Outraged Over Sovereign Mercy

APRIL 13, 2023  

 “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…” (Luke 4:28, 29a)

“All they” refers to the people of Nazareth who were gathered together on the Sabbath Day. Luke tells us how they had just witnessed with great wonderment the gracious words which Jesus had spoken in their midst. He had read to them out of the Prophet Isaiah (Ch. 61:1, 2) about Messiah, Who would come. He then declared the present fulfillment of that prophecy in Himself and His Gospel work.

What Jesus said next was in response to the thoughts that were going through their minds: “Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.” To this, Jesus responds by pointing out that God’s works of mercy and grace are done according to His Sovereign prerogative. This He does by using a couple of examples from the Old Testament taken from the ministries of Elijah and Elisha. Did Elijah go to Sarepta to bring relief to a Gentile widow who was in need because there were no needy widows in Israel? And was it because there were no lepers among his own people that Elisha decided to perform his healing miracle upon a Syrian by the name of Naaman?

When Jesus had thus spoken, the multitudes, who only moments before were marveling at His gracious words, were now infuriated. Not only did they thrust Him from their city, they fully intended to kill Him. (See Vs. 29b)

We learn from this event how bitterly human nature dislikes the doctrine of the sovereignty of God. When our Lord reminded the people of His own hometown that God was under no obligation to work miracles among them, their admiration immediately turned to hatred, and they were “filled with wrath.”The fact that He had done “many mighty works,” in Capernaum did not put Him in debt to the folks at Nazareth. “He doeth according to His will…and none can stay his hand, or say unto Him, what doest thou.” God is no respecter of persons, and He is not beholden to any man. The people of Nazareth felt that they deserved special favor because Jesus’ family lived there, and Jesus was brought up there. The Jews, we understand, were very resentful because Paul disallowed them any advantage over the Gentiles. In order to confirm the truth of his argument the Apostle quoted the Lord’s words to none other than Moses himself, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” (Rom. 9:15; Ex. 33:19)

Men in general will passionately protest this undeniable truth, which both Scripture and common reasoning declare to be true. But, as is usually the case, human nature curses that which it ought to bless. I can say that I am saved because God is no respecter of persons, and because He will have mercy on whom He will, and He will have compassion on whom He will. If you are a child of grace, it is only because God saves whom He will. We are not required to somehow “qualify” for salvation. “He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him.” If you are not saved, your hope of ever being saved lies in the fact that God sheds His grace on whom He will regardless of race, gender, pedigree, social status, or any other classification that might exist. Just cast yourself on His mercy and see for yourself that it is true.

Whether we like it or not, the sovereignty of God is a doctrine clearly set forth in Scripture, and a fact clearly to be seen in the world. All things are ordered by the sovereign hand of God. Let us be thankful for such light as we enjoy and use it profitably while we have it. And let us not doubt that when the day comes when we know as we are known, we shall be convinced, as will the whole world, that He Who now does as He wills and gives no account of His actions, has done all things well.