Matthew 13:53-58 / The Saddest Sentence in Scripture.

“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.”
For most of Matthew 13, Jesus is teaching the disciples and a large crowd about the incredible value and worth of the Kingdom of God.

Through several parables, Jesus illustrates that some would find this Kingdom and be richly blessed, but others would miss it for various reasons. Those who miss it would “hear but never understand” and “see but not perceive.”

Over and over again throughout the chapter, Jesus emphasizes the value of His Kingdom – It is a pearl of great price, a hidden treasure, a mustard seed that grows, a tree that provides a place of rest, the yeast that makes a loaf of bread grow and grow.

Life, value, rest, growth, and treasures unknown.

And then we get to verse 53, where Jesus had returned to his hometown and began teaching in the synagogue.

Although the leaders of the synagogue were “astonished” by what he was teaching, they dismissed what he said because they knew where he came from. In the caste system of the day, a carpenter’s son was not meant to lecture religious leaders on the Scriptures.

And because of this familiarity, they took offense to the wisdom and works Jesus was performing.

And then comes the saddest sentence in Scripture:

“And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.”

Because they thought they knew who Jesus was, they did not believe he could do great things.

It’s easier to fall back on our past knowledge of who we think Jesus is, than keep pushing in faith for what He can do.

If you grew up reading Bible stories or singing Jesus loves me, the raw and real Jesus of Scripture might be so familiar he seems tame.

But Jesus Christ, God’s own Son, ushered in the Kingdom of God – which is God’s rule and reign on earth. He started a movement that has continued from the disciples to us today and will continue until He comes back in power. He has power over nature, over evil spirits, over death, and over the Devil – who He will one day ultimately defeat.

Please don’t limit the scope of what Jesus can do in your life and the life of others because He is familiar. The box you’ve placed Him in is too small.

Ask Him for mighty works in your life, believe he can do those mighty works, and then live your life as a reflection of your faith.

What “mighty work” do you need to believe God for today?

With much love,

Pastor Dave

If you want to dig deeper into this, need help, need prayer, or have questions—please reach out to us here: Roots Help & Prayer Form

Corinn ElliffJanuary 26, 2021