Luke 4:22

KJV

And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} all {G3956} bare {G3140} him {G846} witness {G3140}, and {G2532} wondered {G2296} at {G1909} the gracious {G5485} words {G3056} which {G3588} proceeded {G1607} out of {G1537} his {G846} mouth {G4750}. And {G2532} they said {G3004}, Is {G2076} not {G3756} this {G3778} Joseph's {G2501} son {G5207}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Everyone was speaking well of him and marvelling that such appealing words were coming from his mouth. They were even asking, "Can this be Yosef's son?"

Berean Standard Bible

All spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked.

American Standard Version

And all bare him witness, and wondered at the words of grace which proceeded out of his mouth: and they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 4:22 captures the initial, contrasting reactions of the people in Jesus' hometown synagogue in Nazareth. They were captivated and astonished by the profound authority and spiritual depth of his "gracious words," which clearly distinguished his teaching from that of ordinary men. However, this immediate wonder quickly gave way to a deep-seated skepticism and familiarity, as they questioned his identity based on his known earthly lineage, asking, "Is not this Joseph's son?" This pivotal moment foreshadows the pervasive challenge Jesus would face in his ministry: the struggle of people to reconcile his divine nature and messianic claims with his humble human origins.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a direct response to Jesus' powerful declaration of his mission in the Nazareth synagogue, immediately following his reading from [Isaiah 61:1-2](/isaiah/61-1-2 "Isaiah 61:1-2 - The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me") and his bold assertion, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears" ([Luke 4:21](/luke/4-21 "Luke 4:21 - Scripture Fulfilled")). The initial "wonder" described in [Luke 4:22](/luke/4-22 "Luke 4:22 - Nazareth's Initial Reaction") sets the stage for the dramatic shift in the crowd's disposition. Their admiration quickly sours into hostility and an attempt to kill him, as detailed in [Luke 4:28-30](/luke/4-28-30 "Luke 4:28-30 - Jesus Escapes Nazareth"), after Jesus challenges their preconceived notions and alludes to God's grace extending beyond Israel. Thus, [Luke 4:22](/luke/4-22 "Luke 4:22 - The Nazareth Rejection") serves as a crucial hinge, marking the transition from initial awe to profound rejection in his own hometown, a narrative pattern that recurs throughout his ministry.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jesus' visit to Nazareth, his childhood home, was a customary practice for a devout Jew, especially for teaching in the synagogue. In first-century Jewish society, a person's identity and standing were often tied to their family and place of origin. Nazareth was a small, obscure village, generally looked down upon (as famously noted in [John 1:46](/john/1-46 "John 1:46 - Can anything good come out of Nazareth?")). For the people of Nazareth, Jesus was not a stranger but "Joseph's son," a familiar figure from a known, humble family of carpenters. This deep familiarity, coupled with their low estimation of Nazareth itself, created a significant barrier to recognizing Jesus' divine authority. Their question about Joseph's son reflects a common cultural bias where a prophet or great teacher was expected to come from a more prominent background or be of a known, esteemed lineage, not a local boy from a backwater town.

