limits of Amazement
Their astonishment was a genuine reaction to the unprecedented wisdom and power they witnessed. However, it remained at the surface level. It was a recognition of unusual ability, not a surrender to divine authority. They marveled, but they didn't submit. They acknowledged the 'powers' (dunamis) but didn't embrace the Person behind them.
From Wonder to Worship
True faith moves beyond mere amazement. It involves acknowledging God's power and wisdom and responding with humility, repentance, and trust. The people of Nazareth were so caught up in how Jesus could do these things, and where He got them, that they missed the crucial point: He was the divine source, and they were being invited to believe in Him.
Understand the original words
shabbath · Hebrew Noun
The weekly day of rest and worship commanded by God in the Mosaic Law, commemorating God's creation and the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. In the New Testament, it serves as a context for Jesus' teaching and demonstrations of His authority as Lord of the Sabbath.
sophia · Greek Noun
The Greek word denotes an intellectual and spiritual capacity for divine understanding, insight, and the ability to apply truth to life in a way that aligns with God's will. In the context of Jesus, it refers to the profound and authoritative revelation of God's kingdom.
dynamis · Greek Noun
In the Gospels, this refers to supernatural manifestations of divine power (often translated 'miracles') that serve as signs of the breaking in of the Kingdom of God and the authentication of the messenger.
Jesus' return to Nazareth is a stark reminder that familiarity can breed contempt. The very people who knew him best struggled to accept his divine authority, preferring to dismiss him based on his humble origins rather than marvel at the wisdom and power God had given him.
c. 4 BC
Jesus' Birth in Bethlehem
Jesus is born in Bethlehem, a town in Judea, but likely spends his very early childhood in Nazareth.
c. 4 BC - AD 26
Childhood and Youth in Nazareth
Jesus grows up in Nazareth, learning the trade of a carpenter and living a largely ordinary life within his family and community.
c. AD 26-27
John the Baptist's Ministry Begins
John the Baptist starts his public ministry of repentance and baptism in the wilderness of Judea, preparing the way for Jesus.
c. AD 27-28
Jesus' Baptism and Temptation
Jesus is baptized by John in the Jordan River, after which he is led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for forty days.
c. AD 28
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins in Galilee
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching and performing miracles throughout Galilee, gaining a growing reputation.
c. AD 29— this verse
Jesus Teaches in the Nazareth Synagogue
Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth and teaches in the local synagogue on the Sabbath. His teaching and mighty works (known from reports) astonish the listeners, but their familiarity with him leads to disbelief and offense.
c. AD 29
Rejection at Nazareth
Due to their unbelief and offense, Jesus is unable to perform many miracles in Nazareth, highlighting the principle that a prophet is often without honor in his own country.
This passage directly mirrors the astonishment of the Jewish leaders who questioned Jesus's knowledge and teaching, asking, 'How does this man know Scripture without having studied?'
Matthew 13:55-56These verses highlight the skepticism of Jesus's hometown crowd, who, like those in Nazareth, stumbled over his identity, asking, 'Is not this the carpenter’s son?...Are not his brothers and sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?'
Isaiah 11:2This prophecy speaks of the Spirit of wisdom and understanding resting upon the Messiah, which directly relates to the question asked in Mark 6:2 about 'what wisdom is this which is given unto him.'
Acts 3:12Peter, after healing the lame man, addresses the astonished crowd by pointing to Jesus, asking, 'Why do you stare at us? It is by his faith and power that this man has been healed,' echoing the amazement at mighty works being done through a specific person.
pooleMark 6:2: "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?"
See Poole on "Mark 6:1"
gillMark 6:2: "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?"
And when the sabbath day was come,.... For it seems that it was on a weekday, or on one of the common days of the week, that he entered into the city, where he remained without making himself known, till the sabbath day came: a…
The people are astonished by Jesus' teaching and miracles, but their question, "Where did this man get these things?" reveals they're focused on how he got his abilities rather than who he is. They marvel at the "wisdom given to him" and the "mighty works" but fail to recognize that these aren't just talents he possesses, but manifestations of God's own power and wisdom working through the Son.
Jesus has just returned to his hometown of Nazareth, a place where he grew up and where his earthly family still lives. On the Sabbath, he goes to the local synagogue to teach, and while his message and the wisdom behind it amaze many, they quickly become offended by him because they know him and his humble background. This rejection sets the stage for Jesus to declare a prophet is rarely honored in his own home.
Jesus has just returned to his hometown of Nazareth, a place where he grew up and where his earthly family still lives. On the Sabbath, he goes to the local synagogue to teach, and while his message and the wisdom behind it amaze many, they quickly become offended by him because they know him and his humble background. This rejection sets the stage for Jesus to declare a prophet is rarely honored in his own home.
"And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands?" — The people are astonished by Jesus' teaching and miracles, but their question, "Where did this man get these things?" reveals they're focused on how he got his abilities rather than who he is. Th…
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Last reviewed October 2026