Walking with Jesus: Matthew Chapter Four Verses Twelve To Twenty Three

 

 Matthew Chapter 4 verses 12 -23

Jesus Begins His Ministry

12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

16 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.”

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”[ 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Jesus Ministers to Great Crowds

23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

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Jesus Begins His Ministry

Verse 12: When Jesus heard that John had been arrested he drew back into Galilee away from Judea. 

Verse13: Leaving Nazareth He went  and lived in Capernaum - Galilee.

Verse 14:What was spoken by the prophet Isaiah was fulfilled.

Verse 15-16: The land of Zebulun and Naphtali by way of the sea (Galilee) have seen a great light. Dwelling in the shadows a light has dawned (Messiah).

Verse 17: Jesus began to preach, saying repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.

Summary:

When Jesus heard John had been arrested he moved away to the relative safety of Galilee living in Capernaum. This was in accordance with the prophecies of Isaiah that the people of Zebulun and Naphtali would see a great light has dawned. The Messiah has come and He is Jesus of Nazareth..

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

Verse 18: Walking by the Sea he saw two brothers,  Simon Peter and Andrew casting a net.

Verse 19: Jesus said "Follow me I will make you fishers of men.

Verse 20: Immediately, they left their nets and followed Him.

Verse 21: Going from there He saw two other brothers, James and John the sons of Zebedee, mending nets in the boat with their father.

Verse 22: Immediately, they left the boat with their father and followed Jesus.

Summary.

 Walking by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus began to call His disciples. First he called Simon Peter and Andrew and then James and John. Both sets of brothers were fishermen and told them to come and follow Him and He would make them "Fishers of Men." Immediately both sets of brothers left their boats and followed Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus Ministers to Great Crowds

 Verse 23: Jesus went throughout Galilee teaching in the synagogues, proclaiming the gospel and healing every affliction.

Verse 24: His fame spread through all Syria and the brought Him all the sick, afflicted with various diseases, demon possessed and paralytics.

Verse 25 Great Crowds followed him from Galilee and Decopolis, Jerusalem and Judea and beyond the Jordan

Summary

Jesus began His ministry by going throughout the region of Galilee and preaching in all of the synagogues. He proclaimed the gospel and healed all of the afflictions.  His fame spread throughout Syria and people brought him all of the sick and afflicted including  the demon possessed and the paralytics. Great crowds followed him from Judea, Galilee and across the Jordan into Syria. That He was able to deliver the demon possessed indicated a shift of the balance of power from Satan back to Yahweh Elohim on the Earth.

The Gospel of the Kingdom was the Good News that the Messiah had arrived with Jesus of Nazareth the Son of God. It pointed to the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the Cross and ultimately the changes that would be wrought by, the Holy Spirit, in the hearts of believers and through the formation of the Church in the Age of Grace.