* **Key Themes:** [Luke 4:22](/luke/4-22 "Luke 4:22 - The Nazareth Rejection") powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Luke's Gospel. Firstly, it highlights the **authority and power of Jesus' words**. His teaching was not merely eloquent but carried a divine weight that astonished even those who knew him best. Secondly, it introduces the pervasive theme of **rejection**, particularly from those who should have been most receptive. The initial wonder quickly gives way to skepticism, illustrating the human tendency to allow familiarity and preconceived notions to hinder recognition of divine truth. This tension between Jesus' divine identity and his humble human origins is a recurring motif, emphasizing the challenge of faith in the face of human expectations. Finally, the "gracious words" point to the **nature of God's grace** embodied in Jesus, which, though initially appreciated, would ultimately be rejected by many who clung to their own understanding of the Messiah.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wondered (Greek, _thaumázō'_):** This word signifies a strong emotional reaction of astonishment, amazement, or admiration. It implies a sense of awe mixed with perplexity, as the listeners were deeply impressed by Jesus' words but struggled to reconcile them with their knowledge of his background. It's more than mere surprise; it suggests a profound, almost bewildered, appreciation for something extraordinary.
* **Gracious (Greek, _cháris'_):** This term, often translated as "grace," denotes favor, kindness, or goodwill. When applied to words, as here, it implies speech that is not only eloquent and pleasing but also imbued with divine favor, truth, and spiritual blessing. Jesus' words were full of God's redemptive power, offering salvation and profound insight, far beyond mere human wisdom or rhetoric. They were words that conveyed the very essence of God's benevolent disposition toward humanity.
* **Words (Greek, _lógos'_):** While "lógos" broadly means "something said" or "discourse," in a theological context, especially in the New Testament, it can carry profound significance, referring to divine revelation or even the Divine Expression itself (as in [John 1:1](/john/1-1 "John 1:1 - The Word Was God")). Here, it emphasizes that Jesus' speech was not just human utterance but words that carried divine authority and content, "proceeding out of his mouth" (G1607 _ekporeúomai_ from G1537 _ek_ and G4750 _stóma_), indicating their origin and power.
* **Son (Greek, _huiós'_):** This term, referring to a male offspring, is crucial in the question "Is not this Joseph's son?" (G2501 _Iōsḗph_). It highlights the people's focus on Jesus' earthly lineage and human parentage, which, in their minds, contradicted the divine authority and wisdom they had just witnessed. Their emphasis on his human sonship serves as a stark contrast to his true divine Sonship, which they failed to recognize.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And all bare him witness,"**: The phrase indicates a collective affirmation or testimony from the entire assembly. Initially, they acknowledged the truth and power of what Jesus said, confirming the impact of his words. This "bearing witness" is a positive, albeit fleeting, recognition of his unique authority.
* **"and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth."**: This clause describes their profound emotional reaction. They were astonished and amazed ("wondered") not just by the content but by the quality and spiritual power of his speech. The "gracious words" (G5485 _cháris_ G3056 _lógos_) suggest that his teaching was filled with divine favor, truth, and spiritual blessing, emanating directly ("proceeded out of his mouth") from him as the source of grace.
* **"And they said,"**: This introduces a shift in the narrative, signaling the transition from an internal, emotional reaction of wonder to an audible, collective statement that reveals their underlying skepticism and doubt.
* **"Is not this Joseph's son?"**: This rhetorical question, posed by the crowd, encapsulates their disbelief and the core of their objection. It reveals their struggle to reconcile the extraordinary, grace-filled words they just heard with their mundane, familiar knowledge of Jesus as the carpenter's son from their own town. Their earthly understanding of his origins clashed with the divine revelation they had just witnessed, leading them to dismiss his authority based on his perceived humble background.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 4:22 masterfully employs several literary devices to highlight the dramatic tension of the scene. **Juxtaposition** is central, contrasting the people's initial "wonder" at Jesus' "gracious words" with their immediate, dismissive question, "Is not this Joseph's son?" This sharp shift from awe to skepticism underscores the human struggle to accept divine truth when it challenges preconceived notions. The question itself functions as a **Rhetorical Question**, not seeking information but expressing doubt and incredulity. It reveals the crowd's internal conflict and their inability to reconcile Jesus' divine authority with their knowledge of his humble human origins. Furthermore, there is profound **Irony** in their statement; they recognize Jesus' earthly identity ("Joseph's son") but fail to grasp his true, divine identity as the Son of God, which is the very source of the "gracious words" they just heard. This verse also serves as **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the broader theme of rejection that Jesus would face throughout his ministry, particularly from those who were familiar with him yet refused to believe.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 4:22 serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of divine revelation and human response. The "gracious words" proceeding from Jesus' mouth underscore his unique identity as the embodiment of God's grace and truth, the very Word of God made flesh. This initial wonder highlights the inherent power and attractiveness of divine truth, yet the subsequent question about Joseph's son reveals the deep-seated human tendency to allow earthly familiarity and preconceived notions to blind us to spiritual reality. It speaks to the ongoing tension between faith and unbelief, where the very ordinariness of God's chosen vessel can become a stumbling block for those who expect a more conventional or outwardly impressive manifestation of the divine. This passage thus sets the stage for understanding why many, despite witnessing Jesus' miracles and hearing his profound teaching, ultimately rejected him, prioritizing their human logic over divine revelation.

