Matthew 4:12 - Meaning and Application

Here we have an account of Christ preaching in the synagogues of Galilee, because he came into the world as a preacher. The great salvation he achieved, he himself began to announce (Hebrews 2:3), showing how fully his heart was set on it, and how fully ours should be too. In the story of Christ’s life, several events in the other Gospels, especially John, likely come between his temptation and his preaching in Galilee.

His first public appearance after the temptation was when John the Baptist said, “Behold, the Lamb of God” (John 1:29). After that, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for the Passover (John 2), spoke with Nicodemus (John 3), and with the woman of Samaria (John 4). Then he returned to Galilee and preached there. Matthew, however, since he had lived in Galilee, begins the story of Christ’s public ministry with his preaching in that region.

Notice, first, the time: “When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee” (Matthew 4:12). The cries of the saints in suffering come into the ears of the Lord Jesus. When John is put in prison, Jesus hears it, takes notice of it, and directs his steps accordingly. He remembers the bonds and troubles that remain with his people.

Christ did not go into the country until he heard of John’s imprisonment, because John needed time to prepare the way for the Lord before the Lord himself appeared. God wisely ordered it so that John would fade before Christ shone forth. Otherwise, people’s minds might have been divided between the two, with some saying, “I follow John,” and others, “I follow Jesus.” John was Christ’s forerunner, but not his rival. The moon and stars disappear when the sun rises. John had finished his work of baptism for repentance, and then he was set aside. The witnesses are killed after they finish their testimony, not before (Revelation 11:7).

He went into Galilee as soon as he heard of John’s imprisonment, not only to protect himself, since the Pharisees in Judea were as hostile to him as Herod was to John, but also to supply John’s place and build on the good foundation John had laid. God will not leave himself without a witness, or his church without guidance. When he removes one useful servant, he can raise up another, because he still has more of the Spirit to give, and he will do it when there is work to be done. Moses my servant is dead, John is in prison, now Joshua, arise, Jesus, arise.

Notice, second, the place where he preached, Galilee, a part of the country farthest from Jerusalem and looked down on as rough and uncultured. The people there were thought to be strong men, fit for soldiers, but not polished or suited for learning. Christ went there and set up the banner of his gospel. In this, as in other things, he humbled himself.

He chose a particular city to live in, not Nazareth, where he had grown up. Matthew carefully notes that he left Nazareth (Matthew 4:13), and with good reason. The men of that city had driven him out (Luke 4:29). He first offered them his service fairly, but they rejected him and his teaching, and they were filled with anger against him and his word. So he left Nazareth and shook the dust from his feet as a witness against those who would not hear him. Nazareth was the first place to refuse Christ, and so it was refused by him. It is just with God to take the gospel and the means of grace away from those who despise them and push them aside. Christ does not stay long where he is not welcome.

Poor Nazareth, if you had known in your day the things that belong to your peace, how much better it would have been for you. But now they are hidden from your eyes. Instead, he went and lived in Capernaum, a city of Galilee, many miles from Nazareth, a large place with much traffic. It is said to be by the sea coast, not the great sea, but the Sea of Tiberias, an inland lake also called the Lake of Gennesaret. Capernaum stood near where the Jordan flowed into the sea, in the tribe of Naphtali, though close to Zebulun. There Christ came and there he lived.

Some think his father Joseph had a house there. Others think he rented a house or at least a room. Some think it is very likely that he lived in the house of Simon Peter. In any case, he did not stay there permanently, because he went about doing good. Still, for a time it was his base. Whatever rest he had, he had there. He had a place there, though not one of his own, to lay his head on. And at Capernaum, it seems, he was welcome and treated better than he had been at Nazareth. If some reject Christ, others will receive him and welcome him gladly. Capernaum is glad to have what Nazareth has left behind. If Christ’s own people are not gathered, he will still be made glorious. “And you, Capernaum, have now had your day. You have been lifted up to heaven; be wise for yourself, and know the time of your visitation.”

Notice, third, the prophecy that was fulfilled here (Matthew 4:14-16). It is quoted from Isaiah 9:1-2, though with some changes. In that passage, the prophet foretells a greater darkness of trouble for those who despised Immanuel, the promised God with us, than what had fallen on the regions named there, whether in their first captivity under Benhadad, which was only light (1 Kings 15:20), or in their second captivity under the Assyrian king, which was much heavier (2 Kings 15:29). The punishment of the Jewish nation for rejecting the gospel would be worse than either (see Isaiah 8:21-22), because those captive lands had some relief in their bondage and later saw a great light again (Isaiah 9:2).

That is Isaiah’s meaning, but Scripture can be fulfilled in more than one way. Here the evangelist takes only the last part, the promise that light, liberty, and prosperity would return to lands that had been in darkness and bondage, and applies it to the coming of the gospel among them. The places are named in Matthew 4:15. It is rightly said that Zebulun was by the sea coast, because Zebulun was a harbor for ships and “rejoiced in his going out” (Genesis 49:13; Deuteronomy 33:18). About Naphtali it had been said that he would “give beautiful words” (Genesis 49:21) and would be “full of favor” (Deuteronomy 33:23), because from him the gospel began, truly beautiful words, and words that bring God’s satisfying favor to the soul.

