The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Matthew #2506

The time has now come for Jesus Christ to openly begin His ministry.

The time has now come for Jesus Christ to openly begin His ministry according to and after the manner of that which is already written in the law and the prophets! It is truly amazing how one can trace and follow His ministry from the Old Testament! In fact, anyone who is familiar with the prophecies contained therein, many of which we have already covered (e.g. His birthplace, called out of Egypt, etc.) and all of which Messiah must needs fulfill, can easily discredit a phony, an imposter who comes claiming to be the Messiah, with a few "it is written's"!

Matthew 4:12
Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison*, He departed into Galilee;

Also, it is important we take note that Jesus Christ, the Light which shines in the "darkness", openly began His ministry in Galilee, which means "the heathen circle".

Galilee = Galilaia, gal-il-ah'-yah, Greek 1056; of Hebrew origin [Hebrew 1551 (Galiyl)]; Galil'a (i.e. the heathen circle), a region of Palestine :- Galilee.

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

Nazareth = the guarded one
Capernaum = city of consolation
Zabulon (Zebulun) = dwelling place or habitation
Napthalim (Naphtali) = my wrestling

Now we are now going to see the Light go forth and begin to shine in the great darkness! To that end, Jesus Christ will begin His ministry by announcing that the door to the kingdom of heaven is now open and all those who will repent (change) and follow the Light can see their way and enter in.

[14] That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

Isaiah 9:1
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.

[2] 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.

Jesus Christ is that Light and the hope of our salvation. John 12:46 "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." To walk in the Light you must follow Him! Thus repentance is coupled with the proclamation of the GOOD NEWS (Gospel) of the Kingdom of God and the establishment of the King of Righteousness.

[3] Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

Here is how Dr. Bullinger translates verse three after noting on page 943 of the Companion Bible the error of translation caused by dividing the Hebrew word "haggil'o" into two words thereby adding the word "lo", which is "not". You will also find this consistent with Dr. Moffat's translation.

Thou hast multiplied the exultation,
Thou hast increased the joy:
They joy before Thee according to the joy in harvest.
 And as men exult when they divide the spoil.

[4] For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.

[5] For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.

And so it is that God sent His only begotten Son into the darkened world to bring the Light and therefore salvation unto any and all who will now follow that Light (Jn. 3:16, Jn. 12:46).However, at His second advent He shall come as the King of king and Lords of lords to rule all nations and every knee shall bow to His name, i.e. His authority. The question is... since the kingdom of heaven is at hand will you accept Him as King and Lord now and be part of the kingdom that shall reign?

[6] 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.

(1) Wonderful means "miracle or marvelous thing" and so it is that the Word of God works wonders and miracles in our lives.

(2) Counsellor means "to advise or consult" and so it is that we seek wisdom and counsel from His Word to lead us in the paths of righteousness, i.e. to do the right thing in all our affairs.

(3) The Mighty God has all power in heaven and earth and so it is He who is our Rock and our Fortress. Psalm 18:2 "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."

(4) The Everlasting Father. Only through partaking of the fruit from the Evergreen (Ever-Living) Tree of Life can we have everlasting (eternal) life. In fact, our Father likens Himself to and evergreen (fir) tree: Hosea 14:8 "Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard Him, and observed Him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found."

(5) The Prince of Peace (see next verse) is the only ruler who can "order" true and lasting peace on this earth and "establish" it with truth and justice.

[7] Of the increase of his government and peacethere 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.

So we see that the 9th chapter of Isaiah speaks of the ministry of Jesus Christ being fulfilled in Matthew 4, concerning that Light coming into the darkest hour of the world and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God and that the Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace shall come and set up that kingdom to be established forever.

Next, we are going to "hear" from the King of kings and Lord of lords Himself (who we know now sits on the throne at the right hand of His Majesty in heaven) that the kingdom of God is at hand... which means that Christ, the Light, has already come into the world and that whosoever will believe in Him and follow that Light can be part of that great ruling kingdom RIGHT NOW! And they shall rule and reign with Him a thousand years throughout the Millennium (Rev. 20:6). So let us now return to Matthew 4 and pick up where Matthew quotes two verses from that great 9th chapter of Isaiah which declares the Lord's Proclamation of the Kingdom and the call to repentance! How perfect is the Word of God!

Matthew 4:15
The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

[16] 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.

Luke 1:77-79
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, [78] Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, [79] To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

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

John 14:15-17
If ye love me, keep my commandments. [16] And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Here it is:

John 14:24
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

Matthew 4:18
And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

[19] And He saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

[20] And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him.

[21] And going on from thence, He saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them.

[22] And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed Him.

[23] And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching [proclaiming] the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

[24] And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto Him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and He healed them.

lunatick = seleniazomai, sel-ay-nee-ad'-zom-ahee, Greek 4583; middle or passive from a presumed derivative of Greek 4582 (selene); to be moon-struck, i.e. crazy :- be lunatic.

[25] And there followed Him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

Nevertheless, in our next study we are going to learn the characteristics of a true disciple of Christ. If you think you already know what they are, you just may be surprised!