4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
4 Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home."
4 And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household."
4 Jesus told them, "A prophet has little honor in his hometown, among his relatives, on the streets he played in as a child."
4 But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house."
4 Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family."
24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
24 "Truly I tell you," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his hometown.
24 And he said, "Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.
24 Well, let me tell you something: No prophet is ever welcomed in his hometown.
24 Then He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.
24 But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown.
(Read Luke 4:14-30)
Christ taught in their synagogues, their places of public worship, where they met to read, expound, and apply the word, to pray and praise. All the gifts and graces of the Spirit were upon him and on him, without measure. By Christ, sinners may be loosed from the bonds of guilt, and by his Spirit and grace from the bondage of corruption. He came by the word of his gospel, to bring light to those that sat in the dark, and by the power of his grace, to give sight to those that were blind. And he preached the acceptable year of the Lord. Let sinners attend to the Saviour's invitation when liberty is thus proclaimed. Christ's name was Wonderful; in nothing was he more so than in the word of his grace, and the power that went along with it. We may well wonder that he should speak such words of grace to such graceless wretches as mankind. Some prejudice often furnishes an objection against the humbling doctrine of the cross; and while it is the word of God that stirs up men's enmity, they will blame the conduct or manner of the speaker. The doctrine of God's sovereignty, his right to do his will, provokes proud men. They will not seek his favour in his own way; and are angry when others have the favours they neglect. Still is Jesus rejected by multitudes who hear the same message from his words. While they crucify him afresh by their sins, may we honour him as the Son of God, the Saviour of men, and seek to show we do so by our obedience.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 6:4
Commentary on Mark 6:1-6
(Read Mark 6:1-6)
Our Lord's countrymen tried to prejudice the minds of people against him. Is not this the carpenter? Our Lord Jesus probably had worked in that business with his father. He thus put honour upon mechanics, and encouraged all persons who eat by the labour of their hands. It becomes the followers of Christ to content themselves with the satisfaction of doing good, although they are denied the praise of it. How much did these Nazarenes lose by obstinate prejudices against Jesus! May Divine grace deliver us from that unbelief, which renders Christ a savour of death, rather than of life to the soul. Let us, like our Master, go and teach cottages and peasants the way of salvation.