From Matthew 13:53-58 / A Prophet Without Honor

Note first: There is an old proverb which reads: Familiarity breeds contempt. And the verses before us demonstrate just how this can be. It is in fact one of the most pernicious of sins. And one all too common among us today.

In Psalm 50, Asaph speaks prophetically to God’s people, calling them back to a right view of Him. And among the charges listed there, we read vs. 21: “These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.”

Because God had been patient with their sin, the people began to imagine that God thought like they thought, liked what they liked, disliked what they disliked. They superimposed their thoughts, feelings and opinions upon God.

It makes me wonder how many times I’ve done this myself. How have I baptized my thoughts, preferences and opinions by imagining God’s must be identical to mine.

Heavenly Father, forgive me. How often I have superimposed my feelings, my opinions, my viewpoints onto you. I have assumed you feel toward the same people as I do. I have imagined your willingness to see my compromises, and that you abide them and excuse them as I do. That my priorities and agenda – you take up too. That you are as easily offended as I am. As petty. As punitive. As irritable. As short-tempered. As temporally oriented. I have thought you are one like myself. I have been a fool. Let me see your glory.

In this account, their familiarity with Jesus led them to ignore what He was teaching and preaching.

How many a foolish person has left a sound Church and deeply committed leadership because their preaching was not flash-in-the-pan? Didn’t scratch their itch? Didn’t dazzle them? Because the man in the pulpit simply and plainly broke the Bread of Life to them faithfully, but was just an ordinary man? Wickedness.

Note second the reason for their rejection of Christ. It was not based upon His character, for He was sinless, nor upon His teaching, for even they acknowledged His wisdom and mighty works. What then was their objection? He’s not unusual enough. As though truth needs some sort of spectacular demonstration in order to be truth.

In the modern Church, there is a great movement that signs and wonders must be present to verify truth, and bring people to belief. Here, they knew His mighty works and did not believe. He didn’t dazzle them enough for their taste.

Note lastly then: That when the truth is rejected on such paltry and foolish grounds, that unbelief is met with an unresponsive God. Jesus left His home town with little by way of extra blessing.

Woe to us when His plain Word is not enough for us. When we casually set aside the God/Man as He preached and taught, because we thought it too simple, plain and unexciting.

And yet how faithfully He continued to preach and teach.