And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house.
And they were offended in him – That is, they took offence at his humble birth, and at the indigent circumstances of his family. They were too proud to be taught by one who, in family connections, they took to be their equal or inferior. People always look with envy on those of their own rank who advance pretensions to uncommon wisdom or superior power.
A prophet is not without honour … – This seems to be a proverbial expression. Jesus advances it as a general truth. There might be some exceptions to it, but He was not an exception. Everywhere else he had been more honored than at home. There they knew his family. They had seen his humble life. They had been his companions. They were envious of his wisdom, and were too proud to be taught by him. A case remarkably similar to this occurs in the history of the discovery of America. Columbus, a native of Genoa, had by patient study conceived the idea that there was a vast continent which might be reached by sailing to the west. Of this his countrymen had no belief. Learned people had long studied the science of geography, and they had never imagined that such a continent could exist; and they were indignant that He, an obscure man, should suppose that he possessed wisdom superior to all the rest of mankind united. It was accordingly a fact that he was obliged to seek for patrons of his undertaking out of his own country; that there he received his first honors; and to other kingdoms the discoveries of the obscure Genoese gave their chief wealth and highest splendor.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 57. And they were offended in him.] They took offence at him, , making the meanness of his family the reason why they would not receive him as a prophet, though they were astonished at his wisdom, and at his miracles, Mt 13:54. So their pride and their envy were the causes of their destruction.
A prophet is not without honour] This seems to have been a proverbial mode of speech, generally true, but not without some exceptions. The apparent meanness of our Lord was one pretence why they rejected him; and yet, God manifested in the flesh, humbling himself to the condition of a servant, and to the death of the cross, is the only foundation for the salvation of a lost world. Perhaps our Lord means, by prophet, in this place, himself alone, as if he had said, My ministry is more generally reputed, and my doctrine better received, in any other part of the land than in my own country, among my own relatives; because, knowing the obscurity of my birth, they can scarcely suppose that I have these things from heaven.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And they were offended in him,…. It was a stumbling to them, how he came by his wisdom and power; since he had not these things from men of learning, and could not have them from his relatives: and therefore, rather than believe he had them of himself, or from God, they chose to indulge at least a suspicion, that he had them from the devil, and so were offended in him: or this offence was taken at the meanness of his birth, parentage, and education, though without reason; for if without the advantage of an education without human literature, and the instructions of men, he was able to expound the Scriptures, preach such doctrine, and deliver such words of wisdom, and confirm all this by miracles, and mighty works, they ought to have considered him as a divine person, and all this, as a demonstration of it, and of his having a divine mission at least, and of his being raised up by God for extraordinary purposes.
But Jesus said unto them; being unmoved at their offence in him, and contempt of him, which was no other than what he expected:
a prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house; which seems to be a proverbial speech in common use, though I have not met with it in Jewish writings; showing, that a prophet, or any teacher, or preacher, generally speaking, is more esteemed among strangers, who have no personal pique, nor prejudices against him, and who judge of him, not by what he has been, but by his present abilities, doctrine, and conduct, than among his countrymen; who are apt to think meanly of him, because familiarly acquainted with him, and knew, if not his vices, yet his infirmities, and envy him any superior degree of honour to them, he has attained unto. I say, generally speaking, for this is not always the case on either side; sometimes a prophet is affronted and abused in strange places, as Christ himself was: and sometimes is received with esteem and applause among his countrymen, relations, and acquaintance; but this is rare and uncommon; the proverb respects what is usually and ordinarily done, and the truth of it is easy to be observed.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
And they were offended in him ( ). Graphic imperfect passive. Literally, “They stumbled at him,” “They were repelled by him” (Moffatt), “They turned against him” (Weymouth). It was unpardonable for Jesus not to be commonplace like themselves.
Not without honour ( ). This is a proverb found in Jewish, Greek, and Roman writers. Seen also in the Logia of Jesus (Oxyr. Papyri i. 3).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And they were offended in him,” (kai eskandalizonto en auto) “And they came to be offended in him,” Mr 6:3; Mat 11:6; though those are blessed who are not offended in Him, 1Pe 2:7-8. “Familiarity breeds contempt.” Ought they not to have been proud of Jesus, their countryman? Isa 53:3.
2) “But Jesus said unto them,” (ho de lesous eipen autois) “Then Jesus said directly to them,” to those in His own -home synagogue, from where He had gone out when He began His public ministry, Luk 4:16-21.
