Matthew 13:57-58
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What's often missed is that Jesus's response isn't just a general observation about human nature; it's a direct accusation. He's pointing out that their familiarity with his humble origins has blinded them to the divine power and wisdom now evident in him, making them the least likely to recognize a prophet. This illustrates how deep-seated prejudice, even born from closeness, can actively reject God's work.
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.” And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth and teaches in the synagogue, astonishing the people with his wisdom and the miracles he performs. However, they quickly dismiss him, focusing on his humble origins as the carpenter's son and his family members, ultimately refusing to believe in him. This rejection leads Jesus to remark on the common proverb that prophets are often disrespected most in their own home and country.
Ever feel like you're not seen for who you are by the people closest to you? Jesus experienced this too, and it's a common human experience.
Jesus points out a painful truth: "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household." This proverb highlights how familiarity can breed contempt.
The Stumbling Block of the Ordinary
When people know your past, your family, and your humble beginnings, it’s hard for them to accept extraordinary claims or divine power. They see the carpenter's son, Mary’s son, the brother of James, and their minds get stuck there. They can't easily bridge the gap between the Jesus they knew growing up and the powerful prophet speaking God's wisdom.
Unbelief Blocks God's Power
This deep-seated disbelief, rooted in familiarity, even hindered Jesus's ability to perform miracles in his hometown. It’s a stark reminder that while God’s power is limitless, human unbelief can create a barrier, preventing its full expression in our lives and communities.
Why is it so hard to recognize God's power when it’s right in front of us, especially among people we know well?
The people in Jesus’s hometown were amazed by his wisdom and miracles. They asked, "Whence hath this man this wisdom and these miracles?" They saw the power, but they couldn't reconcile it with the ordinary man they thought they knew.
The Mindset of Offense
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Their "offense" wasn’t just a minor disagreement; it was a spiritual stumbling block. They focused on Jesus’s earthly origins – his family, his trade, his lack of formal schooling – and used these as reasons to reject him. Instead of seeing God’s hand at work, they saw only the human vessel, and that made them unwilling to accept his divine message.
A Choice to Disbelieve
As the commentaries note, they weren't simply ignorant; they actively looked for reasons to doubt. They chose to let familiarity obscure the miraculous, effectively "shutting the door" on God’s power in their midst. This shows that sometimes, the biggest obstacle to experiencing God is our own willingness to look past the ordinary to see the divine.
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.
dynameis · Greek Noun
Works of power, specifically referring to miraculous signs performed by the power of God. These acts serve as evidence of the kingdom of God breaking into the human experience.
apistian · Greek Noun
A lack of faith or active rejection of the truth. It signifies a refusal to trust in God or His messengers, which serves as a barrier to experiencing the manifest power and blessing of God.
This moment reveals a common human tendency: we often struggle to recognize the extraordinary in the ordinary, especially when it comes from someone we've known our whole lives. Familiarity can indeed breed contempt, making it harder to accept divine gifts from familiar faces.
Late 1st century BC - Early 1st century AD
Jesus' Childhood and Youth in Nazareth
Jesus grows up in Nazareth, known by his family and neighbors as the son of a carpenter, and presumed to have a very ordinary upbringing.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus' Ministry Begins in Galilee
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching, healing, and performing miracles throughout Galilee, gaining a growing reputation.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus Returns to Nazareth
Jesus visits his hometown of Nazareth, teaching in the synagogue and drawing upon his well-known local background.
c. AD 30
Rejection in Nazareth
The people of Nazareth are amazed by his wisdom and miracles but ultimately take offense, unable to reconcile his apparent ordinariness with his extraordinary claims and power.
c. AD 30
Limited Miracles in Nazareth
Due to their unbelief, Jesus is unable to perform many miracles there, highlighting how deep-seated skepticism can hinder divine power.
This passage is a direct parallel, with Jesus himself stating, 'For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.'
Jeremiah 11:21This Old Testament passage shows a similar rejection experienced by a prophet, with God saying about Jeremiah, 'the Lord God of hosts... has said, “Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink. I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them, till I have consumed them.”'
Mark 6:4This parallel account from Mark's Gospel reinforces the idea, noting that Jesus 'could not do any miracle there, except that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them,' highlighting the impact of unbelief in his hometown.
Luke 4:24Luke's Gospel also records this event, emphasizing the local resistance Jesus faced by saying, 'And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.'
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 often missed is that Jesus's response isn't just a general observation about human nature; it's a direct accusation. He's pointing out that their familiarity with his humble origins has blinded them to the divine power and wisdom now evident in him, making them the least likely to recognize a prophet. This illustrates how deep-seated prejudice, even born from closeness, can actively reject God's work.
Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth and teaches in the synagogue, astonishing the people with his wisdom and the miracles he performs. However, they quickly dismiss him, focusing on his humble origins as the carpenter's son and his family members, ultimately refusing to believe in him. This rejection leads Jesus to remark on the common proverb that prophets are often disrespected most in their own home and country.
Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth and teaches in the synagogue, astonishing the people with his wisdom and the miracles he performs. However, they quickly dismiss him, focusing on his humble origins as the carpenter's son and his family members, ultimately refusing to believe in him. This rejection leads Jesus to remark on the common proverb that prophets are often disrespected most in their own home and country.
"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.” And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief." — What's often missed is that Jesus's response isn't just a general observation about human nature; it's a direct accusation. He's pointing out that their familiarity with his humble origins has blinde…
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Last reviewed October 2026
