JESUS DEFEATS THE DEVIL, Ron Ward
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN COMES NEAR
Passage: Matthew 4:12~25  
Key verse: 16
Jesus Begins to Preach
12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison,(A) he withdrew to Galilee.(B) 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum,(C) which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill(D) what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.”[a](E)
17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven(F) has come near.”
Jesus Calls His First Disciples(G)
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee,(H) he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter(I) and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,”(J) Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.(K)
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John.(L) They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.(M)
Jesus Heals the Sick
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee,(N) teaching in their synagogues,(O) proclaiming the good news(P) of the kingdom,(Q) and healing every disease and sickness among the people.(R) 24 News about him spread all over Syria,(S) and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed,(T) those having seizures,(U) and the paralyzed;(V) and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,[b] Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.(W)
Footnotes
- Matthew 4:16 Isaiah 9:1,2
- Matthew 4:25 That is, the Ten Cities
Cross references
- Matthew 4:12 : Mt 14:3
- Matthew 4:12 : Mk 1:14
- Matthew 4:13 : Mk 1:21; 9:33; Lk 4:23, 31; Jn 2:12; 4:46, 47
- Matthew 4:14 : S Mt 1:22
- Matthew 4:16 : Isa 9:1, 2; Lk 2:32; Jn 1:4, 5, 9
- Matthew 4:17 : S Mt 3:2
- Matthew 4:18 : 4:18-22pp — Mk 1:16-20; Lk 5:2-11; Jn 1:35-42
- Matthew 4:18 : Mt 15:29; Mk 7:31; Jn 6:1
- Matthew 4:18 : Mt 16:17, 18
- Matthew 4:19 : ver 20, 22; Mt 8:22; Mk 10:21, 28, 52; Lk 5:28; Jn 1:43; 21:19, 22
- Matthew 4:20 : S ver 19
- Matthew 4:21 : Mt 17:1; 20:20; 26:37; Mk 3:17; 13:3; Lk 8:51; Jn 21:2
- Matthew 4:22 : S ver 19
- Matthew 4:23 : Mk 1:39; Lk 4:15, 44
- Matthew 4:23 : Mt 9:35; 13:54; Mk 1:21; Lk 4:15; Jn 6:59; 18:20
- Matthew 4:23 : Mk 1:14
- Matthew 4:23 : S Mt 3:2; Ac 20:25; 28:23, 31
- Matthew 4:23 : Mt 8:16; 14:14; 15:30; Mk 3:10; Lk 7:22; Ac 10:38
- Matthew 4:24 : S Lk 2:2
- Matthew 4:24 : Mt 8:16, 28; 9:32; 12:22; 15:22; Mk 1:32; 5:15, 16, 18
- Matthew 4:24 : Mt 17:15
- Matthew 4:24 : Mt 8:6; 9:2; Mk 2:3
- Matthew 4:25 : Mk 3:7, 8; Lk 6:17
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
Jesus did not begin his ministry in Jerusalem, but in the remote region of Galilee. Jesus served people who seemed far from God. He taught them that the kingdom of God was very near to them. All they had to do was repent and believe the good news. Jesus' ministry fulfilled the prophecy of a great light to light up people's lives. Jesus himself is that light. The kingdom of heaven came to us in Jesus.
Second, Jesus calls disciples and begins to serve (18-25)
Jesus also began to call disciples, whom he could train to be spiritual leaders and serve as he did. Jesus' calling gave ordinary fishermen a whole new life as fishers for people. Jesus also displayed God's love and light by healing all kinds of human suffering. Soon large crowds of people began to follow Jesus wherever he went. They saw in Jesus the true hope they had been seeking.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for opening the kingdom of heaven to us when we were lost in darkness. I will follow you with great hope.
One Word: A great light