Matthew 4:12–17

Intro

Lord willing, I would like to return today to our study in the Gospel According to Matthew.

If you would please turn there to chapter 4, verse 12.

Previously we looked at the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. He has now returned from that, and Matthew’s Gospel account goes straight into the King of kings, the Son of David, preaching of the Kingdom of Heaven

I pray that as we examine this passage the Lord would make things very clear for us, as we will be moving around the various Gospel accounts to seek out a greater understanding of the things contained therein.

Matthew 4:12–17 AV

Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Verse 12

Let’s go back and start with verse 12,

Matthew 4:12 AV

Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;

There are some disagreements among students of the Scriptures concerning the exact timing of verse 12 in relationship to the previous account of the temptation of Jesus in verses 1-11.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke write in such a way as to lead some to believe that verse 12 follows immediately in time, the wilderness temptation. However, the Gospel according to John gives us a number of events that took place before verse 12, where Matthew picks up.

you don’t have to turn these verses I’m about to reference

The first appearance of Jesus after his temptation was in John 1:29-34. There John the Baptist, after declaring that Jesus is the Lamb of God, gives testimony to the baptism that formerly took place.

The next day, John the Baptist again declares Jesus to be the Lamb of God. Also, that day, John (the Apostle) and Andrew follow Jesus, and Andrew brings Peter to Jesus.

The day after that, Jesus calls Phillip, who then brings Nathanael.

John chapter 2, verse 1, starts out saying, “And the third day”, this is the third day after John the Baptist introduces Jesus as the Lamb of God. John chapter 2 gives the account of Jesus and his disciples at the marriage in Cana of Galilee, where Mary the mother of Jesus was present. Not all 12 of the apostles where there yet, but only those that have been called up to that point— Lord willing we will take a look at them in coming sermons. It was there, at that wedding, Jesus performed his first recorded miracle, turning the water into wine.

During that feast, when Mary desired Jesus to do something about the feast running out of wine, Jesus said to her that his “hour is not yet come” (vs 4). This hour refers to his public ministry of preaching and miracles- the preaching of the Kingdom that will be proclaimed to all people.

After the wedding Jesus went up to Jerusalem, for the Passover (John. 2:12-25).

John chapter 3:1-21 records the meeting with Nicodemus.

John 3:22–24 (AV)

After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. For John was not yet cast into prison.

John chapter 4 records Jesus going into Samaria, where he met with the Samaritan woman at the well. After that he returned into Galilee and preached there.

Matthew, having had his residence in Galilee, begins his account of Christ’s public ministry with his preaching there. This may be one of the reasons why the details that the Apostle John includes, are not included here. Matthew was from Capernaum, which was on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. He was called as a disciple during the Galilean ministry of Jesus.

Matthew in writing chapters 1-4, gives an account of things that he was not an eyewitness to--- those things were purely by divine revelation. The Holy Spirit inspired Matthew with knowledge beyond his eye witness. Much of what is contained in this Gospel is from the Evangelist’s first hand accounts, and recorded by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Another reason the details provided in the Gospel according to John not being included here by Matthew may be that the aim of the Evangelist was to focus upon the Davidic, Kingly, lineage of Jesus, and the preaching of the Kingdom. From Matthew chapter 1, verse 1 , to Matthew chapter 4, verse 16, there is a great deal of revelation concerning Jesus’ fulfillment of the Old Testament promises and prophecy concerning the Messiah-- the one who would sit upon the throne of David forevermore.

In maintaining his focus upon the Kingship of Christ and his Kingdom, Matthew was led to record the events of the life of Jesus so that they reflected his Messianic fulfillment of the promises of the Old Testament, things that were important for the original audience of this Gospel account, who were Christians with a Jewish heritage.

During the period of time not covered by Matthew there is a transition taking place.

Turn to John chapter 3, verse 25,

John 3:25–31 (AV)

Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

From the Baptism of Jesus till John’s arrest is the period of John decreasing and Jesus increasing. During that time Jesus grows in popularity, gaining more followers, and teaching with greater intensity. The message that comes from Jesus is an higher message, a greater message than what has been preached thus far.

John’s arrest is recorded by Matthew, after the death of John had already occured.

Matthew 14:3–4 AV

For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

This is Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great, who was Tetrarch over Galilee and Peraea. A little background here on him.

If you recall from our study on the timing of the birth of Jesus, Herod the Great died in 4 BC, shortly after the birth of Jesus.

Herod had a will done at one point that named Herod Antipas as the sole heir to his kingdom.

