Difference between revisions of "Category:Hometown Rejection (subject)"

The Hometown Rejection was an episode in the Ministry of Jesus, according to the Gospels of Mark (6:1–6a), Matthew (13:53-58), and Luke (4:16-30).

Overview

The rejection by his own hometown (i.e. Nazareth, as explicitly stated in Luke) was one of the more upsetting blows in Jesus' ministry. The episode served to reiterate the claim that the "authority" of Jesus is not unconditioned--miracles (and forgiven of sins) are not granted without "faith."

The episode also provides some important details about the personal identity of Jesus. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is called "the carpenter," the "son of Mary," and "the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon" and of some unnamed "sisters." In Matthew Jesus becomes "the carpenter's son" and "Joseph's son" in Luke. The reference to the brothers and sisters (preserved in Matthew) is omitted in Luke, where the narrative is expanded with a detailed description of the preaching of Jesus in the synagogue.

The episode is connected with the rejection of Jesus by his own family (see Jesus' True Relatives), and Jesus' repeated invitation to his disciples to abandon their own families (see Abandoning Your Family).

Chronological Framework

In Mark (and Matthew) the incident occurred only at a relatively late stage in the Ministry of Jesus.

In Luke instead it happened at the very beginning, immediately after his return from Perea.

The Hometown Rejection in ancient sources

Gospel of Mark

Raising of Jairus' Daughter -> Hometown Rejection -> Mission of the Twelve

Mark 6:1-6a (NRSV) -- [1] He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. 4 Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house." 5 And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. 6 And he was amazed at their unbelief...

Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 13:53-58 (NRSV) -- 53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he left that place. 54 He came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? 55 Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?" 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor except in their own country and in their own house." 58 And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.

Gospel of Luke

Beginning of Galilean Ministry -> Hometown Rejection -> Man with an Unclean Spirit

Luke 4:16-30 (NRSV) -- 16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." 20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, "Is not this Joseph's son?" 23 He said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, 'Doctor, cure yourself!' And you will say, 'Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.'" 24 And he said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown. 25 But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; 26 yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27 There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." 28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. 30 But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

The Hometown Rejection in Scholarship

The Hometown Rejection in Fiction

External links

• Wikipedia