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Explanation for:
Matthew
13
:
55
Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brethren James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Jude:
11
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The Jews were amazed and questioned, saying, ‘How does He possess such wisdom and power’ (Matt. 13:54)? - They referred to these abilities as either miraculous acts or true wisdom.\\n\\n*****\\n\\nUpon His arrival in Nazareth, Christ refrained from performing signs so as not to provoke further jealousy among the Jews or deepen their condemnation due to their heightened unbelief. Nevertheless, He presented teachings that were no less astounding than the miracles. However, people, lacking understanding, chose to scorn Him, focusing on the one they assumed to be His earthly father, despite having many examples in the past where seemingly uneducated parents bore remarkable children."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The misjudgment of the Jews serves as both our redemption and our judgment. They perceive Jesus Christ merely as a human, viewing Him as the son of a carpenter, as expressed in the question, \\"Is not this the son of a carpenter?\\" It is not surprising that they are in error regarding His brethren when they have misidentified His father. This topic is discussed more thoroughly in the aforementioned work against Helvidius."},{"author-name":"Hilarius of Poitiers","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88cb92f12b3278598f946_Hilarius%20of%20Poitiers.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The people closest to Him do not give honor to the Lord. Despite the stunning wisdom of His teachings and the remarkable deeds He performed, they have failed to achieve true understanding due to their disbelief. They do not recognize that it is God who operates within humanity; instead, they refer to Him as father, mother, and brethren, while criticizing the work of the Father. However, it is clear that Jesus is the Son of the Creator, the One who forges iron with fire, who tempers all the might of the world with His judgment, and who shapes matter for human benefit in all pursuits. He forms from the raw substance of our bodies various parts for distinct functions and for the work of eternal life. Despite the multitude of miracles He accomplished, they were troubled by the sight of His physical form. The Lord remarked that a prophet is without honor in his own homeland, for even in Judea, He was scorned to the point of being condemned to the cross. Since only those who believe possess the power of God, their refusal to accept Him resulted in their being denied the manifestations of divine strength."},{"author-name":"Ambrose of Milan","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88871ceef8c96e0998cd0_Ambrose%20of%20Milan.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"It is indeed remarked, ‘Is He not the son of carpenters?’ We have previously explored the reasons behind the Lord Savior's virgin birth and the significance of His birth within a betrothal, as well as the timing during the census. Now, it is beneficial to discuss the significance of having a carpenter as His earthly father. Through the figure of a carpenter, the Lord illustrates that His Father is the Creator of all, the Maker of the universe, as stated: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). Although humanity cannot be truly compared to the divinity, this analogy remains fitting, for the Father of Christ skillfully shapes with fire and Spirit, diligently pruning away our flaws at their roots, swiftly handling lifeless branches (cf. Matthew 3:10, Luke 3:9). He possesses the wisdom to discern where to remove the excess, where to nurture the growth, to soften hardened hearts with the fire of the Spirit, and to prepare all of humankind for various callings through diverse means."},{"author-name":"Augustine of Hippo","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88950a5c988a4fc06c7ae_Augustine%20of%20Hippo.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"His brothers, James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas, along with His sisters, are not all with us? From where did all these things come to Him? And they were tempted regarding Him. It is acknowledged that among the Jewish people, it is common to refer to relatives not only of the first degree as brothers, such as sons of siblings, who are also frequently termed brothers in our context, but also to uncles and nephews, similar to how Jacob and Laban were considered brothers, as evidenced in Scripture (Genesis 29:15). Thus, it is not surprising that maternal relatives are referred to as brothers of the Lord, just as Joseph's relatives might be called His brothers by those who believed Joseph to be the earthly father of the Lord."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Imagine if Jesus were simply a man and not divine. What could have hindered Him from performing remarkable miracles? Their attitude reflects both ignorance and jealousy, as they should have found joy in the fact that their homeland produced such extraordinary blessings. The Lord had siblings through Joseph, who fathered them with the wife of his deceased brother Cleopas. After Cleopas passed away without children, Joseph took her as his own wife according to the law, and they had six offspring together: four sons and two daughters—Mary, referred to by law as Cleopas' daughter, and Salomia. ‘Among us’ instead of ‘live here with us.’"},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Isn’t this the son of the carpenter? Isn’t His mother named Mary, and are not His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? Are not all His sisters among us? This should be interpreted as a question, for they were confused and spoke among themselves. Among us, meaning of our own."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"They ought to celebrate that their homeland had given rise to such a remarkable blessing, that the awaited Messiah had emerged from their humble town. Yet, jealousy and spite revealed themselves in their crude and unrefined hearts. Instead of receiving Him with reverence and wonder, their eyes were ignited with hatred, and a murmur of scornful disapproval arose: IS HE NOT THE SON OF THE FLOTUS? And who is He, really? Our neighbor, a mere carpenter. ISN'T HIS MOTHER NAMED MARY? Our Saint Philaret of Moscow observes, \\"They do not even know how to say Joseph, son of David, Mary, daughter of David; they are aware only of what is visible: that Joseph is a craftsman and that Mary is simply Mary. How can they be so ignorant of the very details the Hebrews diligently remembered about their lineage and heritage? How can they remain oblivious to Mary's ancestry and background? This ignorance may stem from the fact that the Blessed Virgin, wishing to avoid drawing attention to herself, having no desire for human praise, did not seek to comfort herself through her noble lineage but instead chose humility in her circumstances. Thus, she kept her origins, as well as her virtue and grace, private.