However, Herod the Great changed his will before he died and decided to divide his kingdom between three of his sons (Archelaus, Philip, and Antipas) and his sister (Salome).

Of course, that angered Antipas. He fought the will, but lost-- the last will was to be upheld with the divisions.

According to the The Lexham Bible Dictionary,

“Antipas ruled as tetrarch for 43 years. An astute politician, he was more temperate than either Herod the Great or Archelaus, though he was often indecisive. His rule was peaceful, and like many other Herodian rulers, Antipas became known as a builder (Hoehner, Herod Antipas, 264–65).”

Frank Dicken, “Herod Antipas,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

Herod Antipas would eventually loose his rule and power-- which is attributed to his great sin of marrying his brother’s wife.

His first wife was the daughter of Aretas, the King of Arabia.

The Jewish historian Josephus wrote,

The Works of Josephus: New Updated Edition Chapter 5: Herod the Tetrarch Makes War with Aretas, the King of Arabia, and Is Beaten by Him; As Also concerning the Death of John the Baptist. How Vitellius Went up to Jerusalem; Together with Some Account of Agrippa, and of the Posterity of H

About this time Aretas (the king of Arabia Petrea) and Herod had a quarrel, on the account following: Herod the tetrarch had married the daughter of Aretas, and had lived with her a great while; but when he was once at Rome, he lodged with Herod,a who was his brother indeed, but not by the same mother; for this Herod was the son of the high priest Simon’s daughter. (110) However, he fell in love with Herodias, this last Herod’s wife, who was the daughter of Aristobulus their brother, and the sister of Agrippa the Great. This man ventured to talk to her about a marriage between them; which address when she admitted, an agreement was made for her to change her habitation, and come to him as soon as he should return from Rome; one article of this marriage also was this, that he should divorce Aretas’s daughter.

Antipas and Herodias both divorced their spouses and then married each other.

As you can imagine, the relationship between Aretas (the father of the scorned wife) and Antipas took a turn for the worse. Josephus tells of the escalation between the two which eventually led to war-- where Antipas was defeated. The cause of the major loss, according to Josephus, the Jewish historian, was due to Herod Antipas’ persecution of John the Baptist.

He writes,

The Works of Josephus: New Updated Edition Chapter 5: Herod the Tetrarch Makes War with Aretas, the King of Arabia, and Is Beaten by Him; As Also concerning the Death of John the Baptist. How Vitellius Went up to Jerusalem; Together with Some Account of Agrippa, and of the Posterity of H

2. (116) Now, some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod’s army came from God, and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called the Baptist; (117) for Herod slew him, who was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety towards God, and so to come to baptism; for that the washing [with water] would be acceptable to him, if they made use of it, not in order to the putting away [or the remission] of some sins [only], but for the purification of the body; supposing still that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by righteousness. (118) Now, when [many] others came in crowds about him, for they were greatly moved [or pleased] by hearing his words, Herod, who feared lest the great influence John had over the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise), thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any mischief he might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties, by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it should be too late. (119) Accordingly he was sent a prisoner, out of Herod’s suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I before mentioned, and was there put to death. Now the Jews had an opinion that the destruction of this army was sent as a punishment upon Herod, and a mark of God’s displeasure against him.

Josephus lived from 37-100 AD. He is a renowned Jewish historian, and even though he did not live through this time period, he recorded what was well known among the Jews. His description of John the Baptist is, I think, fairly accurate according to the Word of God. He did not have a correct understanding of John’s message, but he recorded a few things right about what John was preaching. He said John preached righteousness, piety, repentance, conversion, and regeneration. It is also recorded that John practised Baptism, and I like that Josephus says, “… supposing still that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by righteousness.”

John was not preaching a political message, according to Matthew chapter 3, he was preaching repentance and proclaiming truths about the Kingdom of heaven. These were spiritual things, but to the heathen these things are a threat against their wicked rule. It is certainly a threat to the lost when someone is calling out their sin— which John was not shy about.

It was recorded that Herod was worried about the massive following of John, fearing a rebellion. I’m sure also annoyed at repeatedly having his sin exposed and being called to repent. And just like his father, Herod the Great, Antipas decided to murder to protect his rule and power— and silence his enemies.

In Matthew chapter 2, Herod the Great had children under two years of age murdered, in hopes of killing the true King of the Jews. But Providence, by way of an angel, directed Joseph, the supposed father of Jesus, to flee to Egypt.

Again, after that, an angel directed Joseph to take Jesus to Galilee to turn away from Archelaus, the son of Herod the Great and brother to Antipas. Archelaus followed after his father, he was a brutal tyrant who eventually lost his rule due to his tyranny and, I believe the sin of taking his brothers wife (just like Antipas did).

