Matthew 4:12-22: The Light Dawns in Galilee

John’s imprisonment foreshadows the suffering that Jesus will endure, but the time for His passion has not yet come. Jesus withdraws from Antipas’ territory and leaves His hometown Nazareth to adopt Capernaum as a home base. In so doing, Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah concerning the preaching of the Gospel in Galilee of the Gentiles. There, Jesus preaches the same sermon that John had preached: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Jesus calls four fishermen to follow him and become His apostles who will later preach that same sermon of repentance and faith to the whole world.  Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 4:12-22.  To learn more about Trinity in Ottumwa, visit trinitylutheranottumwa.com. “The Reign of Heaven Stands Near” is a series on Sharper Iron that studies the Gospel according to St. Matthew. The first evangelist proclaims that God has fulfilled His Old Testament promises by sending Jesus to bring the reign of the heavens among us. As the Son of David, Jesus is the gracious King we need, and as the Son of Abraham, Jesus is the blessing to all the families of the earth.