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MATTHEW - Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand!
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Matthew
PART 2 - Christ teaches and Ministers in Galilee (Matthew 5:1 - 18:35)
D - The Unbelieving Jews and Their Enmity to Jesus (Matthew 11:2 - 18:35)
2. The Spiritual Growth of the Kingdom of Heaven: Christ Teaches in Parables (Matthew 13:1-58) -- The Third Collection of the Words of Jesus

f) Jesus Rejected at Nazareth (Matthew 13:54-58)


MATTHEW 13:54-58
54 Coming into his own country, 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 Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers, James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 56 Aren’t all of his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all of these things?” 57 They were offended by him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and in his own house.” 58 He didn’t do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
(Mark 6:1-6, Luke 4:16-30, John 6:42; 4:44)

Christ went up to Nazareth, the city of His childhood, to call its people into the kingdom of heaven. He joined them in their synagogue where He used to sit wondering. But now He testifies for Himself, before the astonished people, that He is the bearer of the Spirit of the Lord Himself, and that He is the expected and promised Messiah (Luke 4:18-19). Jesus taught contrary to traditional commentators, because God’s power dwelt in him. Hearts trembled and the people became confused, for the Spirit of the Lord reproached their hearts and they felt the presence and the call of the Holy One.

But their minds did not submit to Jesus, for Jesus never attended one of the theological seminaries in Jerusalem, obtained any degree from jurists and scholars, or came to them with a sack filled with gold. His family was humble, neither rich nor educated, but poor and simple. His adopting father, Joseph the carpenter, died early. So the notable people of the city did not submit to Him. Their conceit and pride in their own high-class families prevented them from believing Him.

We read in this passage the names of Jesus’ brothers and sisters. Some commentators say that those were Jesus’ cousins, or adopted brothers. The evangelist Matthew wrote nothing on this subject, but testified that Jesus had, at least, four brothers and three sisters that were probably married.

Jesus’ brothers were instigated by the spies of the supreme council in Jerusalem. They once claimed before the multitudes that their brother, Jesus, was crazy. They even tried to stop His service to safeguard His life from the fundamentalists and extremists. Christ did not find faith or love with His friends and relatives, though none of them could ever convict Him of any sin, for if they could they would have done so. Christ lived since His childhood with full purity and meekness.

After the meeting, some poor and despised people came to Him, and He healed them to show them His divine source. Yet where there is no faith, Christ would not be able to work and deliver. Would you prevent Him, through your unbelief, from spreading His kingdom into your city? Why do not you submit to Him completely and honor Him with constant faith and love?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, Our merciful Savior, You won our hearts by Your love, and they are willingly submitted to You. Please create in us an abiding faith, so that Your kingdom may be built through us, the weak. Help us not to prevent the growth of Your kingdom in our surroundings, but to obey You with all Your followers in our nation.

QUESTION:

  1. What are the names of Jesus’ brothers, and what is the number of His sisters, according to the text of the gospel written by Matthew?

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