Sermon in the Nazareth synagogue.

(Luke 14:16-30).

This event is described by Evangelist Luke at the very beginning of the Lord’s sermon, though there is a short narrative before that: “and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all (Luke 4:14-15). In view of this, as well as the narrative on this event, it can be seen that the Lord came to Nazareth long before the very beginning of His public ministry (which one could have thought) and after many miracles, performed by Him in Capernaum, as mentioned in the above. On the other hand, Evangelists Matthew and Mark appear to refer to this event as being at a later period of time. However, such noted interpreters of the Bible, as Bishop (now Saint) Theophan the Recluse, regard that the Lord’s visit to Nazareth — as described by Saint Matthew in 13:53-58, and Saint Mark in 6:1-6 — is a different visit as narrated by Saint Luke. And indeed, with all the similarities in the descriptions of the visit, there are also substantial differences. In general, it must be said that it is almost impossible to establish a completely accurate and indisputable chronological flow of the Gospel’s events - in as much as each Evangelist had his own system of relating events that conformed to his determined task before him, while the chronological exactness of events was not of great importance to them.

Upon entering the Nazareth synagogue, the Lord began to read that part of Isaiah’s book, where the Prophet speaks figuratively in the role of the Messiah, about the purpose of His coming. Speaking through the lips of the Messiah, the Prophet states that He was sent by God to proclaim to the beggars, the poor and the unfortunate that to them, the Kingdom of God is at hand — the Kingdom of love and mercy. The Jews were in no doubt that the prophecy referred to the Messiah. Therefore, when the Lord Jesus said, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing,” there remained nothing but for them to acknowledge Him as the Messiah. And indeed many - knowing and recalling His many miracles - were ready to accept Him as the Messiah. But among those in the synagogue, there were undoubtedly those Scribes and Pharisees that were antagonistically disposed toward the Lord. They had a false perception of the coming Messiah as a mighty, though earthly king, national leader of the Jewish people, who would place all other peoples under Jewish rule, and make His confidantes — Scribes and Pharisees — as leaders of the regime. The Lord’s teachings on the kingdom of the poor and penitent hearts were totally unacceptable to them. Likewise, the rest of them, while they delighted in the Lord’s sermons, knew Him from His childhood days as the son of a poor carpenter and therefore hesitated to acknowledge Him as the Messiah. They were just amazed at His wisdom and at the miracles that He performed — instead of believing in Him. Thereupon the Lord, not wishing to resort to miracles to prove His Divine coming before the unbelievers, brought two examples from the ancient history on Prophets Elijah and Elisha, explaining through observation, that those present were not worthy of those miracles and signs upon which they were relying on. Hearing such bitter truth and comprehending from the Lord’s words (Whom they have grown accustomed to regard as their equal, but not higher) that it is they, the proud Jews that He regards as lower than Heathens they “were filled with wrath.” They drove Him out of the city and attempted to put Him to death by throwing Him off a cliff on which the city was situated. But they were withheld from this atrocity, by the power of God and “He went His way.”