A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house

Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that he departed from there.

When he had come into 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? Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And his brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man get all these things? So they were offended at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." Now he did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

- Matthew 13:53-58

Jesus has just finished teaching his famous parables of the Sower (Why do you speak to them in parables? and Therefore hear the parable of the sower), of the Wheat and the Tares (and its explanation here), the Mustard Seed and the Leaven, and the Hidden Treasure, the Pearl of Great Price and the Dragnet. In today's reading, he journeys to his hometown of Nazareth.

On today's passage, my study bible has the following note: "Even in his own country, Nazareth, Jesus finds not acceptance but rejection (see John 1:11). In their envy, although they can find no fault in his words and miracles, the Nazarenes dismiss him on the basis of the unimportance of his family."

Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that he departed from there. When he had come into 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? Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And his brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? My study bible teaches (in the note, above) that these questions of the Nazarenes in the synagogue are reflections of the humbleness of his family. The locals insist that they know full well who he is by the identity of his family members. Where then did this man get all these things? So they were offended at him. Where then did this man get all these things? How can he possibly know what he knows? How does he think he has any authority to teach? These are the questions we ask ourselves when someone comes in a humble package. Jesus is without qualifications. He doesn't cite a famous teacher under which he studies. He doesn't cite someone else's opinion (a recognized authority). Repeatedly in the gospels we are given a picture of Jesus who lives by his own authority - the scribes, Pharisees and others such as the Sadducees and Herodians do not recognize his authority either. He is a charismatic preacher, as was John the Baptist. Their popularity is among the poor and the common people, who listen with delight as Jesus pokes holes in the arguments of the Pharisees and scribes, and outdoes them with his own brilliant rhetoric and responses that stump them.

But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." Clearly, there are those who do appreciate him, who honor him - who will listen and find meaning and value in what he has to say. But these people go by the "package" - the outside: who he is in this case is only determined by the family he was born into. So, we take from this picture the understanding that what there is to a person - and especially to this person - is different from appearance, what is on the outside, the labels we put on people when we identify them only according to external circumstances. As my study bible points out, they can take no issue with what he teaches -- they are only offended at the fact that he has anything to teach at all, given his social circumstances with which they are familiar.

Now he did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. Their failure to recognize the value of what he has to say, the failure to see the person rather than the familiar figure of a relative of family members they know in their town, is the failure to perceive the truth. And hence, "he can perform no mighty works there because of their unbelief." This is the danger of judging by appearances, it affects the quality and understanding and depth of our faith. Can we recognize the value of what someone - in this case, Jesus - has to say? Do we need a familiar or accepted package? And if the package is too familiar, need we reject it? This seems to be a familiar pattern, as Jesus pronounces a saying that applies not only to himself, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." Perhaps it is a part of our human nature, or more likely a characteristic of our "fallenness" that we want to reject the truthful among us, the prophets who teach us where we need to change - those among us with insight. Perhaps it is simply a part of the pattern of rejection that typifies those who look elsewhere for treasure other than the heart that loves wisdom. One thing is certain, it is hard for us to see past the "package" and accept what has not already been endorsed by those whom we recognize as authoritative, especially when the package is humble.

It's interesting that this passage comes after the teaching in parables, referred to in the first paragraph, above. Jesus, and the evangelist, have been preparing us to understand that there are degrees of comprehension, degrees of reception of the wisdom of this kingdom and its teachings. Some will learn directly - as do the disciples who receive explanation of the parables and who heard the Sermon on the Mount. Some must learn indirectly through parables. As the parables teach in themselves, some of this audience for the parables will understand, and some will not. Some will take up the word with varying degrees of faith and zeal, some will fall away. But here, in Jesus' hometown, we have his complete rejection. He teaches in the synagogue, but they still can't take in, or accept what he has to say.

Repeatedly, Jesus will warn us about hypocrisy. His most scathing words are always for those religious hypocrites who live through external appearance. Included in this false understanding of what it is to love God, and to embrace truth and spiritual wisdom, therefore, must be this failure to accept what is wise and truthful and yet comes in a humble - and perhaps too familiar - package. Can we hear the new and important in someone who is not a recognized authority, not an endorsed speaker? Are we capable of discerning with our hearts? The people in Jesus' home country synagogue are those for whom their hearts are hardened by expectation, envy, and bad judgment. Can we keep our hearts open to discern what they cannot? For that, we need our eyes to be open every day - hearts and minds and spiritual eyes and ears to be attuned to what God is asking of us today, and where that message just might come from. In the Letter to the Hebrews, St. Paul says, "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." The same sentiment is expressed in today's passage - only in a far greater and deeper paradox. The familiar (Jesus) is the Transcendent (Son of Man). What do we fail to recognize without hearts that are open to hear, to see, and to receive? How does envy get in the way? What might you miss without the spiritual work of the heart that is always necessary as a part of our faith - and the experience of the relationship with our Father that is deeply personal, "in the secret place?"