PER161

Return to Nazareth

The second return of Jesus to Nazareth (March AD 32) is recounted by Matthew and Mark. Despite his teaching in the synagogue, the townspeople reject him because of their familiarity with him and his family. Their lack of faith limits his miracles. Jesus utters the famous saying: ‘A prophet is despised only in his own country.’ Mark adds details absent from Matthew: the presence of the disciples and Jesus’ astonishment at their unbelief.

7 min Nazareth return rejection faith miracle 6 verses 2 books

Resources

You can consult:

ANN078: The parables

Biblical texts

Matthew

Matthew 13.54-58 (King James Version)

And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their , insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

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.

And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Mark

Mark 6.1-6 (King James Version)

And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.

And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the : and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Luke

Luke (King James Version) not cited in the book

John

John (King James Version) not cited in the book

Technical details

Location: Nazareth in Galilee

Date: March AD 32

Method: We now follow Mark

Note on the method: Mark's chronology seems to be the most realistic.

For the second time, Jesus the Messiah returns to Nazareth, the town of his childhood.

Return to Nazareth

Let us now compare these two passages.

This is therefore the second time that Jesus the Messiah returns to Nazareth, according to the information given by the Gospels. It is possible, however, that he returned there without the authors of the Gospels having thought it necessary to mention it.

On the first occasion (PER050), Jesus was the target of an assassination attempt that failed unexpectedly.

This time, even though the welcome is not cordial, at least the extremists did not try to kill him. He can even proclaim his message in the on the day of the . But Mark and Matthew nevertheless stress that Jesus the Messiah was an obstacle to his family; they use the same expression. This is not surprising, since Mark and the apostle Peter take up the Gospel of Matthew to adapt it for non-Jews.

The expression used in Mark 6.5 is particularly intriguing: “He could do no miracle there, except that he healed a few sick people by laying his hands on them.” This statement can be interpreted as follows: Jesus the Messiah performed some miracles, but not as many as he would have wished. These people were truly in need of deliverance and were not healed because of their lack of faith. This situation must have affected Jesus the Messiah, given the elements mentioned earlier (PER160).

The words of Jesus the Messiah, “A prophet is despised only in his own country and in his own family,” proved to be true. This saying has become well known and is often quoted without people knowing that it comes from Jesus the Messiah.

The miracles referred to in Mark 6.2 must have taken place in Capernaum and not in Nazareth.

We see that part of the population was reluctant to accept the words of Jesus the Messiah despite the miracles he had performed.

Let us now compare these two passages.

Matthew 13.54-58

• Context: Jesus returns to his hometown, Nazareth.

• Reaction of the townspeople: They are amazed at his wisdom and his miracles, but they reject him because they know him as the carpenter’s son and know his family. Their familiarity with Jesus prevents them from believing in him.

• Theme: Jesus performs only a few miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Mark 6.1-6

• Context: Jesus returns to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples.

• Reaction of the townspeople: As in Matthew, they are surprised by his teaching and his miracles, but they reject him because they know him and know his family.

• Theme: Jesus is astonished at their lack of faith and can perform only a few miracles there, except to heal a few sick people by laying on hands.

Comparison

1. Reaction of the townspeople:

Matthew and Mark both describe the astonishment of the townspeople at the wisdom and miracles of Jesus, followed by their rejection of him because of their familiarity with him and his family.

2. Jesus and the miracles:

Matthew specifies that Jesus performs only a few miracles because of their lack of faith.
_Mark adds that Jesus is astonished at their lack of faith and mentions that he heals a few sick people by laying on hands. He also mentioned having visited other villages in the surrounding area.

3. The presence of the disciples:

Mark specifies that Jesus is accompanied by his disciples, whereas Matthew does not mention their presence.

Both passages show the difficulty that Jesus the Messiah met in being accepted in his own town, stressing that the townspeople’s familiarity with him and his family hindered their faith in him. Mark provides additional details about the reaction of the townspeople and the presence of the disciples.

