The phrase “a prophet is not without honor except in his own country” comes from Matthew 13:57 in the Bible. In context, this verse describes how the people in Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth took offense at Him and lacked faith in Him as the Messiah. Though Jesus had taught and performed miracles with authority, the Nazarenes could not accept Him as anything more than the carpenter’s son they had known while He was growing up. They were blind to His true identity.
This passage reveals a sad but common tendency of human nature to underestimate and fail to appreciate those closest to us. Familiarity breeds contempt, as the saying goes. People who have known someone their whole lives may have trouble believing that person could be uniquely gifted or called by God to something great. They are too close to see and acknowledge the full truth.
In applying this principle broadly, “a prophet is not without honor except in his own country” means that prophets, spiritual leaders, or anyone with a divine mission and message may face the most rejection and skepticism from their own people. Their own families, communities, or nations can be the least able to recognize their authority and wisdom. These prophets may even find that outsiders and foreigners are more open to their words.
Here are some key insights on the meaning of this passage:
- Jesus faced the most unbelief during His earthly ministry from people in His hometown who had watched Him grow up.
- People in our own families and communities can often fail to see our full potential or calling from God.
- Leaders and teachers may encounter jealousy and rejection when operating in their home environments.
- Prophets and truth-tellers are frequently dishonored and opposed by those closest to them.
- God’s ways and words often sound strange or offensive to people overly familiar with the messenger.
- Outsiders can sometimes discern God’s work in a person or place more clearly than insiders.
- Pride and stubbornness keep people from accepting new truth from one of their own.
- Preconceived notions about someone’s background can hinder full recognition of their gifts.
1. Jesus faced unbelief from people in His hometown who struggled to accept Him as Messiah
The most direct meaning of this phrase relates to Jesus’ personal experience in Nazareth. After launching His public ministry and preaching with authority around Galilee, Jesus returned to His hometown. On the Sabbath, He went into the synagogue and began teaching. People were astonished at His wisdom, just as crowds in other towns had been. But their amazement quickly turned to skepticism and offense when they remembered Jesus was just the son of Mary and Joseph, people they knew. They could not reconcile Jesus’ ordinary background and family with His extraordinary claims.
Mark 6:1-6 and Luke 4:16-30 record this same account of Jesus facing rejection in Nazareth. The Gospel writers emphasize how people took offense at Him because He was “only” the son of Joseph the carpenter to them. They knew His family and could not accept the wisdom He was demonstrating or the reports of His miracles. Their familiarity with Jesus, and lack of faith in who He truly was, prevented them from believing.
2. People in our families and communities can fail to appreciate our gifts and calling
Jesus’ experience with unbelief in Nazareth illustrates how difficult it can be for those closest to us to recognize our full potential or calling from God. When family members or long-time friends see us trying to operate in new spiritual gifts or answer a divine call, they may question “Who does this person think they are?” Their close proximity to our background, weaknesses, and humanity can hinder them from perceiving the new thing God is doing in our lives.
Just as the Nazarenes limited Jesus to being “Mary’s son” because of their prior experience with Him, our families and home communities can pigeon-hole us into the role or position they’ve always known. They may fail to honor the spiritual growth, leadership gifts, or anointing we now walk in. We are simply the person they’ve always known to them. This principle is especially true for those called to be prophets and spiritual leaders over their own people.
3. Leaders and teachers often encounter jealousy and rejection in their home environments
Nazareth’s rejection of Jesus also demonstrates that leaders, teachers, and prophets frequently face skepticism or jealousy when trying to operate in their gifts among their own people. Families, friends, and community members who have known them since childhood can feel threatened and offended by the leader’s growing wisdom and authority. They may seek to cut them down to protect their own status and identity in the group.
Throughout Scripture, the pattern emerges of prophets being dishonored among their own people. Jeremiah, for example, was rejected and opposed by the people of Anathoth, his hometown. When he tried to prophesy in Jerusalem, those who had known him for years discounted his message. Jesus even said that a prophet is not without honor, “except in his own country” (Matt. 13:57).
Leaders today still face the “prophet’s curse” of being dishonored in their hometowns or close circles as they step into greater authority. Whether due to jealousy, stubbornness, or pride, their own people may strongly resist honoring their leadership.
4. Prophets are frequently opposed and disbelieved by those closest to them
Beyond just leaders and teachers, Jesus’ experience in Nazareth is typical for prophets specifically. Throughout the Bible, prophets consistently faced the most opposition and hostility from their own families, communities, and nations. Moses was resisted by his own people. Jeremiah was thrown into a cistern and threatened with death by the king’s own officials. Isaiah was likely killed by ungodly kings of Judah.
Even when prophets are honored for a time, the people often later turn against them when they bring uncomfortable calls to repentance. Jesus said Jerusalem was guilty of killing the prophets sent to her (Matt. 23:37). Stephen accused the Jewish leaders of always resisting the Holy Spirit and murdering the prophets who foretold Christ (Acts 7:51-52).