\\" Furthermore, the people of Nazareth angrily add, \\"And His brothers, who are all craftsmen like their father, whom we know well, are JACOB, and JOSEPH, and SIMON, and JUDAH?"},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"Is He not the son of carpenters?\\" The residents of Nazareth may have either been uninformed or disbelieving regarding the miraculous incarnation and birth of Jesus Christ, perceiving Him only as the offspring of Joseph and Mary. However, they could not justify their indifference towards Him, for history has shown that even unassuming parents have given rise to remarkable children, as seen with David, Amos, and Moses. Therefore, Christ should have inspired reverence and wonder due to His lineage and the extraordinary wisdom He shared. This clearly revealed in Him not mere human education but divine favor. Yet despite what should have captivated them, they held Him in contempt. They questioned, \\"Aren't this and that His brothers?\\" Yet this should have intensified their belief. Envy is deceptive and often leads to contradictions. The very aspects that were astonishing and compelling, instead became sources of their temptation (Chrysostom, cf. Theophilus). \\n\\nAs for \\"the carpenter's son,\\" it was customary among the Jews, including the affluent and esteemed, to ensure their children learned a trade. For instance, the Apostle Paul was taught the craft of tent-making (Acts 18:3). Likewise, the Lord Jesus, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, during His period of humiliation, exalted for the salvation of humanity, willingly identified as the son of a presumed carpenter and assisted His father in this vocation (cf. Mk. 6:3)."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"He had previously focused His ministry in cities that were unfamiliar to Him, yet the time had come for His own hometown of Nazareth to be included. With the belief that news of His works had reached Nazareth and prepared the hearts of its people, He chose to reveal Himself in His native city. Upon entering Nazareth, He attended the synagogue on the first Sabbath, joining the gathered worshippers who came to pray and be nourished by the Scriptures. As a small town with a population of around ten thousand, Nazareth had only one synagogue, a straightforward rectangular structure with a ‘sanctuary’ oriented towards Jerusalem, a site of prayer that had been revered since Solomon's reign. In contrast to the synagogues in wealthier cities adorned with white marble and intricate carvings of grapevines and manna, Nazareth's synagogue was quite simple. The interior had separate seating for men on one side, while women sat behind a partition in their veils. At one end stood the ark made of painted wood containing the Scriptures, and beside it was a raised platform for the reader and speaker.\\n\\nThe congregation did not have designated clergy, and the worship was unadorned. After prayer, selections from the Scriptures were read, typically one from the Torah and one from the Prophets. Any individual who could read and had received permission from the synagogue leader could lead these readings, often adding personal insights or exhortations. By the time Jesus arrived, the reading from the Torah had concluded, and only the passage from the Prophets remained. The Lord opened the scroll handed to Him and found the passage from the 61st chapter of Isaiah. The assembly stood with eager anticipation as He began to read. Normally, the selections ranged from three to twenty verses, but Christ read only the first two verses: \\"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.\\" After closing the scroll, He sat down to deliver His message and encourage His listeners. This passage was already significant, but it gained added profundity from the lips of the One who fulfilled it. The eyes of everyone present were riveted on the divine speaker. As they listened with breathless attentiveness and expectant hearts, He disclosed that He was indeed the Messiah foretold by the great prophet centuries prior. His message resonated with love, authority, and power, leaving the crowd in awe. \\n\\nHowever, as He continued, He sensed a shift in the atmosphere. As the realization of His meaning dawned on the people, the murmurs of discontent started to circulate among them. The faces that were once filled with admiration now burned with jealousy and resentment. \\"Is this not the carpenter? Is He not the brother of James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Do His sisters not live among us? Do we not know that His own family does not believe in Him?\\" Such comments erupted among the audience. This was not a learned rabbi from the renowned schools of the day, yet He spoke with a confidence that even the most esteemed scribes did not possess. Unlike the great Hillel, who depended on the authority of past lawgivers when his own teachings fell short, this teacher only drew from His own wisdom, despite being merely a carpenter from their own community. What qualifications did He have to teach? How could He grasp such wisdom without the formal education provided by the higher rabbinical institutions?"},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The unwavering skepticism of the Pharisees and the astonishment of the people at the miraculous deeds of the Lord affirmed the undeniable reality of Simeon’s prophecy concerning the Godchild Jesus—He was destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and His sign would be contradicted (Luke 2:34). For the Jews, letting go of their idealistic vision of the Messiah's glorious kingdom was challenging, but it was an even greater struggle for the nearest witnesses of the Lord's infancy, adolescence, and youth—the residents of Nazareth—to acknowledge His divine nature. Despite expressing disbelief during His earliest preaching, the Nazarenes remained unconvinced even after Jesus Christ had preached the Gospel widely in Galilee and Judea, confirming His divine mission through numerous astounding miracles. When He returned to Nazareth with His disciples, He began to teach in the synagogue on the Sabbath. They questioned, how could this be, given the wisdom He possessed and the powers demonstrated through Him? Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother named Mary, and aren’t His brothers, James, Joseph, Simon, and Jude, with us? And what about His sisters—are they not here as well? From where has this come? Not only were the townspeople skeptical, but even His doubting relatives (John 7:5) were tempted by disbelief, leading the Lord to remind the Nazarenes of a prior reproach: no prophet is accepted in his own home, nor among his kin, nor in his household (Luke 4:24). Due to such disbelief from His compatriots, Jesus Christ, as the holy Evangelist records, was unable to perform many mighty works; He could only lay His hands on a few sick individuals and heal them (Mk. 6:5), or as St. John Chrysostom puts it, He performed miracles while withholding others—not to confront them with even greater condemnation, but to fulfill His mission. Astonished by the lack of faith displayed by the Nazarenes, the Lord departed from His homeland to minister in other towns and villages throughout Galilee."}]}
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