3) “A prophet is not without honor,” (ouk estin prophets atimos) “A prophet does not exist unhonored,” without an high regard or respect for his calling and prophetic testimony, Mr 6:4; Joh 4:44; Luk 4:24.
4) “Save in his own country,” (eimme en te patridi) “Except in his (own) native town,” or home community, Mr 6:4; Not only did our Lord’s family, but also His Jewish family race, reject Him, Joh 1:11; Joh 5:43. A true prophet will have honor somewhere.
5) “And in his own house.” (kai en te oikia autou) “And in his own residence,” in and among his own household, Mr 6:4 adds, “And among his own kin, and in his own house.” While Joh 7:5 adds concerning Jesus, “For neither did his brethren believe in him.”
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
57. A prophet is not devoid of honor. I have explained this statement at considerable length, where it occurs in the Gospel of John, (348) (Joh 4:44.) It may, no doubt, be a general proverb, that those who are distinguished by eminent gifts are nowhere held in less estimation than in their own country; and this manifests the ingratitude of men, who, in proportion to the greater familiarity with which God exhibits himself to them, are the more bold to reject him in the influences of his Spirit. I readily agree, however, with Chrysostom, who thinks that this proverb was applied in a peculiar manner to the Jews. But what was usually spoken against the whole nation, Christ now asserts with special reference to his Galilean countrymen; for nowhere did he receive less honor than on his native soil. There were good grounds for the charge which he brings against them, that, instead of being the first to accept the grace offered to them, as they ought to have been, they drive him to a distance from them; for it is truly extraordinary that a prophet of God, whom others warmly receive as a newly-arrived stranger, should be despised in the place where he was born.
(348) Our Author’s Preface to his Commentary on John’s Gospel is dated 1 January 1553; while the Preface to the Harmony is dated 1 August 1555. This accounts for the former being always referred to as an earlier work. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(57) They were offended in him.The word is used in the same sense as in Mat. 11:6. They could not reconcile the new wisdom and the claim which the teaching implied with the obscurity and commonness of the earlier life, and so they did not believe.
A prophet is not without honour . . . The words in St. Mark include among his kindred. The proverb seems to have been one often on our Lords lips, and obviously tells of a prolonged experience of indifference and unbelief in all their many forms. In Joh. 4:44, it appears, in a context which presents some difficulty, as giving the reason why our Lord, on leaving Juda, went into Galilee.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
57. Offended in him They were stumbled at this apparent superiority in one they would have to be no better than themselves. A stupid pride blinded their hearts.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And they were offended in him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour, except in his own country, and in his own house.”
And the result was that they ‘were offended in Him’. That is they were ‘caused to stumble’ by Him. They were put off by the very fact of His familiarity, which had bred contempt, and they were upset by His attitude. The point here is that they are not of the ‘blessed’ (Mat 11:6). They were so short sighted that they could not see what was before their eyes. Here was a mirror image of what John says in the introduction to his Gospel, ‘He came to His own home, and His own people did not receive Him’ (Joh 1:11).
Jesus’ reply was to cite a well known proverb. His view was that this was to be expected. “A prophet is not without honour, except in his own country, and in his own house.” For no one was seen as special by his familiars when it came to questions about God. The older ones would think that they must know more than he did, while the younger ones would fail to see where he could have obtained the information from, from the sources available, and why He should claim to be better than them when He had grown up with them. Note the clear implication that He is a prophet. Matthew in fact lays great emphasis on prophets, both true and false, and it has already been made clear by Jesus that He is greater than previous prophets (Mat 12:41). This is a time of prophetic expectations (compare Mat 14:5) as Jesus is making clear.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Christ’s behavior in this crisis:
v. 57. And they were offended in Him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country and in his own house.
v. 58. And He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. The offense which they took discredited only themselves; their pride and their envy caused their own destruction. Christ therefore merely calls to their mind the proverbial saying as to a prophet’s being without honor in his own home. Their unbelief grieved Him very deeply. He had made every effort in their behalf, but their rejection made further endeavors useless. The number of His miracles was greatly reduced, restricted to the few exceptional cases in which belief was evident. The unbelief and contempt of the people of Nazareth drove Jesus out of their midst; they did not recognize God’s visitation of grace.
