Why did Jesus not do many miracles in Nazareth?

Answer 1

Mark 6:4-6: "But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief ..."

The people Jesus grew up with and who knew him best did not believe that Jesus performed any real miracles, and in his home town he found he could do no great works, just heal a few sick people. We can only speculate that they might have known that Jesus had been trained to heal sick people but they felt they knew him too well to think that he had any great healing powers.

Answer 2

A quick review of Jesus' healing miracles immediately reveals a common theme: the essential role played by faith.

Matthew 8:13 - Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you." And his servant was healed that same hour.

Matthew 9:2 - Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you."

Matthew 9:22 - But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour.

Matthew 9:28, 29 - And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you."

Matthew 15:28 - Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Matthew 17:19, 20 - Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it [a demon] out?" So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a Mustard Seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."

The New Testament account does not indicate that Jesus lacked the power or ability to perform miracles under any circumstances. The sole reason "He could do no mighty work there" (in Nazareth) was their unbelief, not His inability.

The people of Nazareth thought they knew Him well enough to conclude He was no miracle worker, and Jesuswould not perform miracles merely to spite their unbelief.

[Quotes from NKJV. Matthew's gospel alone was cited in the answer above simply to avoid repetition with parallel passages.]

Answer 3

Because he was only known as a carpenter's son.