Please contrast Mark 6:4 and Luke 4:24. Why is the lack of honor by the family not mentioned by Luke?
It is helpful to notice that Luke 4:24 is part of the account of the first visit of the Lord Jesus to Galilee during his public ministry. In contrast, Mark 6:4 is part of the account of the second visit of the Lord Jesus to Galilee during his public ministry. The accounts of His first visit to Galilee are found in Matthew 4:12-17, Mark 1:14, and Luke 4:14-30. We know that all three of these accounts record the same visit since all three accounts are immediately preceded by the account of the temptation of Christ by Satan. Further, we know that all three accounts are speaking of the first visit of the Lord Jesus to Galilee since we read of a second visit to Galilee later in Matthew and Mark. The accounts of the Lord’s second visit to Galilee are found in Matthew 13:54-58 and Mark 6:1-6.
In all three accounts of the Lord’s first visit to Galilee, there is no mention of His family members being present. During His first visit, the Lord Jesus ministered to the people in His hometown of Nazareth and the surrounding region of Galilee. He did not mention His family since they were not recorded as being present. After reading in the synagogue of Nazareth from Isaiah 61, the Lord Jesus said in Luke 4:24, “Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.” He went on to give examples in the Old Testament of prophets who were not accepted in their own country. Luke 4:25-30 says, “But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; but unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up, and thrust Him out of the city, and led Him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast Him down headlong. But He passing through the midst of them went His way.” His own countrymen were furious that the Lord Jesus had put Gentiles, women, and lepers above the Jews. The Lord was letting them know that the same thing was about to be repeated. He would be rejected by the city of Nazareth and eventually all Israel. He would turn to bless the Gentiles as Elijah and Elisha had done. This infuriated the people of Nazareth so much that they tried to kill him, but He miraculously passed through the crowd since it was not yet time for Him to die.
In both accounts of His second visit to Galilee, it is mentioned that His family members were present. Mark 6:1-6 reads, “And He went out from thence, and came into His own country; and His disciples follow Him. And when the sabbath day was come, He began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing Him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto Him, that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not His sisters here with us? And they were offended at Him. 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. And He could there do no mighty work, save that He laid His hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And He marvelled because of their unbelief. And He went round about the villages, teaching.” Since family members were present, He included His family members in His comments about the lack of honor that He would be shown. The reason they did not honor Him is because of their unbelief, as we read in verse 6.
How is it with you, dear reader? Are you honoring the Lord Jesus with your life? He first would like to be your Savior, and then you have the privilege of honoring Him for the rest of your life. He is worthy of all honor and praise. As we read in John 5:23, “That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent Him.” (343.5) (DJ)