Read Luke 4:14 – 30

JESUS IS REJECTED AT NAZARETH
Synagogues were very important in Jewish religious life. During the Exile when the Jews no longer had their Temple, synagogues were established as places of worship on the Sabbath and as schools for young boys during the week. Synagogues continued to exist even after the Temple was rebuilt. A synagogue could be set up in any town where there were at least 10 Jewish families. It was administered by one leader and an assistant. At the synagogue, the leader could often invite a visiting Rabbi to read from the Scriptures and teach.
Jesus went to the Synagogue as usual. Even though He was the perfect Son of God and his local synagogue undoubtedly left much to be desired, Jesus attended services each week. His example makes our excuses for not attending church sound very weak and self serving. Make regular worship a part of your life.
Jesus, Himself, was not accepted as a prophet in His hometown. Many people have a similar attitude – an expert is anyone who carries a briefcase and comes from more than 200 miles away. Don’t be surprised when your Christian life and faith are not easily understood or accepted by those who know you well.
Jesus’ remarks angered the people of Nazareth because He was saying that God sometimes chose to reach Gentiles rather than Jews. Jesus implied that His hearers were as unbelieving as the citizens of the Northern Kingdom of Israel in the days of Elijah and Elisha, a time notorious for its great wickedness.