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try。 But of a truth I say unto you； There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah； when the heaven was shut up three years and six months； when there came a great famine over all the land； and unto none of them was Elijah sent； but only to Zarephath； in the land of Sidon； unto a woman that was a widow。 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet； and none of them was cleansed； but only Naaman； the Syrian。〃 Luke 4：23…27； R。 V。
By this relation of events in the lives of the prophets； Jesus met the questionings of His hearers。 The servants whom God had chosen for a special work were not allowed to labor for a hardhearted and unbelieving people。 But those who had hearts to feel and faith to believe were especially favored with evidences of His power through the prophets。 In the days of Elijah； Israel had departed from God。 They clung to their sins； and rejected the warnings of the Spirit through the Lord's messengers。 Thus they cut themselves off from the channel by which God's blessing could come to them。 The Lord passed by the homes of Israel； and found a refuge for His servant in a heathen land； with a woman who did not belong to the chosen people。 But this woman was favored because she had followed the light she had received； and her heart was open to the greater light that God sent her through His prophet。
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It was for the same reason that in Elisha's time the lepers of Israel were passed by。 But Naaman； a heathen nobleman； had been faithful to his convictions of right； and had felt his great need of help。 He was in a condition to receive the gifts of God's grace。 He was not only cleansed from his leprosy； but blessed with a knowledge of the true God。
Our standing before God depends； not upon the amount of light we have received； but upon the use we make of what we have。 Thus even the heathen who choose the right as far as they can distinguish it are in a more favorable condition than are those who have had great light； and profess to serve God； but who disregard the light； and by their daily life contradict their profession。
The words of Jesus to His hearers in the synagogue struck at the root of their self…righteousness； pressing home upon them the bitter truth that they had departed from God and forfeited their claim to be His people。 Every word cut like a knife as their real condition was set before them。 They now scorned the faith with which Jesus had at first inspired them。 They would not admit that He who had sprung from poverty and lowliness was other than a common man。
Their unbelief bred malice。 Satan controlled them； and in wrath they cried out against the Saviour。 They had turned from Him whose mission
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it was to heal and restore； now they manifested the attributes of the destroyer。
When Jesus referred to the blessings given to the Gentiles； the fierce national pride of His hearers was aroused； and His words were drowned in a tumult of voices。 These people had prided themselves on keeping the law； but now that their prejudices were offended； they were ready to commit murder。 The assembly broke up； and laying hands upon Jesus； they thrust Him from the synagogue； and out of the city。 All seemed eager for His destruction。 They hurried Him to the brow of a precipice； intending to cast Him down headlong。 Shouts and maledictions filled the air。 Some were casting stones at Him； when suddenly He disappeared from among them。 The heavenly messengers who had been by His side in the synagogue were with Him in the midst of that maddened throng。 They shut Him in from His enemies； and conducted Him to a place of safety。
So angels protected Lot； and led him out safely from the midst of Sodom。 So they protected Elisha in the little mountain city。 When the encircling hills were filled with the horses and chariots of the king of Syria； and the great host of his armed men； Elisha beheld the nearer hill slopes covered with the armies of God；horses and chariots of fire round about the servant of the Lord。
So； in all ages； angels have been near to Christ's faithful followers。 The vast confederacy of evil is arrayed against all who would overcome； but Christ would have us look to the things which are not seen； to the armies of heaven encamped about all who love God； to deliver them。 From what dangers； seen and unseen； we have been preserved through the interposition of the angels； we shall never know； until in the light of eternity we see the providences of God。 Then we shall know that the whole family of heaven was interested in the family here below； and that messengers from the throne of God attended our steps from day to day。
When Jesus in the synagogue read from the prophecy； He stopped short of the final specification concerning the Messiah's work。 Having read the words； 〃To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord；〃 He omitted the phrase； 〃and the day of vengeance of our God。〃 Isa。 61：2。 This was just as much truth as was the first of the prophecy； and by His silence Jesus did not deny the truth。 But this last expression was that upon which His hearers delighted to dwell； and which they were desirous of fulfilling。 They denounced judgments against the heathen； not discerning
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that their own guilt was even greater than that of others。 They themselves were in deepest need of the mercy they were so ready to deny to the heathen。 That day in the synagogue； when Jesus stood among them； was their opportunity to accept the call of Heaven。 He who 〃delighteth in mercy〃 （Micah 7：18） would fain have saved them from the ruin which their sins were inviting。
Not without one more call to repentance could He give them up。 Toward the close of His ministry in Galilee； He again visited the home of His childhood。 Since His rejection there； the fame of His preaching and His miracles had filled the land。 None now could deny that He possessed more than human power。 The people of Nazareth knew that He went about doing good； and healing all that were oppressed by Satan。 About them were whole villages where there was not a moan of sickness in any house； for He had passed through them； and healed all their sick。 The mercy revealed in every act of His life testified to His divine anointing。
Again as they listened to His words the Nazarenes were moved by the Divine Spirit。 But even now they would not admit that this Man； who had been brought up among them； was other or greater than themselves。 Still there rankled the bitter memory that while He had claimed for Himself to be the Promised One； He had really denied them a place with Israel； for He had shown them to be less worthy of God's favor than a heathen man and woman。 Hence though they questioned； 〃Whence hath this Man this wisdom； and these mighty works？〃 they would not receive Him as the Christ of God。 Because of their unbelief； the Saviour could not work many miracles among them。 Only a few hearts were open to His blessing； and reluctantly He departed； never to return。
Unbelief； having once been cherished； continued to control the men of Nazareth。 So it controlled the Sanhedrin and the nation。 With priests and people； the first rejection of the demonstration of the Holy Spirit's power was the beginning of the end。 In order to prove that their first resistance was right； they continued ever after to cavil at the words of Christ。 Their rejection of the Spirit culminated in the cross of Calvary； in the destruction of their city； in the scattering of the nation to the winds of heaven。
Oh； how Christ longed to open to Israel the precious treasures of the truth！ But such was their spiritual blindness that it was impossible to
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reveal to them the truths relating to His kingdom。 They clung to their creed and their useless ceremonies when the truth of Heaven awaited their acceptance。 They spent their money for chaff and husks； when the bread of life was within their reach。 Why did they not go to the word of God； and search diligently to know whether they were in error？ The Old Testament Scriptures stated plainly every detail of Christ's ministry； and again and again He quoted from the prophets； and declared； 〃This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears。〃 If they had honestly searched the Scriptures； bringing their theories to the test of God's word； Jesus need not have wept over their impenitence。 He need not have declared； 〃Behold； your house is left unto you desolate。〃 Luke 13：35。 They might have been acquainted with the evidence of His Messiahship； and the calamity that laid their proud city in ruins might have been averted。 But the minds of the Jews had become narrowed by their unreasoning bigotry。 The lessons of Christ revealed their deficiencies of character； and demanded repentance。 If they accepted His teachings； their practices must be changed； and their cherished hopes relinquished。 In order to be honored by Heaven； they must sacrifice the honor of men。 If they obeyed the words of this new rabbi； they must go contrary to the opinions of the great thinkers and teachers of the time。
Truth was unpopular in Christ's day。 It is unpopular in our day。 It has been unpop