Mark 6:1–6

Familiarity can sometimes make us miss the miracles that He brings to our life. God wants us hot or cold for His Word, not ambivalent. In complacency we fail to seek the fullness He offers through Holy Spirit. We must not take our salvation for granted.

In unity with Holy Spirit is the only way we mature!

God wanted the Israelites to obey Him with sincere hearts, and He desires the same response from us. Yes, we're obligated to obey God because of who He is and because He has rescued us from the bondage of sin (Colossians 1:13;  Romans 6:6-7); but more than that, we obey because we love Him, not just from duty, but freely from a heart of gratitude for all He has done for us.

In the New Testament, we see the Pharisees counted up 613 commands from Scripture and turned them into a religious code. Striving to obey this code created in them a spirit of self-righteousness, and they judged others for falling short.

Jesus condemned their attitude (Matthew 23:28). He said they had "neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness" (Matthew 23:23). The attitude with which we obey God matters. We don't practice obedience to appear spiritual, impress others or try to earn His favor. We obey God to honor Him because He deserves our best and because we love Him (John 14:15). First5 

'If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him'" (John 14:23).

Mark 6:1–6

6 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him. 4 But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” 5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. The New King James Version

Jesus’ hometown fails to receive Him, citing the knowledge of His family and origins as the reason. Jesus rebukes them and does not perform miracles, since they are unable to receive Him in faith.

This abrupt shift from amazement to offense is unexplained. It seems to imply that no one respected Jesus in Nazareth after this point, suggesting that those who were amazed became convinced by certain naysayers. It may also be that some people believed but the majority of people agreed with the opinion of those who cited Jesus’ background as evidence of why not to believe Him. Faithlife Study Bible

Jesus now went to minister in His own country, the area where He grew up, around Nazareth. The people readily acknowledged both Jesus’ wisdom and His mighty works, but with insensitive hearts and spiritual callousness they rejected Jesus’ message. 

The fact that Joseph is not mentioned here may indicate that he had died. Mark mentions Jesus’ four brothers by name as well as His sisters. One brother, James, did not trust Christ prior to His crucifixion, but seems to have come to faith after Jesus’ resurrection. He later became the leader of the church in Jerusalem and wrote the Epistle of James. Judas later authored the Book of Jude. 

A prophet is not without honor except in his own country is a maxim still repeated and still true today. Perhaps others were jealous of Jesus’ popularity and huge following. Their envy even took the form of violence against Christ. The NKJV Study Bible

Matthew 13:54 When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?

Matthew 13:55 Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?

Matthew 13:56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?”

Matthew 13:57 So they were offended at Him.But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.”