Matthew 13:58

KJV

And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} he did {G4160} not {G3756} many {G4183} mighty works {G1411} there {G1563} because {G1223} of their {G846} unbelief {G570}.

Complete Jewish Bible

And he did few miracles there because of their lack of trust.

Berean Standard Bible

And He did not do many miracles there, because of their unbelief.

American Standard Version

And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 13:58 concludes Jesus' visit to His hometown of Nazareth, revealing a profound principle concerning the interaction between divine power and human receptivity. Despite Jesus' inherent ability to perform miracles, His works were significantly limited in Nazareth, not due to any deficiency in His power, but because of the pervasive skepticism and unwillingness of the people to believe in Him. This verse underscores the critical role of faith in experiencing God's miraculous intervention, serving as a poignant illustration of how human unbelief can hinder the manifestation of divine activity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Matthew 13:58 serves as the climactic conclusion to a significant section of Jesus' ministry, specifically following His extensive teaching through parables about the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 13:1-53). After these profound teachings, Jesus returns to His familiar hometown of Nazareth. The preceding verses (Matthew 13:54-57) describe the initial astonishment of the people in the synagogue at His wisdom and "mighty works," quickly followed by their dismissive questions: "Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?" Their familiarity with His earthly origins led them to take offense at His claims and authority, setting the stage for the limited display of His power described in [Matthew 13:58](/matthew/13-58 "Matthew 13:58 - Jesus Limited by Unbelief in Nazareth"). This narrative highlights a stark contrast between Jesus' divine authority and the human resistance He encountered.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Nazareth was a small, obscure village in Galilee, not a center of Jewish religious or political power. The people of Nazareth would have known Jesus from His childhood, His family, and His work as a carpenter. In ancient Jewish society, a person's identity and status were often tied to their family and place of origin. For the Nazarenes, Jesus was simply "the carpenter's son," a local boy. Their cultural expectations and preconceived notions about His humble background made it difficult, if not impossible, for them to accept His extraordinary wisdom and miraculous power. This "familiarity breeding contempt" was a common human tendency, especially in tightly-knit communities, and it created a spiritual barrier that even the Son of God chose not to override with an overwhelming display of force. The synagogue was the heart of Jewish community life, a place for teaching and worship, making their rejection of Jesus there particularly significant.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully illustrates several key themes prevalent in Matthew's Gospel and throughout the New Testament. Firstly, it underscores **the hindrance of unbelief**, demonstrating how human skepticism and a lack of receptive faith can act as a significant barrier to the manifestation of God's power. It was not a lack of power on Jesus' part, but a spiritual resistance in the people that limited the miracles. Secondly, the passage highlights the intricate relationship between **divine power and human faith**. While God's power is absolute and sovereign, He often chooses to operate in response to human faith, particularly in the context of healing and miraculous intervention, as seen throughout Jesus' ministry (e.g., [Matthew 9:22](/matthew/9-22 "Matthew 9:22 - Your Faith Has Made You Well")). Finally, it serves as a cautionary tale against **familiarity breeding contempt**. The people of Nazareth were too familiar with Jesus' human upbringing to accept His divine claims, allowing their preconceived notions and refusal to see beyond His earthly identity to prevent them from experiencing the full scope of His miraculous works. This theme resonates with the broader narrative of Israel's rejection of their Messiah found throughout the Gospels (e.g., [John 1:11](/john/1-11 "John 1:11 - He Came to His Own")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **mighty works (Greek, _dýnamis'_):** From G1411, this term refers to inherent force or power, specifically miraculous power, often implying a miracle itself. In this context, it denotes the supernatural deeds and powerful acts that Jesus performed, which were clear demonstrations of divine ability. The use of "many" (G4183, _polýs'_) emphasizes that it was not a complete absence of works, but a significant reduction in the number and scope of miracles compared to other places where faith was present.
* **there (Greek, _ekeî'_):** From G1563, this adverb specifies the location: Nazareth, Jesus' hometown. This geographical specificity underscores the personal nature of the rejection. It highlights that the limitation was localized to this particular place because of the specific attitude of its inhabitants, rather than a general inability on Jesus' part.
* **because of (Greek, _diá'_):** From G1223, this preposition indicates the channel or cause of an act. Here, it explicitly states the reason for the limited miracles: the unbelief of the people. This is a crucial causal link, attributing the outcome directly to their spiritual posture rather than to Jesus' power.
* **unbelief (Greek, _apistía'_):** From G570, this word signifies faithlessness, disbelief, or an unwillingness to believe. It's more than mere intellectual doubt; it implies a spiritual resistance, a lack of trust, or a refusal to accept the truth about Jesus' identity and authority. This "unbelief" was the direct impediment to the "mighty works."

