Matthew 13.53-14.12 | Saved by rejection

***Due to technical difficulities, the sermon was cut short in its recording.  We apologize.  Please download the notes to read the remainder****

INTRO| JESUS’ REJECTION

This is the final sermon in book 2—halfway through our verse by verse study of the book of Matthew. Having been shunned by the irreligious who loved their bacon and accused by the religious who loved their rules, it all ends with the absolute rejection of Jesus by his hometown of Nazareth. Born in Bethlehem, ministered from Capernaum, died in in Jerusalem, Jesus spent most of his life in Nazareth. Recognized as the armpit of northern Israel, the small town of Nazareth welcomed their native son into the synagogue to teach. This stop in Nazareth is the last recorded time Jesus teaches in a synagogue. In the gospel of Luke, Nazareth was the first place he teaches. Possibly the same event, Luke chapter 4 records that Jesus went to Nazareth on the Sabbath day and stood up to read a prophecy from the book of Isaiah saying: because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Jesus proceeds to roll up the scroll, hand it to attendant, sit down and declare, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Those in attendance proceed to freak out, take him to a cliff at the edge of town, and attempt to throw him off.

Our text at the end of chapter 13 is, therefore, an exclamation point on rejection. EVERYONE REJECTED JESUS. Rejection is when an individual, or a group, denies one’s affections and refuses to accept them. Everyone has experienced the pain of being rejected. If sinless Jesus experienced rejection, we sinners can expect the same. Rejection can be very passive, where you are ignored or passed over. This kind of rejection is often just as painful as being actively excluded, misrepresented, or accused. Jesus was not only rejected for who he claimed to be, he was rejected for what he taught. Men accused him of being unlawful, immoral, demon-possessed, and too radical. Now, Jesus is rejected for being too ordinary.  Read more.