Matthew 4:12-25
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Commentary
Matthew 4:12-16
Matthew quotes Isaiah 9:1-2.
This image comes from my 300 Daily Devo Doodles collection.
Matthew 4:17
What does it mean to repent?
The term repent translates the Greek term metanoia. It literally means to “change your mind” or to “change the way you perceive reality.” I found this at Metanoia.org:
Imagine you are standing in a circle of people.
In the center of the circle, there is a source of light.
But rather than facing the center and the light, you are standing with your back to the light, facing outward.
When you stand this way, facing away from the light, all you can see is your own shadow.
You cannot see the light.
You can only look into your shadow.
You cannot see the others in the circle with you.
From what you can see, you are disconnected and alone in the dark.
Now imagine that you turn around to face the light that is in the center of the circle.
When you turn toward the light, you no longer see only darkness.
When you turn toward the light, your shadow is behind you.
When you turn toward the light, you can now see the other people who are standing with you.
You can see that the light is shining on everyone and that you are all connected in its radiance.
Making the decision to turn around, to turn away from shadow, to face the light: this is metanoia.
What is the Kingdom of Heaven?
Matthew 4:18-22
Matthew 4:23-25
The Good News of the Kingdom
It is important to note that Matthew doesn’t mention the Gospel–the Good News–until this section. It says,
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.
The message and mission of the Kingdom of Heaven is to cure people and set them free, not to dominate them.
