Verse 1. Jesus now comes to His own country where He had been brought up, and His disciples follow Him.
Verses 2, 3. On the sabbath day He began to teach in the synagogue. Words of wisdom flowed from His lips, and many, hearing Him, were astonished, and question, “From whence has this man these things? What wisdom is this which is given unto Him, that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands?”
They call Him the carpenter; that is all He is to them. They know His family, but they care nothing for Him; they are offended at Him. What unbelief; what hardness of heart; what a display of the flesh that profits nothing! The carnal mind is enmity to God; the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. (Rom. 8:77Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (Romans 8:7); 1 Cor. 2:1414But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14).) He did not flatter their pride. He did not come with earthly glory, but as a lowly servant. Quite true, He manifested the character of God, but they did not want that. Worldly power and glory would suit their taste, but not a humble servant like Jesus. They were offended at Him; they reject Him, and He will reject them.
Verses 4-6. Jesus said unto them, “A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house, and He could do no mighty work there.” What a loss to them!
Their unbelief lost the blessing He had for them, and only a few sick that He laid His hands on, were healed. They were needy, and love will work where it can. The few sick folk profit by this love that seeks their good, but the rest go empty away. What a lesson for us all not to hinder the work of God by our unbelief.
What will He do now? If He can do nothing there because of their unbelief, He will seek a wider field: “And He went round about the villages, teaching.”
Verses 7-11. He now shows His power in calling others into the work, and gives them power over unclean spirits, and sends them out on a mission entirely dependent on Him to supply their every need. They take nothing but their staff for their journey: no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse; sandals they would need, but not two coats. Luke tells us, they lacked nothing. (Luke 22:3535And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. (Luke 22:35).) Those that would not receive them, would receive judgment worse than Sodom and Gomorrha. The house they entered into, there they were to abide while they were in that place.
Verse 12. They went out and preached that men should repent. Doubtless, many did repent and turn to God, and thus escaped the terrible judgment Israel’s sins, their sins, deserved.
Verse 13. They cast out many devils and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. What grace is here seen, not only does He send good news, but uses men to carry it. May we, too, have our hearts filled with the Saviour’s love, so that we may tell others what we have received, and thus be used of Him to carry blessing to others.
Verses 14-29. We are here told how John, the Baptist’s ministry came to an end, a foreshowing of what the Lord’s ministry would come to also. (Matt. 17:1212But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. (Matthew 17:12).) John rebuked Herod’s sin, and he threw John into prison. Herodias would have killed him, but she could not. Herod’s respect for John sheltered him from her, but pleasures and excitement laid the snare, and Herod promised with an oath to give the dancing girl what she wished. Her mother told her to ask the head of John the Baptist. The king’s false oath bound him, and John was executed. The story shows the heartlessness of Israel’s ruler. His disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse and laid it in a tomb. Matthew 14:1212And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus. (Matthew 14:12) adds, “and went and told Jesus.”
When Herod heard of Jesus, it came into his mind what he had done. (He will never forget it to all eternity.) He thought God had raised John from the dead, and therefore mighty works showed themselves forth in him. Others thought Jesus a prophet, such as Elias, perhaps from Malachi 4:55Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: (Malachi 4:5).
(To be Continued).