Jesus leaves the area of Galilee where Herod Antipas ruled, and went to upper Galilee, a region that was known as the Galilee of the Gentiles. Not all of the area known as Galilee was under Antipas’ rule. That is why it is distinguished in Matthew 4:13 ,

Verse 13

Matthew 4:13 AV

And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

Matthew 4:15 “The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;” This was in the jurisdiction of Philip.

Jesus did not flee out of the area of the murderous Antipas because he was scared, or afraid of persecution. No. Ever obedient to the will of the Father, Jesus’ move was not only part of prophetic fulfilment, and part of his ministry, but more so because his time had not yet come to be delivered up to suffer and die an atoning death— there was much to be done before that.

Jesus would eventually meet Herod Antipas face to face just before the crucifixion.

Please turn to

Man a Galilaean— Jesus originally from Nazareth which was in the region of Galilee ruled by Herod Antipas. But, the home base of his ministry was also in Galilee.

Luke 23:4–11 AV

Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

To nought means to despise, to treat contemptuously as if they are worthless.

This contempt is something Herod had against the Kingdom of God from the first proclamations of it by John the Baptist. Here stands Jesus before the man who had such disdain for the preaching of righteousness that he murdered a great preacher of righteousness.

Jesus proclaimed in Luke 7.28

Luke 7:28 AV

For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

Antipas heard John’s calls to repentance. His sin was exposed, and to silence the one who brought to light his horrific sins, he puts John in jail. Oh how he must have gloried in silencing that great preacher.

Locking up, and later killing, John the Baptist did not stop the proclamation of the Kingdom. It did not stop the preaching against sin and unrighteousness.

Herod’s persecution of John through imprisonment was used to set free the Lord’s proclaiming of the Good News to all of the world.

Mark 1:14–15 AV

Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

John’s ministry and mission to prepare the way of the Lord has now come to an end. John’s arrest is a starting point for the full public ministry of our Lord.

Everything thus far in Matthew’s account has been building up to this. In the very first verse of the Gospel account, we were given the three fold declaration that Jesus is the promised Messiah and King. We have Jesus’ lineage from Abraham, showing he is the fulfillment of all the promises concerning spiritual blessings and salvation. We have seen throughout the genealogy of our Lord how everything pointed to the Covenant of Grace and forward to the Messiah who is the surety of that Covenant. We see in the generations of our Lord the kingly Davidic line that goes straight to Jesus.

In his birth and first years, Jesus is declared to be the savior, who will redeem his people. He is shown to be the true King of the true Israel-- heir of the everlasting throne of David.

The baptism was the public declaration of Jesus as the Son of God, which included God’s approval and commissioning.

The earthly ministry begins, not preaching in front of vast crowds, but in obedience to the will of the Father and in suffering temptations as a man, but never sinning.

Luke says that after the temptation in the wilderness, Luke 4.14-16

Luke 4:14–16 (AV)

… Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

That time period that Luke records includes what I mentioned earlier about the Apostle John’s account of Jesus’ ministry.

Verses 14-16

Going back to Matthew chapter 4, verses 14-16, it reads,

Matthew 4:14–16 AV

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

Please turn to Isaiah, chapter 9, verse 1:

Matthew specifies his quote as coming from the Prophet Isaiah, who has already been quoted by the Angel in chapter 1 and by Matthew concerning John the Baptist in chapter 3. Isaiah will be quoted six more times in this Gospel.

Isaiah 9:1–2 AV

Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

The vexation there mentioned is in reference to the captivity by Tiglath Pilezer king of Assyria. The captivity of that region of Galilee is specifically mentioned in 2 Kings 15:29, which may be the light affliction mentioned by Isaiah. A few chapters later in 2 Kings 17 all ten tribes if Israel were taken captive, bringing about the destruction of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, which most likely the more grievous affliction.

The sins of Israel were great, and the wrath of God upon them was terrible. But the Prophet foretells of God’s grace— a Messiah that would bring light and peace, in him is true salvation.

The sins of the people plunged them into great darkness. They were oppressed by dark and wicked rulers. They sat in that darkness, dwelling in the land of the shadow of death— where there is no spiritual life. They were dead in their trespasses. For the wages of sin is death, and death overshadowed them— their sins overshadowed them. All mankind who are lost in their depravity are spiritually dead, unable to bring themselves to life— it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit in regeneration that the dead can receive life.

