Luke 4:28

When they heard. The people of Nazareth were not slow to see the application of the words Jesus had spoken. They saw clearly the point He was making. Possibly there flashed before their memory some incidents from the Saviour’s childhood and youth when Jesus’ loyalty to right had silently condemned their own wrong course of action (DA 89); now the Lord’s implied rebuke fell heavily upon their reluctant hearts. Momentarily conscious of their own defective characters and of their need for true repentance and conversion, their evil hearts rose in revolt (see Rom. 8:7). Pride and prejudice darkened their unwilling minds to the light of truth that had momentarily penetrated their dim souls.

Filled with wrath. Aware that the words of Jesus described them perfectly, they were unwilling to hear more. To accept Him they must admit that they were no better than the heathen, whom they looked upon as dogs, and this they refused to do. They were unwilling to humble their hearts. How different the words of Jesus were from the “smooth things” they were accustomed to hearing (see on Isa. 30:10)! Apparently, the people of Nazareth would rather remain poor, blind, and in servitude (see Luke 4:18). Though they were wounded to the quick, their guilty consciences rose in haste to silence the piercing words of truth. Fierce national pride resented the thought that the blessings of the gospel should be made available to the heathen, and in their unreasoning bigotry they were ready to slay the Prince of life (see Acts 3:15).