And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
The question was an unbelieving one raised at Nazareth in the early part of the Galilean ministry, when Jesus came to His childhood home and taught in the synagogue on the Sabbath. Those who asked it knew His family as neighbors living among them in their own town, His mother and His brothers and sisters, and they knew His humble and familiar background and life as a carpenter and as a carpenter's son. They wondered how He had gained such wisdom and knowledge when He had never attended school and had none of the advantages of formal schooling or worldly education, yet He explained Scripture with clearness and strength of reason and was reported round about the region for wisdom and mighty works and miracles, showing wisdom and miracles and divine character. His learning had not come from schools but from Scripture and nature and worship and communion with God.
Because He had done no miracle in their own city, they were stirred by curiosity at the praise of others and by jealousy, demanding why He did not use His power at home, where no sick need remain. They pointed to His familiar human family and humble life as ground to doubt that He was the Messiah, reducing Him to His hometown and family instead of recognizing who He was. In this way they could not accept Him as the promised Redeemer, but rejected Him despite the evidence before them.
Their asking about His sisters being with them expressed proud and conceited astonishment and rage after He had applied Messianic prophecy to them and warned that no prophet is accepted in his own country. Pride and prejudice kept them from receiving Him as the Messiah and Saviour.
The question was an unbelieving one raised at Nazareth in the early part of the Galilean ministry, when Jesus came to His childhood home and taught in the synagogue on the Sabbath. Those who asked it knew His family as neighbors living among them in their own town, His mother and His brothers and sisters, and they knew His humble and familiar background and life as a carpenter and as a carpenter's son. They wondered how He had gained such wisdom and knowledge when He had never attended school and had none of the advantages of formal schooling or worldly education, yet He explained Scripture with clearness and strength of reason and was reported round about the region for wisdom and mighty works and miracles, showing wisdom and miracles and divine character. His learning had not come from schools but from Scripture and nature and worship and communion with God.
Because He had done no miracle in their own city, they were stirred by curiosity at the praise of others and by jealousy, demanding why He did not use His power at home, where no sick need remain. They pointed to His familiar human family and humble life as ground to doubt that He was the Messiah, reducing Him to His hometown and family instead of recognizing who He was. In this way they could not accept Him as the promised Redeemer, but rejected Him despite the evidence before them.
Their asking about His sisters being with them expressed proud and conceited astonishment and rage after He had applied Messianic prophecy to them and warned that no prophet is accepted in his own country. Pride and prejudice kept them from receiving Him as the Messiah and Saviour.