Luke 4:24
And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
Biblical history confirms this pattern. Joseph's brothers rejected him before God exalted him (Genesis 37). Moses was rejected by Israelites before becoming their deliverer (Exodus 2:14, Acts 7:25-29). David was despised by his brothers before his anointing (1 Samuel 16:11, 17:28). Jeremiah faced rejection in his hometown Anathoth (Jeremiah 11:21-23). This pattern demonstrates that God's calling contradicts human assessment. Those closest often resist God's elevation of the familiar to prophetic office because it disrupts social hierarchies and exposes their own spiritual blindness.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does familiarity so often breed contempt for God's messengers, and how can you guard against this tendency?
- How does Jesus' rejection in Nazareth foreshadow Israel's rejection of Messiah and the gospel going to the Gentiles?
- What does this principle teach about judging spiritual matters by outward appearance versus spiritual discernment?
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Analysis & Commentary
Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. The solemn formula amēn legō hymin (ἀμήν λέγω ὑμῖν, truly I say to you) introduces authoritative pronouncement. Jesus states a universal principle: prophets face rejection among those who knew them before their calling. The verb dektos (δεκτός, accepted/welcome) indicates not merely tolerated but genuinely received with honor and belief.
This principle applied supremely to Jesus. Nazareth's rejection foreshadows Israel's rejection of Messiah. Familiarity blinds people to God's work in their midst. They judge by outward appearance (John 7:24) rather than recognizing divine authority. Jesus' own brothers didn't believe in Him until after the resurrection (John 7:5). The hometown rejection previews the ultimate rejection—"He came unto his own, and his own received him not" (John 1:11).