Luke 4:26Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

As I previously mentioned, certain Jews asserted that the prophecies related to Christ were realized either through the holy prophets or through notable figures among their own people. In response, He aims to correct this misconception by referencing the facts that Elijah was sent to assist a single widow and that the prophet Elisha cured only one leper, Naaman from Syria. This reflects the Gentile church, which was destined to accept Him and find healing from their afflictions, while Israel continued in its lack of repentance.

The prophet is indeed not welcomed in his own homeland, among his own kind. Although Elijah hailed from the region of Thebes, the narrative does not indicate that he was rejected by that city, but rather by the entirety of Israel. If anyone disputes this, let them demonstrate instances where the Thespians persecuted him while the Israelites embraced him. According to Scripture, who actually accepted him? Only a widow from the foreign land of Sarepta. "In truth, there were many widows... in the land of Israel, yet to none of them was he sent" (Luke 4:25-26).

Indeed, I assure you that during the time of Elijah, there were numerous widows (cf. 1 Kings 18, 1 Kings 17). Those days were not solely for the prophet Elijah! They were a period marked by his miraculous deeds, during which he illuminated the hearts of those who recognized the brilliance of divine grace in his works and turned toward the Lord. For those who reflected upon the eternal heavenly truths, the firmament was both revealed and concealed (cf. Jn. 1:51; Gen. 28:12), particularly during the famine that stemmed from a scarcity of the knowledge of God. We have elaborated further on this matter in our treatise regarding widows (refer to 1 Sam. 17).

Through His example, He illustrates that the people were unworthy of miracles due to their persistent lack of faith. During Elijah's era, although there were numerous widows among the Israelites, God did not send him to any of them, deeming them unworthy of his presence, but instead to a single woman in Sarepta, a city in Sidon, because of her devotion and willingness to embrace goodness. Despite being a foreigner, she experienced miraculous events in her home, as recorded in the third book of Kings. Similarly, He refrains from performing signs for those who are unworthy, not only because it serves no purpose but also risks inciting blasphemy, choosing rather to act for the benefit of those who will respond and be improved by His works.

Elijah and Elisha experienced this same situation. When the Israelites lacked faith in them, both prophets extended kindness to those outside their community. In the same way, I must also show goodwill to others.

The Savior explained that miraculous signs are not limited by geography or familial ties, but rather depend on a certain openness of heart to accept them. They were aware from the Old Testament that “there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, so that there was a great famine in all the land; and Elijah was not sent to any of them, but only to a widow in Sarepta of Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel under the prophet Elisha; and not one of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”

Sarepta of Sidon refers to a location in the region of the Phoenician city of Sidon, situated along the coastline between Sidon and Tyre. The mention of the widow can be found in 1 Samuel 17:9.

He began by declaring, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." The Evangelist does not detail the Lord's address, yet it captivated all who listened; His message was so compelling and delightful that those present were astonished by the gracious words that flowed from His lips. However, the audience was not inclined to believe; despite recognizing that the Messiah's arrival was imminent, as evidenced by the ministries of John the Baptist and Christ Himself, they could not perceive Jesus, who had long lived humbly among them, as the Messiah. They were astonished by the gracious words He spoke, but internally questioned, "Is this not the son of Joseph?" This viewpoint posed a significant barrier to their faith.