All lost sinners sit in that darkness, dead in their sins. Oh what great terror to be dwelling in that absolute darkness in that shadow of death. The wrath of God that will be poured upon lost sinners will be far worse than what those in Israel encountered.

The people in that region of Galilee were the first to receive the wrath of God poured out upon them, and they were the first to hear the Messiah preaching in the light of God’s grace about the Kingdom of heaven. Not only are the Jews in that region the ones to hear the message, but also a great number of Gentiles. Remember that land is called the Galilee of the nations, or Galilee of the Gentiles. The message of the Kingdom is now going out into all the world.

In addition to God’s promises of the light being brought to this people in darkness, he gives them more about the grandeur of the Messiah and his Kingdom. Look down a few verses to

Isaiah 9:6–7 AV

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Verse 17

And going back to Matthew 4:17, the evangelist tells us,

Matthew 4:17 AV

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

The kingdom that was foretold by Isaiah is This Kingdom of the Messiah, and now, according to Jesus’s preaching, it is at hand. The Kingdom, and the King of it, are now made manifest to Israel, to the world— just as was promised in the Old Testament.

John Gill said,

An Exposition of the New Testament, Volumes I–III (Chapter 3)

’tis the Gospel dispensation which was about to take place, and is so called; because of the wise and orderly management of it under Christ, the king and head of his church, by the ministration of the word, and administration of ordinances; whereby, as means, spiritual and internal grace would be communicated to many, in whose hearts it would reign and make them meet for the kingdom of glory; and because the whole economy of the Gospel, the doctrines and ordinances of it, are from heaven.

This proclamation of the Kingdom is now about to spread beyond the region of Galilee that Jesus was residing in. His time there consisted of making disciples, and presumably building up spiritually the number of those whom would become Apostles. As we heard earlier, the Apostle John gives us some of the details of what Jesus was doing prior to Matthew telling us that Jesus began to preach the Kingdom.

Concerning the effect of Jesus’ ministry during that time, the Apostle John writes,

John 4:1–3 AV

When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.

Essentially, John the Baptist and Jesus had both been preaching the same message, “Repent; for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Entry into the kingdom required true repentance, a conversion. It requires faith in the message of the Gospel of Grace and in the Savior. Without those, it is impossible to enter into the Kingdom.

John proclaimed that the Savior would come after him. Jesus proclaimed that he was that Savior, the one through whom was the remission of sins, redemption, and reconciliation with God.

John 14:6 AV

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Doctrinally sound preaching and teaching that comes from a church, and the Gospel that is proclaimed by Jesus’ disciples, must contain the testimony of “... repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 20. 21)

There must be repentance and conversion,

Acts 3:19 AV

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Repentance and faith, regeneration and conversion, these are all by the free and Sovereign Grace of God-- it is his free gift to those whom he calls— those whom he foreordained unto salvation before the foundation of the world.

After Jesus’ return from the wilderness there was a progressive spreading of the message of the Kingdom. Jesus took the message to the Jews first, then to the Samaritans, then to the Gentiles. Jesus instructed his disciples to,

Matthew 10:7 (AV)

... go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

He lived the example and then told his disciples that they,

Acts 1:8b (AV)

... shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

This should be the desire of the saints, to preach to the uttermost parts of the earth the Kingdom of heaven, to make disciples, to glorify God in the spreading of his glorious Gospel of Grace.

In Jesus Christ and the message of the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom is now being fully revealed like never before. He makes the Kingdom made known Rev 14.6 “… having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,” The Holy Spirit, sent upon the day of Pentecost, makes the kingdom fully revealed and realized among true believers.

Lost sinner, if the Holy Spirit is bringing you under conviction of your sins, pressing upon you the errors of your ways, bringing sorrow for your trespasses and rebellion against God— flee to Christ. Call upon the Lord Jesus for forgiveness of your sins— for it is only through him that there can be forgiveness. It is only because of his sinless and perfect life and through his sacrifice upon the cross that we can have our sins atoned for— whereby God’s wrath, that we deserve, is taken from us. Christ took it all. He took the punishment that we deserve, he endured the just wrath of God for our sins. He died for lost sinners. He was buried, and after three days he rose from the grave— conquering sin and death. He is risen- he is resurrected— he lives. He ascended to his throne in heave, at the right hand of God the Father.

Repent! For the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.

Believers, the Kingdom is at hand. The Lord Jesus is coming back. One day we will see his Kingdom in all it’s glory. And although we dwell in this fallen world, we are called to be holy citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Our hope is set upon our King. Lord Jesus come quickly.

Lord willing, the next Lord’s Day we will continue on in the Gospel According to Matthew.