He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. WHY NOT?

[Hopefully]

“When Jesus finished teaching with these stories, he left there. He went to the town where he grew up.
 

He taught the people in the synagogue, and they were amazed. They said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and this power to do miracles? Isn’t he just the son of the carpenter we know? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? And don’t all his sisters still live here in town?

How is he able to do these things?” So they had a problem accepting him. But Jesus said to them, “People everywhere give honor to a prophet, but in his own town or in his own home a prophet does not get any honor.”

Jesus did not do many miracles there, because the people did not believe in him.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13:53-58‬ ‭

[Mike Mclees]

 

 

 

When I was a yet a young believer, I had trouble with many things that confused me. The modern-day free world church was not like the early church I saw in scripture. While I was working one day I also was praying. The Lord spoke into my mind saying " Ignorance, apathy, and un-belief would destroy the church. Ignorance because they did not truly seek for knowledge, Apathy because they did not care to seek after it, and unbelief because they were molding more and more as the world. 

This scripture then came to me.  " My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.  Because they have rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee Hosea 4:6  

Tradition often becomes dead faith like the Bible that is never opened. So often we go to fellowship like robots and machines.  

Edited June 9, 2022 by Mike Mclees

[Heleadethme]

On 4/23/2022 at 7:26 PM, Michael37 said:

Better give surrounding verses:

John 1:6-14  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  (7)  This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.  (8)  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.  (9)  That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.  (10)  He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.  

(11)  He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.  

(12)  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: (13)  who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  (14)  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

This is something of a puzzle.

Yes, it truly is a mystery.  Jesus said no-one after tasting the old wine straight-way desires the new wine......this is why the new covenant had to be poured into new wineskins (Gentiles) who would afterwards bring the gospel to Jews. 

Rom 11:25

For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Rom 11:31-33

Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

 

[Starise]

On 4/23/2022 at 7:26 PM, Michael37 said:

Better give surrounding verses:

John 1:6-14  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  (7)  This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.  (8)  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.  (9)  That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.  (10)  He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.  

(11)  He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.  

(12)  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: (13)  who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  (14)  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

This is something of a puzzle.

Quoting this again for my own benefit. 

I have often thought these statements were only semi-inclusive because there were many Jews who accepted John the baptist's teachings on the Lord and they were baptized. Possibly these were stragglers, or a small percentage of the total population resulting in the minority of Jews accepting.

MANY of the Jews followed Christ, both before and after His death. One man hanging beside Him on the cross accepted Him.

The group who rejected Christ were "His Own", which I take to mean those of the Jewish people.Verse 12 " But as many as received Him" . What this says to me is a fair number followed Christ among the Jews. This leads me to the hope that even TODAY there is great potential among the Jewish people to find true believers in Christ.

I see two things developing here over time.

-World accepted religious hierarchy rejects Jesus. In this case it was the religious Jews.

-What seems to be a small percentage of persons in general are truly accepting of grass roots gospel Christianity. We have plenty of people who say they are Christians or who attend churches that are not really believers.

To truly accept Jesus is to take up His cross and follow Him. That "cross" is the rejection of most men. The world seeks a more comfortable way to God. A more accepting way. A way which attempts to make a hybrid religion that talks about God but never gets close to Him.

Edited June 9, 2022 by Starise

[missmuffet]

The Jews did not accept Jesus because He did not do what they expected their messiah to do. 

[Michael37]

7 hours ago, Starise said:

Quoting this again for my own benefit. 

I have often thought these statements were only semi-inclusive because there were many Jews who accepted John the baptist's teachings on the Lord and they were baptized. Possibly these were stragglers, or a small percentage of the total population resulting in the minority of Jews accepting.

MANY of the Jews followed Christ, both before and after His death. One man hanging beside Him on the cross accepted Him.

The group who rejected Christ were "His Own", which I take to mean those of the Jewish people.Verse 12 " But as many as received Him" . What this says to me is a fair number followed Christ among the Jews. This leads me to the hope that even TODAY there is great potential among the Jewish people to find true believers in Christ.

