What does Luke 4:23 mean?
Despite Jesus publicly demonstrating supernatural power, critics often challenged Him to perform "one more," at their command, to prove His message (John 2:18; 6:30; Mark 8:11; Luke 11:16). Even today, such requests are generally insincere. Those who say, "God must prove Himself with a miracle," will explain away whatever miracles they might see (Luke 11:15). Ignoring what's obvious and demanding something more is a sign of stubbornness (Romans 1:18–20; John 5:39–40). It's not surprising that both God the Father and God the Son typically decline such demands (Matthew 16:4).Jesus is reacting to the skepticism of His hometown. He has claimed to be the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy (Luke 4:16–21). In response, the people reply that He—Jesus—is nothing more than another Nazarene boy, like any other they have known (Luke 4:22; Mark 6:1–4). Sensing this resistance, Jesus knows exactly what will come next: a demand to see a miracle. They have heard about His prior miracles, as described in other gospels. Mark's account of this incident implies Jesus had already performed a few healings in Nazareth (Mark 6:5). And yet, when He starts to challenge their beliefs, the people will want something even more spectacular.
His reply, beginning here, cuts off that objection before it can even be spoken. The expression "Physician, heal yourself," is not exclusively about illness or injury. The point is that one claiming to have solved a problem ought to apply that solution to themselves, and those closest to them, before taking it to others. In this case, Jesus' hometown neighbors are about to demand Jesus do the same dazzling works He's done elsewhere.