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he did not many mighty works there":** This clause describes the observed outcome of Jesus' visit to Nazareth. The phrase "did not many" (οὐκ ἐποίησεν πολλὰς) indicates a significant limitation, not an absolute cessation. It suggests that while some minor healings might have occurred (as implied in the parallel account in Mark 6:5-6, where He "laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them"), the widespread, spectacular "mighty works" (δυνάμεις) that characterized His ministry elsewhere were notably absent. The word "there" (ἐκεῖ) emphasizes the specific location—His hometown—where this limitation was experienced. This is a striking statement, as Jesus is presented throughout the Gospels as possessing limitless divine power.
* **"because of their unbelief":** This is the crucial explanatory clause, providing the direct cause for the limited display of divine power. The preposition "because of" (διὰ) unequivocally links the absence of many miracles to the "unbelief" (ἀπιστία) of the Nazarenes. Their "unbelief" was not merely a lack of intellectual assent, but a deep-seated spiritual resistance, a refusal to acknowledge Jesus' divine authority and Messianic claims, rooted in their familiarity with His human origins. This highlights a profound theological principle: while God's power is sovereign, its manifestation can be conditioned by human receptivity and faith. It implies that God, in His wisdom, often chooses to work in cooperation with human faith, rather than overriding human will.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 13:58 employs several powerful literary devices. **Cause and Effect** is the most prominent, as the verse explicitly links the limited "mighty works" (the effect) to the people's "unbelief" (the cause). This direct causal statement underscores a fundamental theological principle about the interaction between divine power and human faith. There is also a strong element of **Irony** present; the Messiah, who performs astonishing miracles elsewhere, is met with skepticism and limited effectiveness in His own hometown, the very place where His identity should have been most clearly understood. This situation creates a poignant **Contrast** between Jesus' inherent, limitless power and the constrained expression of that power due to human spiritual resistance. The narrative also uses **Understatement** by stating "not many mighty works," which, given Jesus' usual ministry, implies a significant and unusual curtailment of His typical miraculous activity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 13:58 is a pivotal verse that reveals a profound theological truth: while God's power is infinite and unchallengeable, its manifestation in the world, particularly in miraculous intervention, is often conditioned by human faith. This does not imply that human faith *creates* divine power, but rather that faith serves as the necessary conduit or receptive posture through which God chooses to operate. The Nazarenes' unbelief acted as a spiritual barrier, preventing them from receiving the blessings and demonstrations of power that Jesus readily offered elsewhere. This principle underscores human responsibility in responding to God's presence and power, emphasizing that a closed heart, filled with skepticism and prejudice, can tragically limit the work of the divine. It challenges believers to cultivate a spirit of expectant faith, recognizing that our receptivity profoundly impacts our experience of God's transformative work.

