UASV’s Daily Devotional All Things Bible, Thursday, March 20, 2025

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Why Were the People Amazed at Jesus’ Words Yet Quick to Reject Him?

Luke 4:22 states, “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. ‘Isn’t this Joseph’s son?’ they asked.” This verse captures a moment in Jesus’ early ministry when the people of his hometown, Nazareth, were initially impressed by his teaching but soon allowed their familiarity with him to cloud their judgment. It reveals the danger of superficial admiration without true faith and serves as a warning against rejecting Jehovah’s truth due to preconceived notions.

The phrase “all spoke well of him and were amazed” shows that Jesus’ teaching initially made a strong impression on his listeners. The Greek word for “amazed” (thaumazó) conveys a sense of wonder and admiration. His words carried divine wisdom, clarity, and authority, unlike the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees. This aligns with Matthew 7:28-29, which states, “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” The people recognized something different in Jesus, yet their amazement did not lead to true faith.

Luke 4:22 also mentions that they were struck by his “gracious words.” This likely refers not only to his tone but also to the message of grace he had just spoken. In the preceding verses, Jesus had read from Isaiah 61, proclaiming that he had been sent to “proclaim good news to the poor” and “set the oppressed free” (Luke 4:18-19). He was declaring that the prophecy was being fulfilled through him, offering a message of hope and salvation. However, while the people marveled at his words, they struggled to accept what he was truly saying.

Their response—“Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”—reveals their underlying skepticism. Instead of accepting Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy, they reduced him to his earthly background. They knew him as the carpenter’s son, the boy who had grown up among them, and they could not reconcile this familiarity with his divine authority. This illustrates the danger of allowing human reasoning to override spiritual truth. John 7:27 records a similar reaction from others who doubted Jesus, saying, “But we know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.” Their preconceived ideas blinded them to the truth standing before them.

This initial admiration quickly turned into rejection. Just a few verses later, when Jesus pointed out that Jehovah’s blessings had sometimes been given to Gentiles rather than Israelites (Luke 4:25-27), the crowd became furious. Luke 4:28-29 states, “All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff.” Their amazement had turned into rage, proving that their hearts were not truly open to Jehovah’s truth.

This reaction is a warning about superficial faith. Many people admire biblical teachings or acknowledge Jesus as a great moral teacher, yet they resist fully accepting Jehovah’s authority. James 1:22 warns, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” True faith requires more than admiration—it demands obedience and a willingness to accept Jehovah’s truth, even when it challenges personal expectations.

Ultimately, Luke 4:22 teaches that while many may be impressed by Jehovah’s truth, true faith requires more than momentary amazement. The people of Nazareth marveled at Jesus’ words, but because they viewed him only through their human perspective, they rejected him instead of believing in him. This verse calls believers to move beyond admiration and embrace genuine faith, recognizing that Jehovah’s wisdom surpasses human understanding.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).