I see two things developing here over time.

-World accepted religious hierarchy rejects Jesus. In this case it was the religious Jews.

-What seems to be a small percentage of persons in general are truly accepting of grass roots gospel Christianity. We have plenty of people who say they are Christians or who attend churches that are not really believers.

To truly accept Jesus is to take up His cross and follow Him. That "cross" is the rejection of most men. The world seeks a more comfortable way to God. A more accepting way. A way which attempts to make a hybrid religion that talks about God but never gets close to Him.

Yes, it is true that not all the Jews of His Day rejected Jesus as the Christ, and of course, after Christ completed His earthly mission we have many examples of Jews receiving Him, notably Paul who went from being a "persecuting Pharisee" to become a "persecuted Apostle".

John 5:18  Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.

Mat 13:53-58  Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there.  (54)  When He had come to 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?  (55)  Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?  (56)  And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?"  (57)  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."  (58)  Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

[Heleadethme]

21 hours ago, missmuffet said:

The Jews did not accept Jesus because He did not do what they expected their messiah to do. 

Amen.  They were expecting a strong earthly king and military leader to rule an earthly kingdom.

[Starise]

16 hours ago, Michael37 said:

Yes, it is true that not all the Jews of His Day rejected Jesus as the Christ, and of course, after Christ completed His earthly mission we have many examples of Jews receiving Him, notably Paul who went from being a "persecuting Pharisee" to become a "persecuted Apostle".

I agree. Paul took a little more of a nudge than most of us to bring around. Once he became a believer though, the world had never seen the like. 

Acts 9:5-6

"And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do."

Paul confirms in Acts 26:14 the kicking against the pricks statement. Apparently Saul was feeling some inner struggle before this event. He was on the wrong side of the battle.

16 hours ago, Michael37 said:

John 5:18  Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.

Tough crowd. They kill anyone who doesn't agree with them. Were there ulterior motives? Were these excuses to kill Jesus because in reality He was taking away their limelight? Was it a combination of several of these reasons? This is what I tend to think.

None of them had ever  broken a sabbath rule? Surely they had.  Run him out on a rail ? Sure. Seeking to kill Him takes this to a whole new level.

16 hours ago, Michael37 said:

Mat 13:53-58  Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there.  (54)  When He had come to 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?  (55)  Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?  (56)  And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?"  (57)  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."  (58)  Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

This sheds more light on it. Those of His own country seen him as a common man. It just was too unbelievable to digest.

Edited June 10, 2022 by Starise

[Michael37]

8 hours ago, Starise said:

I agree. Paul took a little more of a nudge than most of us to bring around. Once he became a believer though, the world had never seen the like. 

Acts 9:5-6

"And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do."

Paul confirms in Acts 26:14 the kicking against the pricks statement. Apparently Saul was feeling some inner struggle before this event. He was on the wrong side of the battle.

Tough crowd. They kill anyone who doesn't agree with them. Were there ulterior motives? Were these excuses to kill Jesus because in reality He was taking away their limelight? Was it a combination of several of these reasons? This is what I tend to think.

None of them had ever  broken a sabbath rule? Surely they had.  Run him out on a rail ? Sure. Seeking to kill Him takes this to a whole new level.

This sheds more light on it. Those of His own country seen him as a common man. It just was too unbelievable to digest.

Excellent input from you @Starise

You may be familiar with the post-exile history of the Jews which details the origins of the Pharisees in particular, whose efforts to resist the secular influences of their foreign rulers and prevent their assimilation into Judaism led them to elevate oral tradition and take whatever measures they deemed necessary to avoid antagonising their pagan oppressors.   

"You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men… You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!" (Mark 7:8–9).

John 11:45-53  Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him.  (46)  But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did.  (47)  Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.  (48)  If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation."  (49)  And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all,  (50)  nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish."  (51)  Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,  (52)  and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.  (53)  Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.