"When Jesus had finished these parables, He moved on from there. Coming to His hometown, He began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. 'Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?' they asked. 'Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't His mother's name Mary, and aren't His brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all His sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, 'Only in His hometown and in His own house is a prophet without honor.' And He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith." Matthew 13:53-58 (NIV)
After Jesus spoke the seven parables, the people in His home town, who thought that they knew Him well as a boy and as a young man, questioned where He learned all that He spoke. They took offense at Him because they felt that He was nothing special.
It is hard to get respect and honor from people who knew you "way back when," especially if they did not have a very high regard for you then. People will frequently remind you of your past when your present situation, and your future, is brighter than theirs. This is especially true if they feel that they were better off than you were in the past. The best thing to say to them is, "Thanks be to God, I have moved on from there." Remember, we are not here to get the praise of men, we are here to please God and to give Him glory.
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