What does Matthew 13:54 Mean?

Verse Meaning

This section records the course that Jesus" ministry took because of Israel"s rejection of Him. Opposition from several quarters led him to withdraw to safer places where He continued to minister to Jews and Gentiles and to prepare His disciples for what lay ahead.

Matthew recorded increasing polarization in this section. Jesus expanded His ministry, but as He did so opposition became even more intense. The Jewish leaders became increasingly hostile. Consequently Jesus spent more time preparing His disciples. Jesus revealed Himself more clearly to His disciples, but they only understood some of what He told them. They strongly rejected other things He said. The inevitability of a final confrontation between Jesus and His critics became increasingly clear. The general movement in this section is Jesus withdrawing from Israel"s leaders ( Matthew 13:54 to Matthew 16:12) and preparing His disciples for His passion ( Matthew 16:13 to Matthew 19:2).

Jesus" hometown was Nazareth ( Luke 4:16). The local synagogue attendees wondered where Jesus obtained His authority. The wisdom in His teaching and the power in His miracles demonstrated remarkable authority, but where did He get it? Did it come from God or elsewhere ( Matthew 12:24)?[source]

This is the last of Matthew"s references to Jesus teaching in a synagogue. From now on, Jesus appears increasingly outside the structures of traditional Judaism. ^[1] [source]

Context Summary

God's truth is always new and always old. It is as fresh as the morning breeze for each coming generation. But however stated, the fundamental facts are invariable. Let us store our minds and hearts with holy and helpful thoughts, so as to deal them out as the occasions serve.

Compare Matthew 13:53 with Luke 4:16-30. The question His townspeople put is stated a little differently in Mark 6:3. Till He left home, at the age of thirty, for His baptism, our Lord evidently worked with His hands. Perhaps the full wonder of His nature was not realized even by Himself. But surely none can despise manual toil when the Son of man wrought at the bench, making, according to the old tradition, implements of husbandry.

Sons and daughters were born to Joseph and Mary, whose names are here given. Alas, that we do not see the glory in common, familiar people and circumstances! Never forget that the absence of expectant faith does more to limit the progress of the gospel than the lack of funds! [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 13

¹  The parable of the sower and the seed;
¹⁸  the explanation of it
²⁴  The parable of the weeds;
³¹  of the mustard seed;
³³  of the leaven;
³⁶  explanation of the parable of the weeds
⁴⁴  The parable of the hidden treasure;
⁴⁵  of the pearl;
⁴⁷  of the drag net cast into the sea
⁵³  Jesus is a prophet without honor in his own country