* [Mark 6:5-6](/mark/6-5-6 "Mark 6:5-6 - Jesus Limited by Unbelief in Nazareth")
* [Matthew 9:22](/matthew/9-22 "Matthew 9:22 - Your Faith Has Made You Well")
* [Matthew 17:20](/matthew/17-20 "Matthew 17:20 - The Power of Faith")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 13:58 stands as a powerful, yet sobering, reminder for believers today. It challenges us to honestly examine the state of our own faith and the collective faith within our communities. Are there areas in our lives, churches, or ministries where we might be inadvertently limiting God's power due to our own unbelief, skepticism, or preconceived notions about what God can or will do? Perhaps we are too familiar with God, reducing Him to a predictable formula, or allowing past disappointments to erode our trust in His miraculous ability. This verse calls us to cultivate a radical, expectant faith, a willingness to believe beyond what our senses or past experiences dictate. It encourages us to pray with boldness, to step out in obedience even when the path is unclear, and to genuinely anticipate God's supernatural intervention in our circumstances. When we open our hearts in genuine faith, we create an environment where God's mighty works can flourish, not because we compel Him, but because we align ourselves with His desire to display His power to those who believe.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life or my community might I be limiting God's work due to my own unbelief or skepticism?**
* **How does my "familiarity" with God, the Bible, or church routines potentially hinder my fresh encounter with His power?**
* **What specific steps can I take to cultivate a more expectant and active faith, believing God for "mighty works" in my life and surroundings?**

### FAQ

**Did Jesus lack power in Nazareth, or was His power diminished?**

Answer: No, Jesus did not lack power, nor was His power diminished. The text explicitly states that He "did not many mighty works there *because of their unbelief*." This indicates that the limitation was not inherent to Jesus' divine ability, but rather a consequence of the spiritual climate of Nazareth. Jesus, in His wisdom and sovereignty, chose not to override the free will and hardened hearts of the people with an overwhelming display of force. His power remained absolute, but its manifestation was restrained in response to the pervasive lack of faith, highlighting the principle that God often works in cooperation with human receptivity. The parallel account in [Mark 6:5](/mark/6-5 "Mark 6:5 - Jesus Could Do No Mighty Work There") further clarifies that He "could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them," emphasizing the profound impact of their unbelief on the scope of His miracles.

**What kind of "unbelief" is being described here? Was it just intellectual doubt?**

Answer: The "unbelief" (Greek: _apistía_) described in Matthew 13:58 is more than mere intellectual doubt; it signifies a deeper spiritual resistance and an unwillingness to trust or commit. The people of Nazareth knew Jesus personally, but their familiarity bred contempt. They could not reconcile the "carpenter's son" with the profound wisdom and miraculous power He demonstrated. Their unbelief was rooted in preconceived notions, prejudice, and a refusal to accept His divine claims based on His humble origins (as seen in [Matthew 13:54-57](/matthew/13-54-57 "Matthew 13:54-57 - Jesus Rejected in Nazareth")). It was a hardened heart that prevented them from receiving what He offered, highlighting a spiritual blindness that actively hindered the flow of divine power and blessing.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 13:58, though a sobering account of rejection, finds its Christ-centered fulfillment in the broader narrative of the Messiah's reception by His own people and the ultimate triumph of faith. Jesus, the Son of God, came to His own, yet "His own received Him not" ([John 1:11](/john/1-11 "John 1:11 - He Came to His Own")). The unbelief in Nazareth foreshadows the wider rejection of Christ by many in Israel, culminating in His crucifixion. However, this verse also implicitly points to the necessity of faith for salvation and spiritual transformation. While the Nazarenes' unbelief limited the *display* of mighty works, it could not limit Jesus' ultimate redemptive work. His mission was not contingent on human faith for its completion, but the *experience* of His power and blessing in individual lives is profoundly linked to it. The "mighty works" Jesus performed were signs pointing to His identity as the Christ, and those who believed, regardless of their background, experienced His saving power (e.g., [John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")). Thus, Matthew 13:58 serves as a stark reminder of the tragic consequences of unbelief, while simultaneously underscoring the New Covenant truth that through faith in Christ, all are invited to partake in the ultimate "mighty work" of redemption and new life, a work that no human unbelief can ultimately thwart for those who choose to believe. The call to "not harden your hearts" ([Hebrews 3:12-19](/hebrews/3-12-19 "Hebrews 3:12-19 - The Danger of Unbelief")) echoes the lesson from Nazareth, urging all to embrace the transformative power of the living Christ through faith.

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

Mark 6:5

And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed [them].

Mark 6:6

And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

Romans 11:20

Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

Hebrews 3:12

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Hebrews 3:19

So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Luke 4:25

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;

Luke 4:29

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.