Retour à Nazareth. Le second retour de Jésus à Nazareth (mars de l'an 32) est relaté par Matthieu et Marc. Malgré ses enseignements dans la synagogue, les habitants le rejettent en raison de leur familiarité avec lui et sa famille. Le manque de foi limite ses miracles. Jésus prononce la célèbre parole : 'Un prophète n'est méprisé que dans sa patrie.' Marc ajoute des détails absents chez Matthieu : la présence des disciples et l'étonnement de Jésus face à l'incrédulité. Comparons maintenant ces deux passages. Il s'agit donc de la deuxième fois que le Messie Jésus retourne à Nazareth, selon les informations fournies par les Évangiles. Il est toutefois possible qu'il y soit retourné sans que les auteurs des Évangiles aient jugé nécessaire de le mentionner. Lors du premier événement (PER050), Jésus a été la cible d'une tentative d'assassinat qui a échoué de manière inattendue. Cette fois ci même si l’accueil n’est pas cordial au moins les extrémistes n’ont pas tenté de le tuer. Il peut même annoncer son message dans la synagogue le jour du sabbat. Mais Marc et Matthieu soulignent néanmoins que le Messie Jésus représentait un obstacle pour sa famille, ils utilisent la même expression. Cela n’est pas étonnant dans la mesure ou Marc et l’apôtre Pierre reprennent l’évangile de Matthieu pour l’adapter au non-Juifs. L'expression utilisée dans Marc 6, verset 5 est particulièrement intrigante : « Il ne put faire là aucun miracle, si ce n’est qu’il guérit quelques malades en posant les mains sur eux ». Cette affirmation peut être interprétée de la manière suivante : le Messie Jésus a accompli certains miracles, mais pas autant qu'il l'aurait désiré. Ces gens avaient réellement besoin de délivrance et n’ont pas été guéris à cause de leur manque de foi. Cette situation devait affecter le Messie Jésus compte tenu des éléments précédemment mentionnés (PER160). Les paroles du Messie Jésus, « Un prophète n’est méprisé que dans sa patrie et dans sa famille », se sont avérées exactes. Cette citation est devenue bien connue et est souvent reprise sans que les personnes sachent qu'elle provient du Messie Jésus. Les miracles évoqués par Marc 6, verset 2 devaient avoir eu lieu à Capernaüm et non à Nazareth. Nous constatons qu'une partie de la population était réticente à accepter les paroles du Messie Jésus malgré les miracles accomplis. Comparons maintenant ces deux passages. Matthieu 13, versets 54 à 58 • Contexte : Jésus retourne dans sa ville natale, Nazareth. • Réaction des habitants : Ils sont étonnés par sa sagesse et ses miracles, mais ils le rejettent parce qu'ils le connaissent comme le fils du charpentier et connaissent sa famille. Leur familiarité avec Jésus les empêche de croire en lui. • Thème : Jésus ne fait que peu de miracles là-bas en raison de leur manque de foi. Marc 6, versets 1 à 6 • Contexte : Jésus retourne dans sa ville natale, accompagné de ses disciples. • Réaction des habitants : Comme dans Matthieu, ils sont surpris par ses enseignements et ses miracles, mais ils le rejettent parce qu'ils le connaissent et connaissent sa famille. • Thème : Jésus est étonné de leur manque de foi et il ne peut faire que peu de miracles là-bas, sauf guérir quelques malades en imposant les mains. Comparaison 1. Réaction des habitants : Matthieu et Marc décrivent tous deux l'étonnement des habitants face à la sagesse et aux miracles de Jésus, suivi de leur rejet en raison de leur familiarité avec lui et sa famille. 2. Jésus et les miracles : Matthieu précise que Jésus ne fait que peu de miracles à cause de leur manque de foi. _Marc ajoute que Jésus est étonné de leur manque de foi et mentionne qu'il guérit quelques malades en imposant les mains. Il a également mentionné avoir visité d'autres villages dans les environs. 3. La présence des disciples : Marc précise que Jésus est accompagné de ses disciples, alors que Matthieu ne mentionne pas leur présence. Les deux passages montrent la difficulté que le Messie Jésus a rencontrée à être accepté dans sa propre ville, soulignant que la familiarité des habitants avec lui et sa famille a entravé leur foi en lui. Marc apporte des détails supplémentaires sur la réaction des habitants et la présence des disciples.