The Jews had no doubt that the prophet Isaiah was speaking not in his own name, but in the name of the expected Messiah. Those who were now present in the synagogue undoubtedly heard that Jesus had already accomplished all that the prophet had read that the Messiah was to do; consequently, they had no choice but to recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

Having thus prepared His listeners, Jesus closed the book, gave it to the minister of the synagogue, and sat down. It was a solemn moment. Everybody was looking at Jesus, everybody was looking forward to what He would say. And He began His preaching with the words:

now this scripture has been fulfilled which you have heard (Luke 4:21). Proving then that this scripture had indeed been fulfilled, calling His hearers to repentance, giving them a new commandment of love, and in general explaining to them what is to be understood by the Kingdom of the Messiah and the Kingdom of Heaven, and by what means both can be attained, Jesus would seem to have left not the slightest doubt in His hearers that He is that long-awaited Deliverer, of whom all the prophets spoke.

In fact, many of those in the synagogue, under the influence of this preaching and the miracles performed by Jesus in Judea and Galilee, were ready to accept Him as the Messiah; They were surprised

His wisdom and the words of grace that proceeded from His mouth, and, as the Evangelist Luke says, all testified to Him that this scripture which they had heard was indeed fulfilled today. But among those in the synagogue there were, undoubtedly, Pharisees and scribes in general, learned Jews. They expected in the person of the Messiah an earthly conquering king and were sure that this king, having founded his kingdom, would put the Pharisees and scribes at the head of the government and subjugate the conquered peoples to them. This conviction was so strong, so already absorbed into their flesh and blood, moreover, it promised them such honors and earthly blisses, that it was unpleasant and therefore difficult for them to renounce it. Meanwhile, Jesus speaks of the kingdom of the poor, of repentant sinners, of love for one's neighbors, that is, for all people, and not only for the Jews, and says nothing about them, the Pharisees, about their participation in the Kingdom of the Messiah; so what kind of Messiah is this? «

Is this not Joseph's son? (Luke 4:22).

Is He not a carpenter? (Mark 6:3). From whence the Messiah will come, no one will know; and we know that Jesus lived in Nazareth, among us; we know His Mother, His brothers and sisters; therefore He cannot be the Messiah." That was the reasoning of the leaders of the Jewish people.