Luke 4 14-30 Too Familiar To Get It
Too familiar to see the value
They missed the blessing
Luke 4 14-30
Flower market - After this painting was donated to a Maryland Goodwill thrift shop in March, a sharp employee realized it was by French impressionist Edouard-Leon Cortes. The painting, 'Marche aux fleurs,' or 'Flower Market,' fetched $40,600 at auction
Rembrandt Laughing,' a 1628 self-portrait by the Dutch master, was appraised at $3,100 as a knockoff for an October auction. An anonymous Brit bought it for $4.5 million. Turns out it was a good call: Now authenticated, the painting has an estimated worth of $30 million to $40 million.
In 2006, brothers Dave and Don Trachte discovered the Norman Rockwell painting 'Breaking Home Ties' hidden in a wall in their father's home. Hanging on the wall outside was a fake version of the painting, presumably made by their father. The piece, which appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post in 1954, sold for $15.4 million at auction.
Elizabeth Gibson found this painting sitting out on a New York City street with some garbage in 2003.
“I know nothing of modern art but it didn’t seem right for any piece of art to be discarded like that,” Elizabeth Gibson said after finding “Tres Personajes.”
Turns out the piece, 'Tres Personajes,' was painted by Rufino Tamayo in 1970 and had been stolen from its owner in 1987. Gibson received a $15,000 reward for returning the painting, as well as part of the $1,049,000 that it sold for at auction last November.
What do all four of these stories have in common? In each case, priceless masterpieces were mistaken for worthless stuff. However, someone recognized the value and profited immensely.
I suppose it happens all the time. Misprinted stamps or coins. Waiting opportunities.
Not a new occurrence. Even in the Bible. The most valued of all things was mistaken for something worthless. Jesus as He travels to His hometown is mistaken for someone worthless. They knew Him. They were familiar with Him. But perhaps this very familiarity caused them to miss out the most valuable thing they could ever find.
I. Jesus at work around them
A. Bringing about transformations
(NKJV) Luke 4 14 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee,
B. Knowledge of His work known
(NKJV) Luke 4 14 … and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.
C. Others embracing the truth
(NKJV) Luke 4 15 And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
D. Personal Opportunity arises
(NKJV) Luke 4 16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up.
II. A message of hope for the needy
A. Hope based on the word of God
(NKJV) Luke 4 16 … And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book (scroll), He found the place where it was written:
Order of synagogue service
Shema Prayer Reading Torah Reading prophets Tragums commentary Exposition
Needed ten male insiders – any of the men could give instruction
1. Attendant went to the cabinet where the scriptures were held one or more books of scripture on a scroll
2. Asked for Isaiah –
3. Opened the scripture scroll of Isaiah to Messianic passage
4. Authority in the scripture – truth here not in the experiences
B. Hope available for the troubled
Each a physical and a deeper spiritual reality
Met physical need representing the meeting of the spiritual reality
1. the poor
(NKJV) Luke 4 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor;
a) Those who have very little
b) Little or no expectation from the circumstances around them
c) Those who must depend upon God – typical of OT - pious poor
heir material deprivation often translates into spiritual sensitivity, humility, and responsiveness
d) Brings Good news – needs are met
2. Hope for the brokenhearted
(NKJV) Luke 4 18 … He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
a) Lost hope
b) Broken
c) Discouraged
d) Bring healing
3. Hope for the captive
(NKJV) Luke 4 18 … To proclaim liberty to the captives
a) To announce to the captives they will be released
4. Hope for the blind
(NKJV) Luke 4 18 … And recovery of sight to the blind,
a) Unable to see
b) Gain sight again
5. Hope for the oppressed
(NKJV) Luke 4 18 … To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
a) Maltreated
b) Beaten down
c) Set free
6. The restoration of the year of jubilee
(NKJV) Luke 4 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
all debt was forgiven, slaves were given their freedom, and ancestral lands were given back to its original family. The Year of Jubilee allowed for a new start
a) Declare a new beginning – dawn of a new age
7. Not yet the time of judgment
20 Then He closed the book,
a) Did not complete the passage “proclaim the day of vengeance of our God”
b) Time is coming – not yet
C. Hope found in a person
1. Attention on Him
20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. and the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them,
a) Stand to read / sit to teach
b) All eyes fixed with anticipation
c) Began to say – turning point of the passage – said more than what recorded
2. Opportunity for salvation is now
20 … “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
a) Long anticipated event is now
b) Today
c) This moment – Being fulfilled while you are listening
d) Implies responsibility to respond at this time to this opportunity
3. Salvation from the person speaking
20 … “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
a) From the one speaking
b) Not the system but from the one anointed one
c) Salvation is coming through the person of Jesus
III. Missing out on the blessings
A. A self sufficient people
(NKJV) Luke 4 22 So all bore witness to Him,
1. Unlike the needy of the passage
2. knowledgeable
3. self sufficient
4. Religious
5. in denial of their deep seated needs
B. Impressed with the words
(NKJV) Luke 4 22 … and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.
1. (Words of grace)
2. Pleasing words – good speaker
3. words of God’s grace
C. Solution too familiar to see the truth
22 … And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”
1. I am amazed such wonderful words are coming from Joseph’s son
2. How can he say these things – he’s only Joseph’s son
3. Not expecting great things
4. Truth so familiar that it is not embraced
D. Placed demands on God
23 He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.’ ”
1. Jealous over apparent blessings given others
2. Looking for proof
3. Unbelief – come to me on my terms – not trusting Him on His terms
4. Must embrace God’s word by faith not through proofs – proof of the prophet is in the message not in the signs
E. Missed it by unbelief
24 Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.
25 But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; 26 but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”
1. Word play - An acceptable message – not an acceptable prophet
a) Want the blessing – not the person
2. No exclusive claim on the promises
a) Times of unbelief of the people who God had given the truth
b) Received no benefit from only the proximity of the prophet or knowledge of the message
c) Missed opportunity to enjoy the blessing of God because of unbelief
3. God takes blessings to others who will receive the message
a) So God ministered in grace outside Israel (religious community) to Gentiles who embrace the prophet and his message
b) The work of God continues regardless of rejection by the privileged
4. Reject the prophet miss the blessing
F. Rejection turned to antagonism
28 So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff.
1. They got the message
a) Comparing them to unresponsive lepers and widows
b) Insiders will be left out
c) Will take the message to outsiders
2. Rejected the truth
a) From impressed to murderous
b) Intense anger
3. Reject the message – reject the messenger
a) Forced him out of the city
b) Intent to take him to one of the ledges outside the city and stone Him
c) Kill Him and on Sunday - for telling them the truth
G. Missed their opportunity
30 Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.