1. Rejected in His Own Country
Matthew 13:53-58; Mark 6:1-6; Luke 4:16-30
Rejected in His Own Country
Jesus in Nazareth
The first 52 verses of Matthew record Jesus teaching multitudes near the Sea of Galilee (in Parables)
He then departs for his own country (Nazareth) (country not literal, the place where he was raised, the city of Nazareth).
(Matthew 2:19-23), “Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead." 21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene.“
On the occasion of our text, Luke writes, (Luke 4:16), “So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.”
Matthew 13:53-58, READ
They were offended by His teaching. Let us note some truths about our text.

2. “They were offended at His teaching”
Jesus was the Master teacher (54)
(Matthew 13:54), “When He had come to 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?”
The teaching of Jesus of Nazareth was different than that of other men!
[On another occasion] (Mark 1:21-22), “Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
His teaching was accompanied by mighty works!
[After casting out the demon from a blind mute, people asked, “Son of David”?] (Matthew 12:28), “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

3. “They were offended at His teaching”
Jesus was the Master teacher (54)
His message was Divine (57)
(Matthew 13:57), “But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.’“
Jesus was a prophet, His words were the words of God!
[Note: The prophets were commonly mistreated in Israel] (Acts 7:51-53), [Stephen to Jews], “You stiff- necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 53 who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.“
Jesus was the final prophet, His message the last message:
(Hebrews 1:1-2), “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds…”

4. “They were offended at His teaching”
Jesus was the Master teacher (54)
His message was Divine (57)
Yet, they rejected His words because of their prejudices! (55-57)
(Matthew 13:55-57), “’Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?’ 57 So they were offended at Him.”
(John 3:19-20), “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”
In this case, their prejudice was their familiarity with Him. They couldn’t bring themselves to believe that living among them was the Son of God.
Luke records that they actually sought to kill him!
(Luke 4: 28-30), “So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. 30 Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.”

5. Our Applications
A man’s mastery of the truth does not guarantee he will be heard!
When Jesus sent his disciples (limited commission), He told them they would be persecuted.
(Matthew 10:24-25), “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!”
Paul’s teachings were twisted because of the prejudices of his hearers!
(2 Peter 3:15-16), “our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.”
Despite having the truth, and loving men enough to share that truth, some will despise our efforts, and reject them.
(Mark 16:15-16), “And He said to them, " Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

6. Our Applications
A man’s mastery of the truth does not guarantee he will be heard!
The scripture is God’s word, not man’s!
(2 Peter 1:19-21), “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

7. Our Applications
A man’s mastery of the truth does not guarantee he will be heard!
The scripture is God’s word, not man’s!
We must overcome our prejudices and believe!
What prejudices are we talking about?
False doctrine (Calvinism, Denominationalism, AD 70, MDR)
(Ephesians 4:14-15), “That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.”
Cultural Influences (Modesty, Alcohol use, Entertainment)
[To be a Cretan was synonymous to being a liar. “To act the Cretan, is a proverb for to lie”] (Titus 1:10-13), “For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.”
Selfish desires (MDR best example… Want another mate)
[Rich young ruler] (Matthew 19:21-22), “Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.“ 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

8. Do not be guilty of rejecting Jesus of Nazareth!
Matthew 10:32-33; John 14:6
Conclusion
Do not be guilty of rejecting Jesus of Nazareth!
(Matthew 10:32-33), “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”
(John 14:6), [Jesus said to Thomas], "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”