Matthew - Week 9

Arrested 

READ 

Matthew 4:12-13 

12 When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. 13 He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 

John the Baptist had been arrested, so persecution was intensifying. Matthew does not tell at this point what happened to John in prison, but he does later. Matthew is not writing a strict chronology of events, he is presenting subject matter that reveals to the Jews that Jesus is qualified to be the Messiah. Jesus left Judea where the Jewish religion was strongest and returned north to Galilee. After going to Nazareth where He had grown up and was later rejected, He went to Capernaum, which was near the Sea of Galilee and served as His headquarters from that time. 

REFLECT 

Keep in mind that the four Gospels do not present the same material. They view Jesus from four different perspectives: Matthew wrote for the Jews; Mark for the Romans; Luke for the Greeks; and John for the world. 

RESPOND 

Talk with a Christian friend about the four Gospels and the need to know them as well as possible to learn all you can about Jesus. By this study of Matthew you will learn how Matthew presented Jesus to the Jewish people. 

A Great Light 

READ 

Matthew 4:14-16 

14 This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah: 15 “In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River, in Galilee where so many Gentiles live, 16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. 

And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.” 

Having mentioned the region where the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali had settled during Joshua’s time, Matthew cites some Old Testament Scriptures that applied to what he was writing. Again, Matthew was making the point to Jewish readers how Jesus’ life and activities were fulfilling prophecies from their own Scriptures. 

REFLECT 

Think about Jesus that you love and serve and how He was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. That could never have occurred by chance; it had to be orchestrated by God Himself. 

RESPOND 

Read Isaiah 9:1-2 to see the passage to which Matthew referred concerning Zebulun and Naphtali. Translations are not always the same as sometimes quotations are taken from the Septuagint (abbreviated as LXX), a Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament made in the third and second centuries B.C. 

The Kingdom of Heaven Is Near 

READ 

Matthew 4:17 

17 From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” 

As He began His public ministry, Jesus proclaimed the same message as John the Baptist. The expressions “Kingdom of Heaven” and the “Kingdom of God” often refer to the same thing: it is a kingdom that comes down from God. Jews would not even pronounce the name Yahweh (Jehovah), so it is understandable that Matthew used “Heaven” more often than “God.” Jesus was the Messiah offering the kingdom to people if they would repent and turn to God. They would eventually reject the king, so the Kingdom was delayed.  

REFLECT 

Think how different it would have been if the people in the earthly life of Jesus would have accepted the kingdom He was offering. 

RESPOND 

Work with a friend and use some research tools to look up the expressions “Kingdom of Heaven” and “Kingdom of God” in the Gospel of Matthew.  

Fishers of Men 

READ 

Matthew 4:18-20 

18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him. 

From the other Gospel writers it seems that Jesus had met some of these disciples before, but Matthew records when they were called to follow Him. This passage gives information about the occupation of Peter and Andrew—they fished for a living. They were being called to leave their profession to follow Him not knowing what the future held. They had been fishing for fish; now Jesus promised to show them how to fish for people. 

REFLECT 

What would be your response if Jesus laid on your heart to give up your occupation and do something else to more effectively reach others for Him? 

RESPOND 

As a believer in the body of Christ, you may not need to leave your profession but instead you can be an effective witness for Jesus in that profession. Talk with a fellow believer how you both can do that better. 

James and John 

READ 

Matthew 4:21-22 

21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. 22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind. 

This passage tells about Jesus’ call for James and John to follow Him. Fishing was also their business and apparently it was a successful one. They not only left their occupation; they left their father whom they were helping. The names of “James” and “John” were common names in Bible times so their father is identified. 

REFLECT 

What do you think was in Zebedee’s mind when his sons immediately left to follow Jesus? What would have been in your mind if you had been in his place? 

RESPOND 

Do some more research by looking up the names “James and John” to see some interesting things about them. When Mark lists the disciples’ names in 3:16-18, he records that Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder.”