53 “And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, 54 and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” (Matt. 13:53-56 ESV).
Today’s passage parallels Mark 6:1-6. Jesus left Capernaum and travelled to His hometown, Nazareth (Matt. 2:19-23; Luke 2:39-40; John 1:43-46). It was while He was there that He taught in their synagogue. Neither Matthew nor Mark reveal from what biblical text Jesus taught. However, both disclose the peoples’ response to Jesus’ teaching.
The attendees in the synagogue were astonished. To be astonished (ἐκπλήσσω; ekplesso) is a present, passive infinitive verb. It literally means to strike. Jesus, and His teaching, struck the people with great amazement. They were filled with wonder.
The congregation’s seven recorded, rhetorical questions evidence their astonishment. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?”
“The one place we might expect Jesus to receive a warm welcome is in Nazareth, the town in which He was raised (Matt. 2:19–23). The people of Nazareth (Jesus’ “hometown,” 13:54) are amazed at the wisdom and power of the carpenter’s son. This is due to their familiarity with Jesus and His upbringing. They know His family well, and apparently no one in His clan is all that remarkable,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
“Lacking a formal education, Jesus should not be able to teach with the authority that He conveys. Yet Mary’s son is unafraid to instruct with boldness (vv. 55–56). We would therefore expect the people in Nazareth to experience awe when in the presence of Jesus, whose teaching demonstrates that He is the Holy One of God.”
Another observation from today’s text is that Mary had other children besides Jesus. These sons and daughters were Mary and Joseph’s naturally born children. Jesus had four brothers and at least two sisters since the noun is in the plural form. The Bible clearly rejects the perpetual virginity of Mary.
The people’s initial astonishment will become offense. Why? The answer will be forthcoming when next we meet.
Are you continually astonished by the Lord’s salvation of your soul by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone? May who Jesus is and what Jesus did continue to astonish each of us. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
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