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Matthew 4:12 Galilee

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Galilee

After the temptations Jesus left and went to Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee. There he was able to minster to many people.

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Matthew 4:12-25

12. “Remember that between the end of His temptation and the statement in Matthew 4:12 comes the ministry described in John 1:19 through John 3:36.” (Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. [Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004], 19)

“Matthew does not give us the details of this move in his record. This is an example of the fact that the four gospel records do not attempt to parallel each other. One is not a carbon copy of any of the others.” (McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV. [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983], 24)

“John was imprisoned for his bold rebuke of Herod Antipas. See 14:3-4.” (MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Bible Commentary. [Nashville, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2005], 1127)

13. “Some time elapsed between verses 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). (MacArthur, 1127)

“From Isaiah’s day on, many foreigners had lived in Galilee; In the first century more than half the population was Gentile. (Blomberg, Craig L., The New American Commentary, Volume 22, Matthew [Nashville: Broadman Press], 88)

“After John’s imprisonment, Jesus has no more reason to stay in Judea so returns home to Galilee. Capernaum was larger and more significant than Nazareth and strategic in its lake side setting on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee.” (Blomberg, 88)

Gentiles

14. “It was called Gentile country because out of the Roman Empire many folk had migrated to that area. There was a marvelous resort section around the Sea of Galilee, but it was very worldly and even wicked.” (McGee, 25)

15 This region is beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles [KJV].

16. In this verse “Matthew quoted Isaiah (see Isaiah 9:1-2. The prophet wrote about people who ‘walked’ in darkness, but by the time Matthew quoted the passage, the situation was so discouraging that the people were sitting in darkness! Jesus Christ brough the Light to them.” (Wiersbe, 19)

17. “This verse marks the beginning of His public ministry.” (MacArthur, 1127)

“Jesus’ message was, ‘Repent, turn around, come to Me, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” (McGee, 25)

Disciples

18. Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee and called Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother [KJV]. They were using a net to fish in the sea.

“In Matthew 4:17-22 we read of the call of Peter, Andrew, James and John, men who had already met Jesus and trusted Him (John 1:29-42). The details of this call may be found in Mark 1:16-20 and Luke 5:1-11.” (Wiersbe, 20)

19. This is where we find the quotation fishers of men. [KJV]

Are you a fisher of men?

20 and 22. “Matthew focuses solely on the immediacy of their response on this occasion (‘at once’ in v. 20 and ‘immediately’ in v. 22 reflect the identical Greek eutheos [NIV]). When Jesus calls a person to discipleship, there is no excuse for delay or disobedience.” (Blomberg, 91)

Healing

23. “Notice that Jesus is teaching in their synagogues, and He is preaching the gospel of the kingdom. What is it? The gospel (Good News) of the kingdom is at hand in the person of the King. They are to accept and receive Him.” (McGee, 26)

We are to accept Jesus and receive Him in our hearts.

24. Syria is “the area immediately northeast of Galilee.” (MacArthur, 1128)

McGee tells us to “notice the multitudes.” (26)

Also notice the different diseases in this verse which Jesus healed.

25. “Decapolis was a district containing ten cities in the northeastern part of Galilee, east of the Jordan River.” (McGee, 26)

References

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

In this article Scripture quotations taken from KJV.

Blomberg, Craig L., The New American Commentary, Volume 22, Matthew Nashville: Broadman Press
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983
MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Bible Commentary. Nashville, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2005
Robertson, A. T., A Harmony of the Gospels. New York, HarperCollins Publishers
Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004

Temptation                                                                          Beatitudes

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