“Et non poterat ibi virtutem ullam facere, nisi paucos infirmos impositis manibus curavit :”
“And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.”
“So He could not perform any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them.”
“He could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people, and healed them.”
“And he could 1410, 3756 there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.”
3. Yet he could there do no such mighty works, at least not so many, as in other places, because of the unbelief that prevailed among the people, by reason of the prejudices which their leaders instilled into them against Christ, v. 5. It is a strange expression, as if unbelief tied the hands of omnipotence itself; he would have done as many miracles there as he had done elsewhere, but he could not, because people would not make application to him, nor sue for his favours; he could have wrought them, but they forfeited the honour of having them wrought for them. Note, By unbelief and contempt of Christ men stop the current of his favours to them, and put a bar in their own door.
Verses 1-6 Our Lord's countrymen tried to prejudice the minds of people against him. Is not this the carpenter? Our Lord Jesus probably had worked in that business with his father. He thus put honour upon mechanics, and encouraged all persons who eat by the labour of their hands. It becomes the followers of Christ to content themselves with the satisfaction of doing good, although they are denied the praise of it. How much did these Nazarenes lose by obstinate prejudices against Jesus! May Divine grace deliver us from that unbelief, which renders Christ a savour of death, rather than of life to the soul. Let us, like our Master, go and teach cottages and peasants the way of salvation.