The country beyond the Jordan is named too, because Christ sometimes preached there. Galilee of the Gentiles, especially upper Galilee, was a place where Gentiles came for trade and mixed with the Jews. This points to a kindness still waiting for poor Gentiles. When Christ came to Capernaum, the gospel spread to all the surrounding places. Such far-reaching influence the Sun of righteousness cast.

Now, about the people of these places, notice their condition before the gospel came among them, they were in darkness.

People who are without Christ are in the dark, indeed, they are darkness itself, like the deep before creation. Worse still, they are in the region and shadow of death. That means not only deep darkness, like the grave, but also great danger. A person who is very sick and seems unlikely to recover is already in the valley of the shadow of death, though not yet dead. In the same way, these people were on the edge of ruin, though not yet lost beyond hope.

What makes it worst is that they were sitting in this condition. To sit in darkness means to stay there, settled in it, with no will to move. It also suggests comfort with the darkness. They were in the dark, and they loved it. They chose darkness rather than light, and they were willing to remain ignorant. That was a sad condition, and it is still the condition of many great and powerful nations, who should be thought of and prayed for with pity. But it is even sadder when people sit in darkness right in the middle of gospel light.

A person who is in the dark because it is night can be sure the sun will rise soon. But a person who is in the dark because he is blind will not so quickly have his eyes opened. We have the light, but what good is that if we are not light in the Lord? (2 Corinthians 5:7).

When Christ and his gospel came among them, their privilege was just as great as light to a traveler lost in the night. When the gospel comes, light comes. When it comes to a place or to a soul, it makes day there (John 3:19; Luke 1:78-79). Light shows what is there, and it guides the way. So does the gospel. It is a great light, showing the clear truth of gospel revelation. It is not like a candle, but like the sun shining in full strength. It is greater than the light of the law, whose shadows were now passing away. It is a great light because it reveals great things of great importance, and it will last a long time and spread far. It is also a growing light, hinted at in the words, “it sprang up.” Their day had only just begun. The dawn had come, and later it would shine more and more. The kingdom of the gospel, like a mustard seed or the morning light, began small, grew slowly, and reached greatness in its fullness. Notice that the light sprang up to them. They did not go looking for it. Instead, they were met by the blessings of God’s goodness. It came to them before they knew it, at the appointed time, by the order of him who commands the morning and tells the dawn where to go, so that it may reach the ends of the earth (Job 38:12-13).

From that time, that is, from the time he came into Galilee, into the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, Jesus began to preach (Matthew 4:17). He had preached before in Judea and had made and baptized many disciples (John 4:1), but his preaching was not yet as public or constant as it now became. The work of the ministry is so great and serious that it is fitting to enter it by steps and gradual progress.

The message Christ now preached, and really the heart of all his preaching, was the same message John had preached before him (Matthew 3:2): “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The gospel is the same in substance under different arrangements from God. The commands are the same, and so are the reasons for obeying them. Even an angel from heaven would not dare preach a different gospel (Galatians 1:8). He would preach this one, because it is the everlasting gospel. “Fear God, and by repentance give him honor” (Revelation 14:6-7). Christ showed great respect for John’s ministry by preaching the same message John had preached. In this way he showed that John was his messenger and ambassador. When Christ brought the message himself, it was the very same one he had sent by John. In this way God confirmed the word of his messenger (Isaiah 44:26). The Son came on the same mission as the servants, to seek fruit, fruit that fits repentance (Matthew 21:37).

Christ had been in the Father’s close presence and could have preached deep and lofty truths about heaven that would have astonished the wise of the world. Instead, he chose this old, plain message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He preached this first. Ministers should not be eager to bring out new opinions, new systems, or new phrases. They should content themselves with plain, practical truth, with the word that is near us, in our mouth and in our heart. We do not need to go up to heaven or down to the deep to find what to preach. As John prepared the way for Christ, so Christ prepared the way for his fuller teaching by starting with repentance. If anyone is willing to do God’s will in this matter, he will know more of Christ’s teaching (John 7:17).

He also preached this often. Wherever he went, this was his subject, and neither he nor his followers ever thought it was worn out, as people with itching ears would have thought. They always want novelty and variety more than what truly helps them. What has been preached and heard before may still be preached and heard very profitably. But it should be heard better, with new hearts and fresh desire. Paul said the same things again, even with tears (Philippians 3:1, 18).

Christ preached repentance as gospel. “Repent, look over your ways again, and return to yourselves.” The doctrine of repentance is true gospel teaching. Not only John the Baptist, who some thought severe and gloomy, but also sweet and gracious Jesus, whose words were like honey, preached repentance. It is a great mercy that room is left for repentance.

The reason remained the same: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” It was not yet fully come until the Spirit was poured out after Christ’s ascension. John had preached that the kingdom of heaven was near more than a year earlier, but now it was even nearer. Now salvation is closer than before (Romans 13:11). We should feel more urgency to do our duty as we see the day drawing near (Hebrews 10:25).