Matthew 4:12-17
12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles:
16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,
And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death
Light has dawned.”
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
After the kingdom of Israel split into two separate kingdoms, the king of the northern kingdom thrust Israel into the darkness of idolatry. Jeroboam, son of Nebat, built golden calves at Dan and Bethel, the northernmost and southernmost cities of Israel. King after king refused to remove these idols and encouraged Israel into deeper spiritual darkness. As punishment, the Lord allowed the king of Assyria to deport the people of Israel and replace the exiled population with heathen peoples who mixed their false beliefs with the true faith. The land that God had formerly given to the Israelite tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali land eventually became known as Galilee of the Gentiles.
Yet the Lord promised through the prophet Isaiah that the people who dwelled in the darkness of idolatry would one day see a great light. The words of Isaiah are fulfilled when Jesus departs for the region of Galilee to dwell in Capernaum by the Sea of Galilee. Christ Jesus is the “light and life of men” (John 1:4). He shined in the darkness of Zebulun and Naphtali by proclaiming the kingdom of heaven is at hand and is to be entered by repentance and faith in the gospel. He especially blesses this area by choosing to dwell in Capernaum and doing many works of power there.
Jesus is still that light that shines in the world which is darkened by sin and idolatry. His word reveals the idols in our hearts which we fear, love, and trust more than our Father in heaven, whether our idols be possessions, relationship, or lifestyles He hasn’t given. Christ enlightens our hearts so that we repent of our idols and flee to Him for perfect forgiveness for every sin, which He reveals to us in the gospel. Believing the gospel, His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, teaching us how to walk as children of the light.
Let us pray: Gracious Lord, illumine our hearts by Your law so we repent of fearing, loving, and trusting other things more than you, and drive away the darkness of our sins by Your gospel so that we may walk as children of light. Amen.
