Looking at the event where Jesus read from the Book of Isaiah to the congregation at Nazareth and then comparing important parallels with that congregation and today's church, we see it demonstrate lessons we should learn, such as not taking our own righteousness for granted by going into a rage when shown its shortcoming. Why do people get mad so easily? In Luke 4, all they in the synagogue flew into a rage when Jesus read the weekly portion of the Haftara to His local congregation. The way the Synagogue conducted the service was to read the Torah portion first, which was speculated to be Leviticus 25 on Jubilee, and a Haftara portion in which Jesus read Isaiah 61. Here we are shown the important insight that He cut into two the prophesied elements of His return, the redemption and healing that He brings to His people is the part he brings now, the vengeance will happen on a future date. While they initially were brought joy by His good news, the "defensive screen" appeared when He said they lacked faith and did not deserve the miracles because of that lack. Learning of their shortcomings, they soon devolved into attempted murder which shows us that even those who study God's word daily can fall into rage when their own righteousness is called into question.

Nazareth is the city in Galilee to which Joseph returned with Mary and Jesus after the birth in Bethlehem. Jesus was reared in Nazareth. He introduced His first ministry by reading Isaiah 61:1-2 in Nazareth's synagogue. The Galilean audience members were filled with wrath and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Many Galileans knew that Jesus was the carpenter's son from Nazareth and were familiar with His mother and family. Jesus began His ministry from Galilee as foretold in Isaiah 9.

Jesus came to His own country and taught in the synagogue there. The people were astonished and asked where this Man got this wisdom and these mighty works. They identified Him as the carpenter's son, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Simon, and Judas, noting that His sisters were all with them. They were offended at Him. Jesus said that a prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house. He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. The word carpenter in the Greek is tekton, meaning a master craftsman. It could apply to a shipbuilder, a cart maker, a cooper, or someone who built buildings. This word tekton is the root for the English word architect. Joseph was likely involved in the whole range of general contracting as a builder of buildings rather than limited to carpentry. As the eldest son Jesus would have been most deeply involved with him and the heir apparent to the general contracting business. This added to their prejudice because they could not conceive that anybody who was the heir apparent of a father's very fine business would willingly give something up for the uncertainties of being an itinerant preacher. The verse states that His sisters are they not all with us. If He had one sister it would have said is not she with us. If He had two sisters it would have said are they not both with us. If He had three or more then the word all would be used. He had at least three sisters and four brothers.

Jesus left Nazareth after preaching in the synagogue there. The people attempted to cast Him down from a hill. Jesus departed Nazareth intensively and came to dwell in Capernaum. Capernaum became the center of His operations in Galilee. This move fulfilled the prophecy spoken by Isaiah regarding the land of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali. The intensive nature of the departure relates to the lack of honor a prophet receives in his own city or his own country and in his own family.

Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read. The people in the synagogue knew His family was from this same town of Nazareth, and they knew Jesus did not have a formal education. He was just the Son of Joseph the carpenter. Nazareth sits above the Jezreel Valley, and there are cliffs nearby. Nazareth was not right on the cliffs. The people thrust Him out of the city and then led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Geographically, Nazareth was at least a mile from the cliffs, and it may have been closer to two. The zealous ones in Nazareth would have been at the place God chose on Pentecost. The synagogue in Nazareth probably would not have been filled with healthy, zealous men who were overflowing with indignation and eager to march a mile or two and push a Man in the prime of His strength over a cliff. It was perfectly acceptable for them to be in their own synagogue for the Day of Atonement.

In Nazareth Jesus came to the place where He had been brought up. He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read. He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written that the Spirit of the LORD is upon Him to proclaim liberty to the captives and to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD. He closed the book and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. He began to say that this Scripture was fulfilled in their hearing. The passage relates to the year of release that preceded the Jubilee proclaimed on the Day of Atonement. With the year of release in 26-27 AD and with Jesus proclaiming the Jubilee the first year of His ministry was the year 27-28 AD beginning in the fall.

Nazareth is referenced as the place from which Jesus of Nazareth came. Jesus of Nazareth is presented as the one who was the logos. He was the Creator. He was the reason behind the creation. Jesus of Nazareth is shown to be the Christ. Jesus of Nazareth is identified as the one who fits the prophecies made about Him. Jesus of Nazareth is described as God in the flesh. Philip referred to Him as Jesus of Nazareth the son of Joseph. Nathanael asked whether anything good could come out of Nazareth. The Bible did not prophesy that the Messiah would come out of Nazareth. It only prophesied that it would be from Naphtali of Galilee and Nazareth was in the land of Naphtali. Nathanael was from Cana and Cana was only about three miles away from Nazareth. The phrase about Nazareth has given people the idea that Nazareth was a little backwater hovel. Nazareth was not Jerusalem. Nazareth was not a little backwater hick town. Nazareth was just a hop skip and a jump off the two main trading routes that ran between Damascus and Egypt. The Via Maris passed very close within a couple of miles of Nazareth. Nazareth was not noted as being a great cosmopolitan center but it was not a backwater town either. Their family was from Nazareth. He was just the carpenter the contractor from Nazareth.