That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
It declares that Jesus leaving Nazareth to make His home in Capernaum in Galilee fulfilled what Isaiah spoke concerning Zebulun and Naphtali, Galilee of the Gentiles. The place fulfilled is Capernaum upon the seacoast in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali, the land by the way of the sea beyond Jordan. The move came after John was cast into prison, when Jesus departed into Galilee, and after He had met the forty days of temptation in the wilderness in faithfulness to Scripture and returned in the power of the Spirit. The prophecy fulfilled is that the people sitting in darkness and in the region and shadow of death would see a great light, and light would spring up and dawn upon them at His first advent when Satan held sway over bodies and minds. That light was brought by His presence, teaching and preaching of the gospel and of repentance because the kingdom of heaven was at hand, healing of the sick and acts of compassion, and it stands as the example of how to work by carrying the message into the highways and hedges to those ignorant and out of the way.
Fulfillment at Capernaum
The declaration is that leaving Nazareth to dwell in Capernaum in Galilee fulfilled what Isaiah the prophet spoke concerning Zebulun and Naphtali, Galilee of the Gentiles. The move followed rejection at Nazareth and a return there, after which Capernaum became the new home and center. It took place after John was cast into prison, when Jesus departed into Galilee. It took place after finishing forty days of temptation in the wilderness in faithfulness to Scripture without departing from "It is written," and returning in the power of the Spirit into Galilee with fame spreading through all the surrounding region.
The move also belongs to leaving Jerusalem after the healing at Bethesda made remaining there unsafe, making Capernaum a center of work and teaching on the Sabbaths while spies watched for grounds to accuse. The location fulfilled is Capernaum upon the seacoast in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali, the land by the way of the sea beyond Jordan called Galilee of the Gentiles. Capernaum was a busy thoroughfare where travelers constantly passed through and often stayed, and much labor was done there. The verse belongs to the account in Matthew 4:13-25 of the disciples' first experience of the ministry as the great Healer.
Light in Darkness
The fulfillment is that the people in Galilee, in the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, sitting in darkness and in the region and shadow of death, would see a great light, and that light would spring up and dawn upon them. That prophecy concerned Zebulun and Naphtali, the land by the way of the sea beyond Jordan called Galilee of the Gentiles, and it was met when Jesus left Nazareth to dwell in Capernaum and minister there. His work in Galilee brought light to those living in spiritual darkness and under the shadow of death.
That fulfillment came at the first advent, when the world was in terrible condition with men controlled through satanic agencies over body and mind, and Satan held sway over bodies and minds and was gaining control of the human race. Christ came in humanity to break the enemy's power and to hold the forces of darkness in check. It reveals the pity of the Majesty of heaven, who saw Satan gaining control of the human race and knew He alone could break that power. So He laid aside His kingly crown and royal robe and clothed His divinity with humanity, coming to the world to meet the powers of darkness as a counterworking influence from the highest authority.
The light was brought by His presence and arrival, His teaching, His preaching of the gospel and of repentance because the kingdom of heaven was at hand, His healing of the sick, and His acts of compassion. His ministry in Galilee, with Jesus making Capernaum His home after John was cast into prison, brought the light of the gospel and of truth to people living in spiritual darkness. His teaching and preaching there were the dawning of that great light upon those in darkness and the shadow of death.
That light is the clear presentation of the truths of the Bible, to be received with joy. Those who receive Christ as Saviour become the happiest people in the world, because they gain life and eternal life in the kingdom of glory. They lose nothing worth hesitating over.
Pattern for Gospel Work
The verse is part of the example of how to work, showing the methods of the Prince of life in His teaching for workers to study in Matthew 4 and learn. His choice of this region for ministry fulfilled the prophecy, showing that places others overlook can become important fields for His work. His work beyond His own city teaches that His example guides duty toward others.
The verse means His work as minister of men was going forth into the highways and hedges to labor for those who were ignorant and out of the way. Every minister of the gospel will be blessed in doing that same work, and cities everywhere call for that earnest, wholehearted labor. It applies to carrying the message of present truth in simplicity into all the highways and byways instead of making large expensive centers in a few places while needy portions of the harvest field remain unworked.
The verse is the pattern for sounding the last note of warning in all towns and cities, working important centers like Redlands, Riverside, and Loma Linda faithfully but without prolonged effort in any one place, because many have not yet heard. Capernaum's place on major travel routes brought people of many nations, lands, households, and all social ranks within reach, so teaching given there could spread widely. The message carried from there would reach other countries and households, stir interest in prophecy, direct attention to the Saviour, and make His mission known to the world.
