Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth | Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth

The main themes in this passage are reoccurring throughout the gospel of Luke. The theme of universality and God's mission to the poor and oppressed are evident. Also the fulfillment of the kingdom of God through Jesus is an ongoing theme.

The context of the passage within in the Narrative of Luke is in the Galilean Ministry. It occurs after "the temptation of Jesus" where Jesus is tempted by material possession, power and self proclamation but chooses to follow God's purpose and begins his public ministry. The passage is followed by "A man with an unclean spirit"; Jesus heals a man with an unclean spirit by performing an exorcism and brings an outcast back in to the community. It significant of what Jesus preaches, `release to the captives.'

The literary form of the passage is a chiasm. Jesus stands, receives the scroll, unrolls the scroll, reads from Isaiah, rolls up the scroll, gives it back, and sits down. Reading text from Isaiah highlights the importance of the mission that Jesus is adopting.

The passage can be divided into a number of sections. Jesus gives his message, completes reading the scroll and receives 2 reactions from crowd. The first was positive and the second was negative.

Isaiah is quoted 61:1-2. However the message is far more positive and liberating as Luke omits day of vengeance and blind broken hearted. This passage contains the same messages as Isaiah: `Spirit of the lord is upon me, anointed me, sent to bring good news to the poor, proclaim release to captives, recovery of sight of blind, oppressed go free, year of Lords favor.'

A pairing can be seen in the passage of the two gentiles: the widow at Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian. Luke usually pairs a woman and female evident in the pairing of Mary and Zechariah.

A proverb can be seen in V23 "Doctor cure yourself" referring to his preaching only to his own community as the Jews wanted him to.

Throughout the passage there are words with historical and socio-cultural meaning. "Jesus" translates to `God saves' reinforcing Jesus' role of salvation. "Filled with the power of the Spirit" means Jesus can speak with the divine authority of God. It also relates back to Elizabeth and Zechariah.

"Galilee" is a poor, rural region far away from the center of Judaism, Jerusalem. People of low status resided here which emphasizes Luke's image of God as favoring the oppressed and marginalized as he chooses the birth of the savior in this cosmopolitan area. "He began to teach in their synagogues" A synagogue was a place of Jewish worship. There was usually one in each town or community and it was run by the scribes and Pharisees. The law or Torah was interpreted here in the synagogue.

"Nazareth" A town in Galilee which was very rebellious and counter-cultural. "To the synagogue on the Sabbath day" shows Jesus is faithful to Jewish traditions. The Sabbath was a day of observance of Jewish Law. "He stood up to read" Shows Jesus' prominence in community. "Isaiah" In Chapter 61:1-2 Isaiah the prophet gives readers post-exilic hope and sense of liberation. "He unrolled the scroll" Preparing to read the scroll of Isaiah. "He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor." Jesus is anointed with God's power and authority. He is giving God's mission to the poor: those who are of low status, economically poor, the expendables and at the bottom of the social scale. "Release to the captives" Liberation to those in dept and those with physical ailments. Also to those who sit in darkness, the sinners and non-believers. "Sight to the blind" Refers to Jesus' healing ministry. There is an image of faith for gentiles and those who sit in darkness. The motif of eyes is seen as a symbol faith. "Proclaim the year of the Lords favor" To bring about a new just order. Connecting back to Hebrews scriptures and Jewish practices. "Sat down" Focus on him assuming position of Rabbi and speaking with authority. "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing" Jesus is saying here the message of salvation since the day is here now.

There are many messages for the lukan audience. Universality is a major theme. Jesus' mission to the gentiles is universal appealing to the Jewish audience. There is a continuity of God's mission to the poor, marginalized and oppressed throughout the passage. Jesus foreshadows his own rejection at the hands of the Jews giving warning to the Jews in Luke's community not to be like their predecessors.

Emphasis is placed on Jesus as God's anointed one, who has the spirit of the lord and the authority by the power of God. The fulfillment of the Kingdom of God is evident as the scripture has been fulfilled.