John Calvin Commentary Matthew 13:54

"And coming into his own country he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?" — Matthew 13:54 (ASV)

So that they were amazed. They are struck with amazement at the novelty of the occurrence: that Christ, who had not learned letters but had been employed from youth to manhood in a manual occupation, is such an eminent teacher and is filled with divine wisdom.

In this miracle they should have perceived the hand of God, but their ingratitude made them cover themselves with darkness.³⁴⁶ They are compelled to admire him, whether they will or not, and yet they treat him with contempt.

And what is this but rejecting a prophet whom God has taught, because he has not been educated by men? They condemn themselves by their own admission when they give such an honorable testimony to the doctrine of Christ, which after all has no influence on them because it does not originate, in the usual way, from the earth. Why do they not rather lift their eyes to heaven and learn that what exceeds human reason must have come from God?

Besides, the miracles, which were added to the doctrine, should have affected them more powerfully, or at least aroused them from their excessive carelessness and stupidity to glorify God. For certainly, when God adopts unusual methods, he displays the power of his hand all the more clearly.

And yet this was the very reason why the inhabitants of Nazareth maliciously drew a veil over their eyes. We see, then, that it is not mere ignorance that hinders people, but that, of their own accord, they seek out grounds for offense to prevent themselves from following the path to which God invites them.

We should rather argue in the opposite way: that when human means fail, the power of God is clearly revealed to us and should receive undivided praise.

³⁴⁶ “Mais par leur ingratitude ils se sont eblouis l’entendement, a fin de ne faire leur profit de ce qu’ils voyoyent devant leurs yeux;” — “but by their ingratitude their understanding was dazzled, so that they did not derive advantage from what they saw before their eyes.”;” — “but by their ingratitude their understanding was dazzled, so that they did not derive advantage from what they saw before their eyes.”