Matthew 13 - 11.19.25

Scripture

Matthew 13:54-58

Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”

And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Observation

The people of Nazareth could see Jesus’ wisdom and power. But the Jesus they saw didn’t match what they thought they knew of him, so they rejected him. Because of their lack of faith, the people of Nazareth lost out on their miracles. Another version says, “And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.”

Do we make assumptions about Jesus – who he is, what he does or doesn’t want to do – that cause us to miss out on what Jesus can do? Do we make assumptions that because he doesn’t work in the way we expect him to, that he is not at work? Do we reject his teachings or the things he speaks to us because they’re not the answer we want to hear?

Application

In Matthew 21:22, Jesus said, Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. We must ask in faith believing he has the power to answer our prayers.

In Matthew 7:7, Jesus said, Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. We must earnestly seek his presence and follow his instructions.

1 John 5:14-15 says, This is the confidence we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. We must believe that if we are seeking his will, he will hear us, whether or not we see the results we are expecting.

Prayer

Jesus, I don’t want to miss out on miracles! Help me not to come to you with preconceived expectations, but to come to you earnestly seeking to know you and your will. Help me to be open and teachable, not to close my ears when I am confronted with truth. As I spend time with you, reveal yourself to me more and more.

- Debbie Dunn