Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 4:25

"But of a truth I say unto you, There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there came a great famine over all the land;" — Luke 4:25 (ASV)

Jesus does not state here that the prophets Elijah (v.26) and Elisha (v.27) went to Gentiles because they were rejected by the Jews; rather, they went because they were sent there by God. Jesus’ audience, however, is becoming more and more enraged as they realize that they will receive no special favors from him and that he considers himself above home ties and tradition.