Matthew 13:58

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

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

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

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

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

Context

Matthew 13 concludes a significant section of Jesus' teaching on the Kingdom of Heaven through parables. Following these teachings, Jesus returns to His hometown, Nazareth. In the synagogue, He teaches with such wisdom and power that the people are astonished. However, their astonishment quickly turns to skepticism and offense. They question His authority and divine origin, saying, "Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son?" (Matthew 13:54-55). This verse directly follows their questioning and rejection of Him based on His familiar earthly background.

Key Themes

  • The Hindrance of Unbelief: This verse powerfully illustrates how human unbelief (Greek: apistia) 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 lack of receptive faith in the people that limited the miracles.
  • Divine Power and Human Faith: While God's power is absolute, He often chooses to operate in response to human faith. This passage highlights a principle where the extent of divine intervention can be influenced by the presence or absence of belief, particularly in the context of healing and miracles.
  • Familiarity and Contempt: The people of Nazareth were too familiar with Jesus' human upbringing to accept His divine claims. Their preconceived notions and refusal to see beyond His earthly identity prevented them from experiencing the full scope of His miraculous works. This serves as a cautionary tale against allowing familiarity to breed spiritual blindness.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "mighty works" translates the Greek word dynameis, which refers to powerful acts, miracles, or supernatural deeds. It denotes inherent power and ability. The term "unbelief" comes from the Greek apistia, which signifies a lack of faith, distrust, or an unwillingness to believe. It's not merely intellectual doubt but a spiritual resistance that hinders the reception of God's truth and power.

Related Scriptures

The parallel account in Mark 6:5-6 states that Jesus "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." This emphasizes the profound impact of their lack of faith.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus often linked healing and miraculous intervention to faith, as seen when He told the woman with an issue of blood, "Thy faith hath made thee whole". Similarly, He taught His disciples about the power of even a small amount of faith to achieve great things, stating that with faith as a grain of mustard seed, they could "remove mountains".

Practical Application

This verse serves as a profound reminder for believers today. Our own unbelief or skepticism can limit what God desires to do in our lives, our churches, and our communities. It challenges us to examine our hearts for areas where we might be limiting God's power due to preconceived notions, past experiences, or a lack of trust in His ability or willingness to act. Cultivating a spirit of genuine faith, expectation, and openness to God's miraculous intervention is crucial for experiencing the fullness of His power and presence.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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.

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