08-15-2021 Rejection...

Attaboys and Acclaim do not Impress our Lord (Luke 4:20-22)

Luke 4:20–22 ESV

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”

Initial Positive Response Does NOT Guarantee Acceptance of Jesus’ Message, Ministry or Messianic Role

So, Let’s stop for a moment: Where do YOU stand in regard to Jesus claim in this passage?

Called Out and Dressed Down their FAILURE to ACCEPT (Luke 4:23-27)

Luke 4:23–27 ESV

23 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘ “Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’ ” 24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

Apparently, Jesus was not impressed by their “gracious words” (v. 22)

The Problem may not be initially clear, but these folks were DEMANDING PROOF (v. 23)

Jesus begins his rebuke with Amin - “I am telling you the exact truth.” Amēn means “so be it” and is also used to confirm the truth at the end of a prayer, meaning, “May it be so.”

He then COMPARES their immediate rejection (spiritual…) with Israel’s Rejection during the ministries of Elijah 1 Kings 18:8-12, and Elisha 2 Kings 5:1-14

Rejection of God’s Prophet IS REJECTION OF GOD (thus rejecting the recorded message of Scripture about Jesus IS REJECTION OF JESUS

In this case, Israel is coming under Divine Judgment and eventually Divine Hardening

They Get Worked up into a Death Frenzy and attempt to kill Him, but He escapes… (foreshadowing the Cross, They Kill but He escapes through Resurrection

Round Two… (Mark 6:1-6; Matthew 13:53-58)

Mark 6:1–6 ESV

1 He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works 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 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” 5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.

Matthew 13:53–58 ESV

53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, 54 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? 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 these things?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” 58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

Unbelief does NOT control God...