Scripture Study for

The relationship between Jeremiah and God was never easy. God demanded that Jeremiah give stern warnings and condemnations that brought the prophet pain and hatred. Yet the relationship was profoundly honest and intimate, allowing the prophet at times to express his deep resentment of his calling and even the fact that he had been born (Jeremiah 20:7–18). Here, at the scene of his calling,  Jeremiah is told that he has been created to serve as God’s prophet;  it is not an optional vocation. God recognizes that this life’s work will be painful for Jeremiah, but God also affirms that the prophet will be faithful to his role in speaking God’s word, because God will be with him.

Paul has been warning the Corinthians that the spiritual gifts they have received have led them to overvalue their own personal worth,  taking pride in them and ranking them in importance. The result has been division, the exact opposite of what the gifts are intended to produce. As important as the gifts obviously are, they are a detriment to the community if they are not received and exercised in love. Love leads the individual to seek the good of others, to work for their benefit, and to give way to their needs when possible. The gifts given to the Corinthians are meant to be exercised in love and out of love;  otherwise, they are not only wasted but indeed harmful. 

In Nazareth, the people are amazed but also confused at Jesus’  announcement that the scriptures are now being fulfilled. This ambiguous response points to the perennial difficulty of recognizing who is a true prophet. Jesus assumes that the people want proof of his claim. Prophets such as Elijah and Elisha were known for working wonders, which were proofs of their authenticity. Rather than accede to this expectation, Jesus provocatively points out that there were times when both prophets helped non-Israelites instead of  Israelites. While this reminder points to a central theme in Luke, the universal scope of Jesus’ mission, it infuriates the townspeople, once again illustrating the fact that prophets are often deeply unpopular among their own people.