Albert Barnes Commentary Luke 4:23

"And he said unto them, Doubtless ye will say unto me this parable, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in thine own country." — Luke 4:23 (ASV)

Physician, heal thyself. This proverb was probably in common use at that time. The meaning is this: Suppose that a man should attempt to heal another when he was himself diseased in the same manner; it would be natural to ask him first to cure himself, and thus to demonstrate that he was worthy of confidence.

The connection of this proverb, here, is this: "You profess to be the Messiah. You have performed miracles at Capernaum. You profess to be able to deliver us from our illnesses, our sins, our afflictions. Show that you have the power, that you are worthy of our confidence, by working miracles here, as you profess to have done at Capernaum." It does not refer, therefore, to any purification of his own, or imply any reflection on him for setting up to teach them. It was only a demand that he would show the proper evidence by miracles why they should trust in him, and he proceeds to show them why he would not give them this evidence.

Whatsoever we have heard done. Whatever we have heard that you have done. It would seem, from this, that Christ had previously performed miracles in Capernaum, though the evangelist has not recorded them.

In Capernaum. Capernaum was on the north-west corner of the Sea of Tiberias, and was not far from Nazareth. It is likely that some of those who then heard him might have been present and witnessed some of his miracles at Capernaum. See Barnes on Matthew 4:13.