And he said, Truly I say to you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
No.
Matthew 13:57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
Mark 6:4,5 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house…
John 4:41,44 And many more believed because of his own word; …
Truly I tell you
This phrase is a solemn declaration, often used by Jesus to introduce a statement of great importance and truth. It underscores the authority with which Jesus speaks, akin to the Old Testament prophets who would declare, "Thus says the Lord." It is a call for the listeners to pay close attention to the truth being revealed.
no prophet is accepted
The rejection of prophets is a recurring theme in the Bible. Prophets like Jeremiah and Elijah faced significant opposition and were often not accepted by their own people. This statement highlights the pattern of resistance to God's messengers throughout Israel's history. It also foreshadows the rejection Jesus Himself will face, culminating in His crucifixion.
in his hometown
Nazareth, where Jesus grew up, is the specific hometown referenced here. The cultural context of the time placed great emphasis on familial and community ties, yet familiarity often bred contempt. This reflects a broader human tendency to undervalue what is familiar. The rejection in Nazareth is symbolic of the broader rejection Jesus would face from the Jewish people, fulfilling prophecies such as Isaiah 53:3, which speaks of the Messiah being despised and rejected.
• Jesus has just read Isaiah 61:1-2 and proclaimed, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21).
• The crowd marvels at His gracious words yet balks at His claim (Luke 4:22).
• By adding this statement, He answers their unspoken skepticism, similar to when He later said, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town” (Mark 6:4).
• Jesus employs His familiar “Amen, I say to you,” a solemn guarantee that what follows is absolute truth (cf. Matthew 5:18, John 3:3).
• This formula underscores His divine authority; He speaks not as a mere teacher but as the Son who perfectly reveals the Father (John 12:49-50).
• Scripture consistently records God-sent messengers meeting resistance—Jeremiah was beaten and put in stocks (Jeremiah 20:2), Elijah was hounded by Ahab (1 Kings 19:2), and Stephen reminded Israel, “Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?” (Acts 7:52).
• By calling Himself a prophet, Jesus aligns with—and supersedes—this prophetic line (Deuteronomy 18:15; Acts 3:22-23).
• “Accepted” points to recognition and honor. Instead, prophets are habitually “despised and rejected by men” (Isaiah 53:3), a pattern fulfilled supremely in Christ (John 1:11).
• Rejection does not negate God’s plan; rather, it fulfills it. The cross, for example, emerged from humanity’s refusal yet became God’s means of salvation (Acts 2:23).
• Nazareth’s familiarity bred contempt: “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” (Luke 4:22), echoing, “Isn’t this the carpenter?” (Mark 6:3).
• Those who watched Him grow could not see beyond the ordinary to recognize the extraordinary.
• Their unbelief limited what He would do there: “He did not do many miracles because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:58).
• The principle applies broadly: when hearts cling to preconceptions, they miss God’s fresh work (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Jesus’ words expose a timeless pattern: God’s messengers meet their sharpest resistance where they should expect their warmest welcome. By citing this proverb, He explains Nazareth’s unbelief, aligns Himself with the persecuted prophets, and prepares the reader for the wider rejection that will lead to the cross. Yet the rejection itself fulfills Scripture and advances God’s redemptive plan, assuring us that fidelity to God’s truth matters more than human applause.
(24) No prophet is accepted.--The proverb is remarkable as having been quoted by our Lord certainly twice, possibly oftener: (1) on this His first visit after His baptism to Nazareth; (2) on His second visit (Matthew 13:57; Mark 6:4). St. John's reference to it (John 4:44) may have risen out of one or other of these two occasions, but it rather conveys the impression of the saying having been often on the lips of Jesus.Verse 24. - And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. But instead of gratifying their curiosity and supplying them with some more empty arguments why they should not listen to his words, the Lord quietly quotes a proverb well known to all people - Farrar calls it a curious psychological fact - the quoting prefaced by the solemn "verily." The Master was evidently looking far beyond the little prejudices of Nazareth. "His own country" meant far more than the narrow circuit bounded by the Nazareth hills. The Speaker was thinking of all the chosen people - of the Jews, who as a nation he knew too well would not accept him. But if Israel would have none of him, he would reign in the hearts of that unnumbered multitude who peopled the isles of the Gentiles.