Matthew 13:53-58

Matthew 13:53-58

And it became – when Jesus finished these parables – He went away from there.  And after coming into His hometown He was teaching them in their synagogue so that they were amazed and said, “From where is this wisdom and mighty deeds by this man?  Is this one not the carpenter’s son?  Are not His mother called Mary and His brothers called James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?  And are not His sisters all with us?  Therefore from where are all these things from this one?  And they were being offended in Him.  But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in the hometown and in his house.”  And He did not do many powerful things in that place because of their unbelief.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

I often pause and wonder at this passage.  Jesus had to know about it.  Jesus had to know what was going to happen when He went home.  So why go?  Why would Jesus spend this frustrating time knowing the people wouldn’t receive him?  I think there is one glaring answer.  Sometimes we have to be shown the truth about ourselves.  Sometimes we have to be shown our own arrogance rather than just be told about it.  Sometimes we have to hit rock bottom before we are willing to change.  Just because God asks us to go into a time of frustrating work of what seems like little fruit does not make it wrong.

Have you ever been asked to do what Jesus does here and go into a place where people will not listen?  What was the reason that God would make such a request from you?

Second Thought:

Look at how the people react to Jesus.  They are blinded by their own experience and their own perspective.  They can’t exist outside of their own box.  They cannot see Jesus for who He is.  How often is this the reality in our own life!  We miss an opportunity to speak truth because we think we know a person too well and cannot accept that they could change.  People don’t listen to our truth because they see our own lack.  Perhaps we are so invested that we want change too quickly and we get impatient with what God is actually doing.  Whatever the case, the experience of Jesus is not foreign to us.  Our own expectations and our own conclusions can prevent us from seeing God.

When have you been guilty of not being able to see God at work outside your box?  How did that feel?

Third Thought:

I think this is a very sad ending to a passage.  Jesus did not do many things of power because of their lack of a desire to believe.  Notice that it doesn’t say that Jesus couldn’t do them, it says that He didn’t do them.  Our human failings and our lack of belief does not change the omnipotence of God.  However, our choices do impact what God desires to do in our midst.  Want to see God’s power on display?  Live a life of faithfulness in Him.  Put your trust in God.  When you actively seek Him out, He promises to be found.  Seek out God and you will see Him at work in the world around you.

Where is God at work around you?  When do you struggle to see God at work?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 14:1-12