And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easy to miss here is that Jesus isn't just stating a fact about prophets; he's highlighting the deep human tendency to dismiss what's familiar. Their "offense" stems not from a lack of evidence, but from their personal history with him, which blinds them to his divine authority.
And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just finished teaching in parables and has returned to his hometown of Nazareth. The people there are amazed by his wisdom and miracles, but they quickly become offended because they know him – they know his family, his mother Mary, and his siblings. This familiarity, rather than drawing them in, causes them to stumble and reject him as a prophet.
Ever notice how people you've known forever sometimes struggle to see you in a new light? Jesus experienced this firsthand.
In Matthew 13, Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth. The people there knew him. They knew his earthly family – his mother Mary, his brothers and sisters. They knew his profession as a carpenter. They were amazed by his wisdom and miracles, asking, 'Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?' (v. 54). But instead of marveling at God's power at work, they stumbled over their familiarity with Jesus' ordinary human background. Their knowledge of his past prevented them from truly honoring his present divine calling. This hometown blindness is a powerful illustration of how familiarity can breed contempt, or at least a refusal to see the extraordinary.
Why is it so hard to accept greatness when it comes from an unexpected or humble source?
Jesus’ countrymen were astonished by his wisdom and miracles (v. 54). They couldn't reconcile the 'carpenter's son' they thought they knew with the prophetic authority and divine power he displayed. This created an offense – a stumbling block. They focused on the 'earthly conditions' of his youth and profession, as noted by the commentators. Their 'ingratitude,' as Calvin put it, caused them to 'cover themselves with darkness' instead of seeing God's hand. They were looking for a Messiah who fit their preconceived notions, and Jesus, in his apparent ordinariness, didn't measure up. This highlights a critical spiritual truth: often, our own expectations and prejudices can blind us to God's reality, making us reject what we don't expect.
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Despite facing rejection, Jesus didn't back down. What does this tell us about his mission?
Even though his hometown rejected him, Jesus recognized the proverb: 'A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, and in his own household.' He understood this resistance was a pattern, not a personal failure. The commentaries suggest this proverb wasn't just a complaint, but a statement of reality, even a warning. While his fellow Nazarenes stumbled, Jesus continued with his mission. He 'could not perform many miracles there because of their unbelief,' as noted in Mark’s parallel account. This shows that while God's power is immense, human unbelief can indeed limit its outward manifestation in a specific place. Yet, Jesus' response wasn't to retreat or despair, but to move on, 'walking about through the villages teaching' (Mark 6:6). His focus remained on fulfilling the divine purpose, undeterred by localized rejection.
Understand the original words
eskandalizonto · Greek Verb
To cause to stumble, to be scandalized, or to take offense. It describes a situation where one's expectations are unmet, leading to a rejection of the truth or the person being observed.
prophētēs · Greek Noun
A spokesperson for God who communicates divine messages. In biblical tradition, a prophet is often disregarded by those most familiar with their human limitations, as evidenced by the lack of recognition in their own community.
timē · Greek Noun
The state of being respected, esteemed, or held in high regard. Biblically, honor is expected for God's messengers, yet it is frequently withheld by those blinded by familiarity or prejudice.
This passage highlights a recurring theme in Jesus' ministry: the difficulty of being recognized as a prophet in one's own familiar environment. The hometown crowd, knowing Jesus from his humble beginnings as a carpenter and the son of Mary, couldn't reconcile this with his profound wisdom and miraculous deeds, taking offense rather than believing.
c. 4 BC
Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem
Jesus is born in Bethlehem, though his family is from Nazareth in Galilee.
c. AD 1 - AD 30
Jesus' Early Life in Nazareth
Jesus grows up in Nazareth, learning the trade of a carpenter and living a relatively private life.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry, preaching, teaching, and performing miracles throughout Galilee and Judea.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus Returns to Nazareth
Jesus visits his hometown of Nazareth, where he teaches in the synagogue and his relatives and former neighbors react with disbelief and offense.
c. AD 33
Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified and resurrected, events that profoundly impact his followers and the future of his message.
Jesus himself states this proverb in John's Gospel when he's in Galilee, noting that prophets are generally honored more elsewhere than in their own homeland, highlighting a consistent theme of rejection.
Jeremiah 12:6This passage shows Jeremiah facing betrayal and deceit even from his own family, mirroring the rejection and offense Jesus faced from his own people.
Mark 6:4The parallel account in Mark's Gospel includes 'and among his own kin,' reinforcing the idea that Jesus' own family members were also part of the group who took offense.
1 Corinthians 1:23This passage speaks to the Jewish people's offense at a crucified Messiah, which parallels the people in Nazareth being offended by Jesus' humble origins despite his divine power and wisdom.
calvinMatthew 13:53-58: "And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence."
- And it happened, when Jesus had concluded these discourses, [342] that he departed thence. 54. And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were amazed, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom and these miracles? 55. Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56…
barnesMatthew 13:57: "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."
And they were offended in him - That is, they took offence at his humble birth, and at the indigent circumstances of his family. They were too proud to be taught by one who, in family connections, they took to be their equal or inferior. People always look with envy on those of their own rank who advance pretensions to uncommon wisdom or super…
What's easy to miss here is that Jesus isn't just stating a fact about prophets; he's highlighting the deep human tendency to dismiss what's familiar. Their "offense" stems not from a lack of evidence, but from their personal history with him, which blinds them to his divine authority.
Jesus has just finished teaching in parables and has returned to his hometown of Nazareth. The people there are amazed by his wisdom and miracles, but they quickly become offended because they know him – they know his family, his mother Mary, and his siblings. This familiarity, rather than drawing them in, causes them to stumble and reject him as a prophet.
Jesus has just finished teaching in parables and has returned to his hometown of Nazareth. The people there are amazed by his wisdom and miracles, but they quickly become offended because they know him – they know his family, his mother Mary, and his siblings. This familiarity, rather than drawing them in, causes them to stumble and reject him as a prophet.
"And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.”" — What's easy to miss here is that Jesus isn't just stating a fact about prophets; he's highlighting the deep human tendency to dismiss what's familiar. Their "offense" stems not from a lack of evidenc…
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Last reviewed October 2026