LECTION 13 - The First Sermon
The First Sermon In The Synagogue Of Nazareth
1. AND Iesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the roll of the prophet Esaias.
2. And when he had opened the roll, he found the place where it was written.
The Spirit (of the Lord) Is upon me,
because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
to preach deliverance to the captives and
recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty them that are bound.
To preach the acceptable year (of the Lord).
3. And he closed the roll, and gave it again to the minister, and sat down, And the eyes (of all them) that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began saying unto them.
This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said,
Is not this Ioseph’s son?
4. And some brought unto him a blind man to test his power, and said,
Rabbi, here is a son of Abraham blind from birth. Heal him as thou hast healed Gentiles in Egypt.
And he, looking upon him, perceived his unbelief and the unbelief of those that brought him, and their desire to ensnare him. And he could do no mighty work in that place because of their unbelief.
5. And they said unto him,
Whatsoever we have heard done in Egypt, do also here in thy own country.
And he said,
Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own home or in his own country, neither doth a physician work cures upon them that know him.
6. And 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. But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
7. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus (the prophet); and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman (the Syrian).
8. And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath. 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. But he, passing through the midst of them, went his way and escaped them.
LECTION 13. 5. -The effects of his education in Egypt and his travels in other countries and knowledge of their religion and mysteries are here clearly seen in the largeness of the heart of Iesus, and his sympathy with all men. He is the true Catholic, who excludes none from his love whose hearts are unto righteousness, while he pities those that are not, knowing the terrible fate that awaits them.