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Scott's Reference Library
Matthew 4:12 through Matthew 4:23 (NIV)
Services:
January
27, 2008 |
January
23, 2005
12When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee.
13Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the
area of Zebulun and Naphtali—14to fulfill what was said through the prophet
Isaiah:
15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, along the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.”
17From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is
near.”
18As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon
called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for
they were fishermen. 19“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you
fishers of men.” 20At once they left their nets and followed him.
21Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his
brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their
nets. Jesus called them, 22and immediately they left the boat and their father
and followed him.
23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the
good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the
people.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 12-17
It is just with God to take the gospel and the means of grace, from those that
slight them and thrust them away. Christ will not stay long where he is not
welcome. Those who are without Christ, are in the dark. They were sitting in
this condition, a contented posture; they chose it rather than light; they were
willingly ignorant. When the gospel comes, light comes; when it comes to any
place, when it comes to any soul, it makes day there. Light discovers and
directs; so does the gospel. The doctrine of repentance is right gospel
doctrine. Not only the austere John Baptist, but the gracious Jesus, preached
repentance. There is still the same reason to do so. The kingdom of heaven was
not reckoned to be fully come, till the pouring out of the Holy Spirit after
Christ’s ascension.
VERSES 18-22
When Christ began to preach, he began to gather disciples, who should be
hearers, and afterwards preachers of his doctrine, who should be witnesses of
his miracles, and afterwards testify concerning them. He went not to Herod’s
court, not to Jerusalem, among the chief priests and the elders, but to the sea
of Galilee, among the fishermen. The same power which called Peter and Andrew,
could have wrought upon Annas and Caiaphas, for with God nothing is impossible.
But Christ chooses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.
Diligence in an honest calling is pleasing to Christ, and it is no hinderance to
a holy life. Idle people are more open to the temptations of Satan than to the
calls of God. It is a happy and hopeful thing to see children careful of their
parents, and dutiful. When Christ comes, it is good to be found doing. Am I in
Christ? is a very needful question to ask ourselves; and, next to that, Am I in
my calling? They had followed Christ before, as common disciples, John 1:37; now
they must leave their calling. Those who would follow Christ aright, must, at
his command, leave all things to follow him, must be ready to part with them.
This instance of the power of the Lord Jesus encourages us to depend upon his
grace. He speaks, and it is done.
VERSES 23-25
Wherever Christ went, he confirmed his Divine mission by miracles, which were
emblems of the healing power of his doctrine, and the influences of the Spirit
which accompanied it. We do not now find the Saviour’s miraculous healing power
in our bodies; but if we are cured by medicine, the praise is equally his. Three
general words are here used. He healed every sickness or disease; none was too
bad; none too hard, for Christ to heal with a word. Three diseases are named;
the palsy, which is the greatest weakness of the body; lunacy, which is the
greatest malady of the mind; and possession of the devil, which is the greatest
misery and calamity of both; yet Christ healed all, and by thus curing bodily
diseases, showed that his great errand into the world was to cure spiritual
maladies. Sin is the sickness, disease, and torment of the soul: Christ came to
take away sin, and so to heal the soul.