Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day… If I read this narrative for the first time I should pause at the words, "glorified of all," knowing that there would be a thunderstorm before long. Here is Christ, with more wisdom in Him than all the world besides; and yet, "as His custom was, He went into the synagogue," &c. What did He go there for? They could teach Him nothing. Men and women now, on the plea that they learn nothing, that there is nothing fresh to hear or know or learn at church, very seldom come. And many of you who come to hear me, come not to worship God. So I turn and read this history of how Christ, who was the fountain of life, the wisest of the wise, went, "as His custom was," &c. "He stood up for to read." Here stands a teacher from whose teaching men shall date for all time, and He is about to choose a text. What it was you know. Who could wonder that the eyes of all were fastened upon Him. They had never heard the words read as He read them. "They wondered at the gracious words," &c. They found them gracious, and they said, some of them honestly, some of them meanly, "Is not this Joseph's son?" Now watch for the storm. He tells them a terrible truth which they don't like. As long as they thought He was going to preach all these things to the Jewish nation it was all right, but the moment they hear that these things are to be done to the Gentiles, oh! then the storm comes. You know what they had heard — that God's love was big enough to reach Sarepta. These people had sound right views. Think of that! And what did Christ do to anger them? He told them that God's love reached even to Sidon; that His heart was deep enough to take in the leprous Naaman. What shocking things to tell the people, weren't they? And what effect did they have? They were proud of Him ten minutes ago; but now they are going to throw Him headlong over the brow of the hill. Has there ever been any picture like that? — the sunny morning; the welcome Christ; the teacher kissed; the teacher thrown down the precipice. And what brought it about? He discussed of the largeness of God's love. I often see these things. It does not belong to this history only. (George Dawson, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. |
    |