Chapter

Matthew 13:54

ESV and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?
NIV Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. 'Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?' they asked.
NASB And He came to His hometown and began teaching them in their synagogue, with the result that they were astonished, and said, 'Where did this man acquire this wisdom and these miraculous powers?
CSB He went to his hometown and began to teach them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?
NLT He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, 'Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?'
KJV And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

What does Matthew 13:54 mean?

Both Joseph and Mary had apparently grown up in the small town of Nazareth, about halfway between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean. They returned to Nazareth after Jesus' birth and their time in Egypt (Luke 2:39), and Jesus spent His childhood there (Luke 2:40). Eventually, though, Jesus moved to the more populated town of Capernaum on the shores of the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:13).

Jesus now returns to visit His "hometown," which most commentators understand to be Nazareth. Some commentators see this visit as being separate from the one described in Luke 4:16–29, where the people of Nazareth attempted to kill Jesus after He claimed to be the fulfillment of one of Isaiah's prophecies about the Messiah, then compared them to people in the Old Testament Scriptures not miraculously saved by God. Most towns in Israel, even small ones like Nazareth, had a synagogue. It was common for visiting rabbis to be invited to speak in the synagogue when in town. Jesus did so in Nazareth. He apparently also did some miracles there, perhaps of healing, though He did not do many (Matthew 13:58).

The reaction to Jesus' teaching and His miracles was both astonishment and rejection. The people asked where He got this wisdom and the ability to do these mighty works. They didn't deny Jesus' obvious power, but they were offended that someone who had come from among them would seem to be so important and favored. Jesus did not fit into their idea of Him, and they were committed to Him fitting their preferred mold.

Assumptions and prejudices can blind us to truth. When we think we know something, or someone, we tend to favor those expectations over new information. Many, many people in the world think they already know all about Jesus. Many, however, know very little, and are offended when presented with the truth (Matthew 13:57).
Expand
Expand
Expand
What is the Gospel?
Download the app: