Church Fathers Commentary Luke 4:28-30

"And they were all filled with wrath in the synagogue, as they heard these things; and they rose up, and cast him forth out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might throw him down headlong. But he passing through the midst of them went his way." — Luke 4:28-30 (ASV)

St. Cyril of Alexandria: He exposed their evil intentions, and therefore they were enraged. This explains what follows: And all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath. Because He had said, This day is this prophecy fulfilled, they thought He was comparing Himself to the prophets. Therefore, they were enraged and expelled Him from their city, as it follows: And they rose up and cast him out.

St. Ambrose of Milan: It is no wonder that they lost their salvation, since they cast the Savior out of their city. But the Lord, who taught His Apostles by His own example to be all things to all people, neither repels the willing nor chooses the unwilling. He does not struggle against those who cast Him out, nor does He refuse to hear those who supplicate Him. But this conduct was the result of no small hostility, which, forgetful of the feelings of fellow citizens, turned reasons for love into the bitterest hatred. For when the Lord Himself was extending His blessings among the people, they began to inflict injuries upon Him, as it follows: And they led him to the brow of the hill, that they might cast him down.

The Venerable Bede: The people in the synagogue were worse than their master, the Devil. For the Devil says, Cast yourself down; they actually attempt to cast Him down. But Jesus, as if He had suddenly changed His mind or been seized with astonishment, went away, since He still reserved for them a place for repentance. Hence it follows: He, passing through the midst of them, went his way.

St. John Chrysostom: In this, He shows both His human and His divine nature. To stand in the midst of those who were plotting against Him and not be seized showed the majesty of His divinity, but His departure revealed the mystery of the divine plan—that is, His incarnation.

St. Ambrose of Milan: At the same time, we must understand that this physical endurance was not necessary, but voluntary. When He wills it, He is taken; when He wills it, He escapes. For how could He be held by a few people when He was not held by an entire crowd? But He willed that the impiety be the deed of the many, so that while He might be afflicted by a few, He might die for the whole world.

Moreover, He would still rather heal the Jews than destroy them, so that the fruitless outcome of their rage might dissuade them from desiring what they could not accomplish.

The Venerable Bede: The hour of His Passion had not yet come, which was appointed for the preparation day of the Passover. Nor had He yet come to the place of His Passion, for that place—prefigured by the blood of the sacrificial victims—was not Nazareth, but Jerusalem. Nor had He chosen this kind of death, for it was prophesied of Him that He would be crucified by the world.