Summary. Christ teaches the people, but especially His disciples, by means of the parables of the fourfold soil, of the wheat and the tares, of the grain of mustard seed, of the hidden treasure, of the pearl of great price, of the net with fish, and of the householder, and makes a visit to Nazareth, where He is rejected.
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Mat 13:57. And they were offended in him The Nazarenes, not being able to reconcile the miracles, and wisdom of our Lord with the meanness of his birth, were full of doubts and uncertainties; they could not tell what to say or think of him, suspecting perhaps that he was a sorcerer. The word unbelief, used in the next verse, serves to explain all this. And we learn from Luk 4:22 that, notwithstanding their unbelief, they could not forbear praising and admiring him. Dr. Doddridge renders the next clause, “A prophet is no where less esteemed than in his own country, and among his relations, even in his own family;” which is plainly the sense of the words, though ours is a literal translation: for a prophet may be, and oftenis, affronted at a distance from home, as our Saviour himself found by frequent experience. (See Joh 4:44. Luk 4:24.) The expression is proverbial, signifying that those who possess extraordinary endowments are no where in less request than among their relations and acquaintance. The reason is, superior work never fails to be envied; and envy, ever industrious in its search, commonly finds some way or other to turn the knowledge it has of persons to their disadvantage.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
Ver. 57. A prophet is not without honour, &c. ] This was an ordinary saying of our Saviour’s, recorded by all four evangelists, and is therefore much to be marked. How common is it for familiarity to breed contempt! for men to scorn their own things, because at hand, though never so excellent and useful, to admire foreign things, though nothing comparable. Our corrupt nature heeds nothing we enjoy, as the eye seeth nothing that lies on it. Copy of the best things breeds satiety. God therefore usually teacheth us the worth of them by the want. Bona a tergo fere formosissima, Good things are most beautiful on the backside.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mat 13:57 . roverb, not Jewish merely, but common property of mankind; examples from Greek and Roman authors in Pricaeus and Wetstein, including one from Pindar about fame fading at the family hearth (Olymp. Ode, xii. 3).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
offended = stumbled.
in = at. Greek. en.
his own house. His own family: “house” being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for the family dwelling within it.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Mat 13:57. , they were offended) as it happens with those who observe one thing, but neglect to observe another, which ought rather to have been observed.-, …, a prophet, etc.) In a prophet there are two parts: the one which he possesses in common with others, ordinary, natural, domestic; the other, which is peculiar to his calling, heavenly, spiritual, public. Those who know the former do not observe the latter. Familiarity breeds contempt. Such is the case in our own country, much more so in our home.-, contemned) The contempt which a prophet meets with elsewhere, is not contempt if it be compared with that which he meets with in his own country; elsewhere he certainly receives some honour.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
they: Mat 11:6, Isa 8:14, Isa 49:7, Isa 53:3, Mar 6:3, Luk 2:34, Luk 2:35, Luk 7:23, Joh 6:42, Joh 6:61, 1Co 1:23-28
A prophet: Mar 6:14, Luk 4:24, Joh 4:44, Act 3:22, Act 3:23, Act 7:37-39, Act 7:51, Act 7:52
Reciprocal: Mat 13:21 – is Mat 24:10 – shall many Mar 6:4 – General Joh 16:1 – General Rom 9:32 – they stumbled
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
3:57
Offended is from SKANDA-LIZO and Thayer’s definition at this place is, “To find occasion of stumbling,” and he explains his definition to mean, “To see in another what hinders me from acknowledging his authority.” Jesus uttered the familiar proverb about a prophet’s honor in his own country. People are inclined to have more, respect for a teacher who is unknown to them than for their acquaintances. Jesus did not state any reason for this and hence I am unable to explain it.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 13:57. And they were offended in him, made to stumble. They were led into error and sin with regard to Him.
A prophet is not without honor, etc. The rejection is accounted for by a proverbial expression, verified by human experience. Familiarity breeds contempt, Distance lends enchantment to the view, are still more general expressions of the same principle.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Usually a person enjoys a better reception a home than anywhere else, except if he has attained an exalted position, in which case the opposite is often true. Jesus could not do many miracles there because to do so was contrary to His mission. He did miracles to create and to strengthen faith in Himself. When settled unbelief reigned, there was no point in doing miracles.
The point of this section is to show that even those who knew Jesus best refused to believe on Him.
"Jesus led a perfect life and still had family members and friends who struggled to believe. Sometimes those most difficult to reach are those who know us best." [Note: Bailey, in The New . . ., p. 30.]