Gospel of Mark Bible Part 30: When Familiarity Breeds Contempt [Bible Study]
- Rev. Bruce A. Shields
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Scripture Focus
Mark 6:1–6“And He went out from there and came into His hometown; and His disciples followed Him. And when the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, ‘Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to this man, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are His sisters not here with us?’ And they were taking offense at Him. And Jesus was saying to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.’ And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He was marveling at their unbelief. And He was going around the villages teaching.”
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, open our eyes to see Your truth, and guard our hearts from taking lightly the things that are holy. Help us to receive Your Word with reverence and faith, so that we may not fall into unbelief. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Introduction
Today we are looking at a very human danger—familiarity breeding contempt.
As the saying goes, “The better we know people, the more likely we are to find fault with them.” Or, “If you know someone very well or experience something a lot, you stop respecting them.”
When Jesus returned to His hometown of Nazareth (Mark 6:1–6; Luke 4:16–24), instead of rejoicing, His people dismissed Him as “ordinary.” Familiarity blinded them to truth and cut them off from blessing.
This same danger threatens us today if we grow dull toward the things of God.
I. The Message Is Not Received
A. Jesus’ Countrymen Took Offense
At first, they were astonished at His wisdom (Mark 6:2).“And all were speaking well of Him and marveling at the gracious words which were coming forth from His lips” (Luke 4:22).
But quickly they reduced Him to “just a carpenter” (Mark 6:3; Matthew 13:55). Their familiarity turned to offense, and even violent rage (Luke 4:28–30).
Jesus declared: “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, and among his own relatives, and in his own household” (Mark 6:4).
Application: Familiarity blinded them to God’s messenger. By rejecting Jesus, they rejected truth itself.
Illustration: Many pastors experience this. At first appreciated, but once the truth of God’s Word confronts false beliefs or challenges sinful patterns, people turn away. Familiarity makes them dismissive: “He’s just the preacher.”
B. Jesus Limited His Teaching
Because they rejected Him, Jesus withdrew. He went to Capernaum where hearts were open (Luke 4:29–31).
Jesus had already said: “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear… For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him” (Mark 4:23–25).
God gives more truth to those who receive it. Reject it, and even what you had will fade.
James 4:8 reminds us: “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Application: Contempt stops learning. Rejecting the messenger stops spiritual growth.
II. The Blessings Are Not Received
A. Their Unbelief Stopped the Flow of Blessings
“And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them” (Mark 6:5).
Matthew explains: “And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:58).
Faith opens the door; unbelief closes it (Hebrews 11:6).
Application: Faith is the channel of God’s blessing. When unbelief rules, grace is resisted.
B. Might We Be Guilty of the Same?
We too can treat God’s holy things as routine:
Baptism: “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38).
The Lord’s Supper: “Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16).
The Word of God: “Like newborn babies, long for the pure spiritual milk of the word” (1 Peter 2:2).
Prayer: “Let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16).
Assembly: “Not forsaking our own assembling together” (Hebrews 10:25).
The Cross: “How much worse punishment… who has trampled underfoot the Son of God” (Hebrews 10:29).
Application: Routine dulls reverence. Familiarity can make us take lightly the very things God has given for life.
III. The Warning for Us
A. Contempt Brings Judgment
The people of Nazareth judged themselves unworthy of eternal life (Acts 13:46).
“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).
B. Guard Yourself Against Spiritual Dullness
Spiritual dullness is treating what is holy as common.
“Take care, brothers, lest there will be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12).
Instead, “prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers” (James 1:22).
Conclusion
When the people of Nazareth allowed familiarity with Jesus to breed contempt:
They cut themselves off from His teaching.
They shut themselves out from His blessings.
They placed themselves under judgment.
Let us not treat lightly the Word, the Spirit, the Church, or the Cross. Instead, let us pray with the psalmist:
“Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law” (Psalm 119:18).
And let us heed Jesus’ warning:“Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides” (Mark 4:24).
Discussion Questions
Why do you think the people of Nazareth found it hard to accept Jesus as more than “the carpenter”?
What are ways we can fall into treating holy things as “common”?
How does unbelief cut off God’s blessings in our own lives?
What safeguards can we put in place to guard against spiritual dullness?
Reflection Prompt
Examine your own walk with Christ. Are there areas where routine has dulled your reverence? How can you restore awe and faith in those areas?
Application
Determine this week to treat the Word, prayer, worship, and fellowship not as common, but as holy. Approach each with renewed reverence, knowing they are channels of God’s blessing.
Memory Verse
Hebrews 11:6“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who draws near to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
Closing Challenge
May your growing familiarity with Jesus Christ breed not contempt, but ever-deepening reverence, obedience, and joy.
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