Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” ~ Matthew 4:12-17, ESV ------------------------------------------ Matt. 4:12 John had been arrested. John was imprisoned for his bold rebuke of Herod Antipas. See 14:3–4. Matt. 4:13 leaving Nazareth. Some time elapsed between vv. 12 and 13. Jesus’ stay in Nazareth ended abruptly when he was violently rejected by the people of Nazareth, who tried to murder him (see Luke 4:16–30). Capernaum. He settled in this important town on the trade route at the north end of the Sea of Galilee. Capernaum was the home of Peter and Andrew (Matt. 4:18), James and John (v. 21), and Matthew (9:9). A comparison of the Gospels reveals that Christ had already ministered extensively in Capernaum (see note on Luke 4:23). Matt. 4:15 Galilee of the Gentiles. This name was used even in Isaiah’s time because Galilee lay on the route through which all Gentiles passed in and out of Israel. In Jesus’ time, the region of Galilee had become an important center of Roman occupation. The prophecy cited by Matthew is from Isa. 9:1–2. See Isa. 42:6–7. Matt. 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach. This marks the beginning of his public ministry. Notice that his message was an exact echo of what John the Baptist preached. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. See note on 3:2. The opening word of this first sermon sets the tone for Jesus’ entire earthly ministry (cf. Luke 5:32). Repentance was a constant motif in all his public preaching. And in his closing charge to the apostles, he commanded them to preach repentance as well (Luke 24:47). ~ ESV MacArthur Study Bible
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 12:00:01 +0000
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