* [John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh") – This verse explicitly states that "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth," directly connecting Jesus' person with the "gracious words" he spoke.
* [Matthew 13:54-58](/matthew/13-54-58 "Matthew 13:54-58 - Jesus Rejected at Nazareth") – This parallel account in Matthew explicitly details the people's disbelief, asking, "Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?" and concludes with Jesus' inability to do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
* [Isaiah 53:2-3](/isaiah/53-2-3 "Isaiah 53:2-3 - The Suffering Servant's Appearance") – This prophecy describes the Suffering Servant as having "no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him," reflecting the human tendency to dismiss the divine based on unassuming outward appearance, much like the people of Nazareth dismissed Jesus.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The scene in Luke 4:22 offers a timeless mirror for self-reflection, challenging us to examine the filters through which we perceive truth and authority. Just as the people of Nazareth struggled to reconcile Jesus' divine words with his familiar, humble origins, we too can fall prey to preconceived notions, dismissing profound truth because it comes from an unexpected source or challenges our comfortable paradigms. This passage calls us to cultivate a posture of humility and openness, recognizing that God often works in ways that defy human expectations. It reminds us that true spiritual discernment requires looking beyond superficial appearances and familiar backgrounds to recognize the divine authority and grace that can manifest in the most ordinary of circumstances. Furthermore, Jesus' "gracious words" serve as a powerful model for our own communication. Our speech, like his, should aim to be not just informative or persuasive, but imbued with grace, truth, and spiritual blessing, reflecting the character of Christ and building others up.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What preconceived notions or familiarities in my own life might be hindering my ability to fully receive God's truth or recognize His work?**
* **In what ways do my words reflect the "gracious words" of Jesus, and how can I intentionally cultivate speech that is seasoned with grace and truth?**
* **How do I respond when divine truth challenges my comfortable understanding or comes from a source I might initially dismiss?**
* **What does it mean for me to look beyond outward appearances to discern God's presence and authority in the world around me?**

### FAQ
**Why did the people of Nazareth wonder at Jesus' words but then immediately question his identity?**

Answer: The initial "wonder" (G2296 _thaumázō_) was a genuine, instinctive reaction to the profound authority and spiritual depth of Jesus' teaching, which stood in stark contrast to anything they had heard before. His "gracious words" (G5485 _cháris_ G3056 _lógos_) were undeniably captivating. However, this immediate admiration quickly collided with their deep-seated familiarity with Jesus' human background. Knowing him as "Joseph's son" (G2501 _Iōsḗph_ G5207 _huiós_), a local carpenter's boy from their obscure town, they struggled to reconcile this mundane reality with the extraordinary wisdom and power emanating from him. Their question, "Is not this Joseph's son?", was a rhetorical expression of disbelief, implying: "How can someone so ordinary, someone we know so well, speak with such divine authority?" It highlights the human tendency to allow preconceived notions and earthly knowledge to create a barrier to recognizing divine truth, as seen in other accounts of Jesus' rejection in [Matthew 13:57](/matthew/13-57 "Matthew 13:57 - A Prophet Without Honor").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 4:22, with its depiction of Jesus speaking "gracious words" and being questioned as "Joseph's son," profoundly points to Christ's unique identity and mission. Jesus is the ultimate embodiment of "grace and truth" ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")), the living Word of God whose every utterance is imbued with divine favor and redemptive power. The "gracious words" that proceeded from his mouth were not merely eloquent speech but the very expression of God's saving purpose for humanity, foreshadowing the message of reconciliation and eternal life that would be proclaimed through him ([2 Corinthians 5:19](/2_corinthians/5-19 "2 Corinthians 5:19 - God was in Christ reconciling the world")). Yet, the people's incredulous question, "Is not this Joseph's son?", underscores the profound paradox of the Incarnation: the infinite God taking on finite human form, the divine Son of God willingly embracing a humble human lineage ([Philippians 2:7](/philippians/2-7 "Philippians 2:7 - Christ Emptied Himself")). This tension between his divine nature and his human origins is central to Christ's fulfillment. He is the Messiah who, though rejected by his own ([John 1:11](/john/1-11 "John 1:11 - He Came to His Own")), ultimately offers salvation through the very grace he embodies and the words he speaks, culminating in his sacrificial death and resurrection, which fully reveal the power of his "gracious words" to transform and redeem all who believe ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 13:54

And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this [man] this wisdom, and [these] mighty works?

Matthew 13:56

And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this [man] all these things?

John 6:42

And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

Psalms 45:2

Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.

Proverbs 16:21

¶ The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

Mark 6:2

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?

Mark 6:3

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.