Matthew shared how Jesus was “baptized” and “tempted” by the “devil”. Matthew continued with the words, “Then the devil left him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee” And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, the land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles”, and in chapter four and verse sixteen of his book, Matthew shared Isaiah's prophesy, “the people which sat in darkness saw great light” where we read:
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.
The verse reads, “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; ...” Matthew began with the words, “the people” which means “the tribe, nation and all those who are of the same stock and language” “which sat” or “who were seated, occupied and dwelled” “in darkness” which means “in darkened eyesight or blindness or ignorance respecting divine things and human duties and their accompanying ungodliness and immorality together with their consequent misery in hell” “saw great light” or “perceived, noticed, discerned and discovered a massive, large and abundant”. Matthew continued Isaiah's prophesy with the reference to people receiving “an abundant light” who were in the “dark” and “ignorant” of “spiritual truth”.
The verse goes on to say, “... and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” Matthew added the words, “and to them” which means “and toward the people” “which sat” or “who were seated, occupied and dwelling” “in the region” which means “within the country, village and tract of land” “and shadow” or “shade caused by the interception of light or an image cast by an object and representing the form of that object” “of death” or “pertaining to the separation whether natural or violent of the soul and the body by which the life on earth is ended” “light” which refers to “truth and its knowledge together with the spiritual purity associated with it” “is sprung up” or “risen and ascended”. Matthew continued Isaiah's prophesy which declared that “people” who were living in a “dark territory” that lead to “death” would receive the “truth, knowledge and spiritual purity”.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how it was destined for Jesus to live among a people who were in “spiritual darkness”. Jesus would give them the “truth”, and they would know God's message of “salvation” which would lead to “everlasting life”. This prophesy identified the Messiah who was Jesus Christ, and those who put their “faith and trust” in Him shall not only receive “light” in their “spiritual darkness” but also live with God eternally.
Next time Matthew shares how, “Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent ” so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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