It declares that Jesus leaving Nazareth to make His home in Capernaum in Galilee fulfilled what Isaiah spoke concerning Zebulun and Naphtali, Galilee of the Gentiles. The place fulfilled is Capernaum upon the seacoast in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali, the land by the way of the sea beyond Jordan. The move came after John was cast into prison, when Jesus departed into Galilee, and after He had met the forty days of temptation in the wilderness in faithfulness to Scripture and returned in the power of the Spirit. The prophecy fulfilled is that the people sitting in darkness and in the region and shadow of death would see a great light, and light would spring up and dawn upon them at His first advent when Satan held sway over bodies and minds. That light was brought by His presence, teaching and preaching of the gospel and of repentance because the kingdom of heaven was at hand, healing of the sick and acts of compassion, and it stands as the example of how to work by carrying the message into the highways and hedges to those ignorant and out of the way.
Fulfillment at Capernaum
The declaration is that leaving Nazareth to dwell in Capernaum in Galilee fulfilled what Isaiah the prophet spoke concerning Zebulun and Naphtali, Galilee of the Gentiles. The move followed rejection at Nazareth and a return there, after which Capernaum became the new home and center. It took place after John was cast into prison, when Jesus departed into Galilee. It took place after finishing forty days of temptation in the wilderness in faithfulness to Scripture without departing from "It is written," and returning in the power of the Spirit into Galilee with fame spreading through all the surrounding region.
The move also belongs to leaving Jerusalem after the healing at Bethesda made remaining there unsafe, making Capernaum a center of work and teaching on the Sabbaths while spies watched for grounds to accuse. The location fulfilled is Capernaum upon the seacoast in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali, the land by the way of the sea beyond Jordan called Galilee of the Gentiles. Capernaum was a busy thoroughfare where travelers constantly passed through and often stayed, and much labor was done there. The verse belongs to the account in Matthew 4:13-25 of the disciples' first experience of the ministry as the great Healer.
Light in Darkness
The fulfillment is that the people in Galilee, in the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, sitting in darkness and in the region and shadow of death, would see a great light, and that light would spring up and dawn upon them. That prophecy concerned Zebulun and Naphtali, the land by the way of the sea beyond Jordan called Galilee of the Gentiles, and it was met when Jesus left Nazareth to dwell in Capernaum and minister there. His work in Galilee brought light to those living in spiritual darkness and under the shadow of death.
That fulfillment came at the first advent, when the world was in terrible condition with men controlled through satanic agencies over body and mind, and Satan held sway over bodies and minds and was gaining control of the human race. Christ came in humanity to break the enemy's power and to hold the forces of darkness in check. It reveals the pity of the Majesty of heaven, who saw Satan gaining control of the human race and knew He alone could break that power. So He laid aside His kingly crown and royal robe and clothed His divinity with humanity, coming to the world to meet the powers of darkness as a counterworking influence from the highest authority.
The light was brought by His presence and arrival, His teaching, His preaching of the gospel and of repentance because the kingdom of heaven was at hand, His healing of the sick, and His acts of compassion. His ministry in Galilee, with Jesus making Capernaum His home after John was cast into prison, brought the light of the gospel and of truth to people living in spiritual darkness. His teaching and preaching there were the dawning of that great light upon those in darkness and the shadow of death.
That light is the clear presentation of the truths of the Bible, to be received with joy. Those who receive Christ as Saviour become the happiest people in the world, because they gain life and eternal life in the kingdom of glory. They lose nothing worth hesitating over.
Pattern for Gospel Work
The verse is part of the example of how to work, showing the methods of the Prince of life in His teaching for workers to study in Matthew 4 and learn. His choice of this region for ministry fulfilled the prophecy, showing that places others overlook can become important fields for His work. His work beyond His own city teaches that His example guides duty toward others.
The verse means His work as minister of men was going forth into the highways and hedges to labor for those who were ignorant and out of the way. Every minister of the gospel will be blessed in doing that same work, and cities everywhere call for that earnest, wholehearted labor. It applies to carrying the message of present truth in simplicity into all the highways and byways instead of making large expensive centers in a few places while needy portions of the harvest field remain unworked.
The verse is the pattern for sounding the last note of warning in all towns and cities, working important centers like Redlands, Riverside, and Loma Linda faithfully but without prolonged effort in any one place, because many have not yet heard. Capernaum's place on major travel routes brought people of many nations, lands, households, and all social ranks within reach, so teaching given there could spread widely. The message carried from there would reach other countries and households, stir interest in prophecy, direct attention to the Saviour, and make His mission known to the world.