Matthew 4:13, commentary and pictures

After His rejection at Nazareth, Jesus left that town to live and make His home and working base in Capernaum by the Sea of Galilee, in the district of Zebulun and Naphtali. That move came after John was put in prison and after the wilderness temptation ended and He returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee. His dwelling there fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy that the people sitting in darkness and in the region and shadow of death in Zebulun and Naphtali would see a great light. That light came as He preached repentance because the kingdom of heaven was at hand, taught the gospel, healed the sick, and relieved suffering throughout Galilee. He chose Capernaum because as a busy thoroughfare for travelers of every rank and nation it gave the best opening to reach the world, and His example calls gospel workers to labor earnestly in cities and go out to needy and unworked places rather than concentrating in a few favored centers.

Leaving Nazareth for Capernaum

After leaving Nazareth, Jesus came to live and make His home and base in Capernaum, upon the sea coast by the Sea of Galilee, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali, by the way of the sea beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. That dwelling in Capernaum was a settling there on the shore, taking up residence in that coastal town in that territory.

The move followed His rejection in Nazareth, leaving that place to come and dwell in Capernaum upon the sea-coast. It followed hearing that John had been cast into prison, departing into Galilee upon that news. After John was imprisoned, He left Nazareth to dwell in Capernaum upon the sea coast in Zebulun and Naphtali.

The move followed the close of the wilderness temptation, when the devil had ended all the temptation and departed from Him for a season. Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee with fame going out through all the region round about. That return included a return to Nazareth after the temptation, and leaving Nazareth He came and dwelt in Capernaum upon the sea coast in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali.

The move involved leaving Jerusalem for Galilee to make Capernaum the scene and center of labor. This was because, after His Sabbath healing at the Pool of Bethesda, the malice of the leading Jews was kindled to plot His life so it was no longer safe to remain in Jerusalem.

Prophecy Fulfilled in Galilee

After leaving Nazareth Jesus came to live in Capernaum by the Sea of Galilee on the sea coast in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, by the way of the sea beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. That dwelling fulfilled what Isaiah prophesied, that the people sitting in darkness and in the region and shadow of death would see a great light and that light would spring up to them. The darkness was the terrible condition at Christ's first advent, when men were controlled by satanic agencies and Satan was gaining control of bodies and minds. In pity for the human race the Majesty of heaven laid off His kingly crown and royal robe and, clothing His divinity with humanity, came to meet the powers of darkness to break the enemy's power and hold it in check as a counterworking influence from the highest authority.

His presence, teaching, preaching of the gospel, healing of the sick, relieving of suffering, and bringing of life carried that light to Galilee. He entered a needy field and ministered there rather than avoiding it. From that dwelling in Capernaum He began to preach repentance because the kingdom of heaven was at hand. Then He taught and preached and healed throughout Galilee.

That same light springs up whenever the truths of the Bible are clearly presented. Those who receive that light and receive Christ as Saviour should be joyful and the happiest people in the world. They should not hesitate over what they give up, for they gain life, eternal life in the kingdom of glory.

Example for Gospel Workers

Jesus made Capernaum His dwelling place between His journeys and labored there much of the time because it was a great thoroughfare of travel where travelers constantly passed through or rested on their journeys. It lay on a busy travel route where people from many lands and many countries, representatives of all nations and people of every rank, rich and poor, could meet Him and hear His teaching. There He taught, and upon the Sabbaths multitudes gathered to listen with open hearts. He did not go there to avoid society or to find rest from labor, but because it gave Him a better opportunity than elsewhere to meet such multitudes and made it a fitting center for His work.

Lessons received there would not only be received by those present but would be carried to other countries and households. By that spreading of His teaching, investigation of the prophecies would be excited, attention directed to the Saviour, and His work and mission brought before the world.

From Capernaum as minister of men He went among cities and villages, teaching the truth and healing the sick, and went into the highways and hedges to warn and to labor for those ignorant and out of the way. He chose this overlooked region by the Sea of Galilee in Zebulun and Naphtali as a special field for missionary work, making Capernaum His home and base for work beyond His own city rather than concentrating His work in Nazareth or His own community. His presence there fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy that light would come to Galilee where people lived in darkness and the shadow of death, for He entered a needy field and ministered there rather than avoiding it by teaching, preaching the gospel, healing the sick, and relieving suffering.

His move gives the pattern every gospel minister is blessed in following, calling for earnest wholehearted labor in the cities everywhere. That pattern is to carry the message of present truth in simplicity into all highways and byways and needy parts of the harvest field, beginning to preach repentance because the kingdom of heaven is at hand and then teaching, preaching, and healing throughout the region. Gospel workers should go out from settled or favored centers to towns and cities where the truth has not been proclaimed, rather than concentrating means and labor in large centers in a few places while many places are left unworked, for teaching, preaching, and healing can open doors for the truth.