True prophets will frequently irritate those closest to them by revealing sin and compromise in their camp. Their own relatives and countrymen are often the least hospitable environments for the prophet’s ministry to thrive. They may seek to silence or destroy those sent to bring correction.
5. God’s ways can sound strange and offensive to people overly familiar with the messenger
The townspeople of Nazareth took offense at Jesus because He did not fit their assumptions and expectations. Though they had heard reports of His miracles, they could not believe the carpenter’s son they knew could be anyone great. The Gospel message sounded like blasphemy from someone they were too familiar with.
This demonstrates a tendency of human nature to be closed off to truth that comes packaged in unexpected ways. When a prophet or teacher does not fit people’s preconceived image, they stumble. God’s wisdom can sound like foolishness when coming from one deemed unqualified. Familiarity with the messenger can hinder people from receiving an unfamiliar message.
We must beware of limiting how God can work through imperfect people known to us. Just because someone’s background does not impress us does not mean their teaching is not anointed. We should focus on judging the fruits of a message rather than disqualifying the messenger automatically.
6. Outsiders sometimes discern God’s work in a person or place more clearly than insiders
Though the people of Nazareth rejected Jesus, His teaching still amazed those in other towns who did not know Him as well. The Gospels record that people marveled at His authority and were astonished at the gracious words He spoke. His hometown, however, took offense.
This demonstrates that outsiders and foreigners sometimes have an advantage in perceiving and honoring God’s anointing on a person or place. They do not share the blinding familiarity and preconceived notions of insiders. They recognize the power and authenticity that close acquaintances overlook.
Examples include how Gentiles often responded eagerly to the gospel message while Jews resisted. Ruth the Moabite accepted Naomi’s faith while Orpah did not. And the woman at the well immediately evangelized her city about meeting Jesus, while the Pharisees plotted to kill Him.
We must be careful not to envy or question when outsiders embrace and honor the very works of God that we discount due to our insider status. Their perspective may be more accurate than our biased assumptions.
7. Stubbornness and pride hinder people from accepting new truth from the known
Why could the people of Nazareth not accept the signs and revelations about Jesus right before their eyes? Jesus said it was at least partly because of their stubborn unwillingness to believe (Matt. 13:58). They had already made up their minds who He was. They refused to let His wisdom and miracles change their assessment.
Their pride in their familiar relationship with Him also caused them to take offense at His authoritative teaching. As Jesus later said, “Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor” (Matt. 13:57). They could not abide Him claiming authority over them.
This reveals the stubborn and prideful resistance that often hinders people from receiving truth from the known. Familiarity and pride are dangerous blinders. We easily reject words from God when packaged in ways we dislike or spoken by ones we deem unqualified.
However, this stubbornness and pride only keep us from perceiving the truth before our eyes. We see the exterior but miss the Spirit’s witness to a person’s calling. We must stay open and humble before God’s wisdom – even when coming from unexpected sources.
8. People’s perceptions about someone’s background can prevent recognition of their gifts
Why did people take offense at Jesus in Nazareth? He was the same Jesus teaching and working miracles everywhere else. But to them He was just Mary’s boy, the carpenter’s son – not anyone special. Their perceptions about Jesus’ ordinary background and family blinded them.
This demonstrates how preconceived notions about someone’s history, education, weakness, age, or other traits can hinder people from honoring their spiritual gifts and callings. Insiders fail to look beyond the exterior to perceive God’s anointing on a person’s life. They see only their past or appearance.
We must guard against limited perceptions that discount how powerfully God can work through whomever He chooses, no matter their background. Saul, a murderous persecutor, became the apostle Paul. Uneducated fishermen spoke with authority that astonished the elites. God uses the foolish and weak to shame the wise and strong of this world.
If God has truly gifted someone despite their resume or history, it would be foolish for us to reject their ministry because of pride or our biased assumptions. We see in part and must ask for grace to discern correctly.
Conclusion
Jesus’ experience of being rejected in His hometown powerfully illustrates the common dynamics that make “a prophet not without honor, except in his own country.” Human nature easily causes us to underestimate the ones closest to us. Leaders often face resistance from insiders jealous of their authority. Prophets regularly irritate those who know them well by revealing uncomfortable truths.
God’s wisdom can sound offensive when coming from the known and lowly. Outsiders sometimes have more accurate discernment than proud insiders blinded by stubbornness and familiarity. We easily draw inaccurate conclusions based on our limited perceptions of someone’s background.
These pitfalls are difficult to avoid due to our shortsighted humanity. But being aware of them can help us catch ourselves when wavering into rejection of the works of God around us. Let us stay open and humble to how He may use whomever He pleases for His glory.
