John Calvin 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. From the words of Christ, it can be easily inferred that He was treated with contempt by the inhabitants of Nazareth, for He publicly states those thoughts which He knew existed in their minds. He afterwards attributes to them the blame for His declining to work miracles among them and charges them with malice for bestowing no honor on a prophet of God.

The objection He anticipates is this: “There is no reason to wonder, if His countrymen hold Him in little estimation, since He does not dignify His own country as He does other places by working miracles; and, consequently, it is only a just revenge if His own countrymen, whom He treats with less respect than all others, are found to reject Him.”

Such is the meaning of the common proverb: that a physician ought to begin with himself and those immediately connected with him before he exhibits his skill in healing others. The essence of the objection is that Christ acts improperly by paying no respect to His own country, while He makes other cities of Galilee illustrious by His miracles. And this was regarded by the inhabitants of Nazareth as a fair excuse for rejecting Him in their turn.