The "who" of the Sermon
The "Sermon on the Mount" in the gospel of Matthew begins in chapter 5. I want to turn back to chapter 4.
To start, I want to go one step behind the SotM and the gospel and look at the author. (see last blog) I think, as I said in the last blog, that Matthew was called "Levi" because he might have been from the tribe of Levi, the tribe that was chosen to be the priests of God. I wonder if he had grown up preping to be a priest then ... decided money was better. In any case he is VERY familiar with scripture and saturates his gospel with references from the OT. I have a 'general rule' that I use, and I suggest others use when reading the New Testament ~ certainly when reading Matthew: if there is an Old Testament verse given LOOK IT UP and read not merely the verse quoted, but the context of the entire passage.
Matt 4:12-17
When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, along the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
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."
From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
I have never heard this passage included in any sermons or teaching on the SotM. And when ever I have heard this explained, it has been to merely note that Jesus preached in the northern territory of Israel, near the Sea of Galilee. I think this is Matthew's intro. Matthew says that Jesus went to Galilee, specifically to the region of Zebulun and Naphtali to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah.
So, 1) Where is the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, and why is it called Galilee of the Gentiles?
When the Israelites conquered the Promised Land (book of Joshua) land was allotted to each of the tribes. The land in the north near the Sea of Galilee was the allotment for those two tribes: Zebulun and Naphtali.
(map from http://www.iggydarsa.com)
This land was called "Galilee of the Gentiles" because first it was on the northern border and the western border, a place where Gentiles lived and mingled with Jews. It had been Israel, the Northern Kingdom, the place where during the time of the divided kingdom, the northern nation of Israel went into captivity under the Assyrian Empire (2 Kings 17:1-33). What the Assyrians did was deport the inhabitants of Israel to the eastern side of the empire, and transplant people from that region to Israel. So Gentiles had lived in the land from that time.
Now 2) Why did Matthew quote this scripture? I think Matthew had a much larger reason than merely to tell us where Jesus moved. If you look up the passage and read it in its entirety . . . well, why not just do that now:
Isa 9:1-7
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan — The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them
the bar across their shoulders,the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior's boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
This part at the bottom ~ the darker, underlined part ~ is a promise of the coming Messiah. The names given: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace ~ these are names that each combine a natural and a supernatural component. Wonderful is a word that could also be translated miraculous, that is counsel that is not just wise but miraculous. Mighty, as in the strength of man, and God ~ pretty self-explanatory. Everlasting or eternal and father. And Prince, a title of human designation, of Shalowm, the kind of peace that comes from God. These terms hint at the fact that the messiah would be, as Jesus was, fully God and fully man. I think by referencing this verse, Matthew was introducing Jesus as Messiah. He was telling us that He was the one who would be the great light, and who was the promised Messiah. This intro gives the sermon that Jesus preached on that hillside context. Matthew was saying, I think, "Listen! The one speaking is not just some clever rabbi who teaches pretty well. He is THE MESSIAH. He is coming to establish the Kingdom. The government of the Kingdom is on His shoulders. What Jesus said in this sermon is not merely "good advise" ~ '' Matthew ends this introduction by telling us that from that time Jesus preached, "Repent for the Kingdom of God is near." I think, in fact, that that is the thesis statement of the entire sermon.
To start, I want to go one step behind the SotM and the gospel and look at the author. (see last blog) I think, as I said in the last blog, that Matthew was called "Levi" because he might have been from the tribe of Levi, the tribe that was chosen to be the priests of God. I wonder if he had grown up preping to be a priest then ... decided money was better. In any case he is VERY familiar with scripture and saturates his gospel with references from the OT. I have a 'general rule' that I use, and I suggest others use when reading the New Testament ~ certainly when reading Matthew: if there is an Old Testament verse given LOOK IT UP and read not merely the verse quoted, but the context of the entire passage.
Matt 4:12-17
When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, along the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
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."
From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
I have never heard this passage included in any sermons or teaching on the SotM. And when ever I have heard this explained, it has been to merely note that Jesus preached in the northern territory of Israel, near the Sea of Galilee. I think this is Matthew's intro. Matthew says that Jesus went to Galilee, specifically to the region of Zebulun and Naphtali to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah.
So, 1) Where is the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, and why is it called Galilee of the Gentiles?
When the Israelites conquered the Promised Land (book of Joshua) land was allotted to each of the tribes. The land in the north near the Sea of Galilee was the allotment for those two tribes: Zebulun and Naphtali.
(map from http://www.iggydarsa.com)
This land was called "Galilee of the Gentiles" because first it was on the northern border and the western border, a place where Gentiles lived and mingled with Jews. It had been Israel, the Northern Kingdom, the place where during the time of the divided kingdom, the northern nation of Israel went into captivity under the Assyrian Empire (2 Kings 17:1-33). What the Assyrians did was deport the inhabitants of Israel to the eastern side of the empire, and transplant people from that region to Israel. So Gentiles had lived in the land from that time.
Now 2) Why did Matthew quote this scripture? I think Matthew had a much larger reason than merely to tell us where Jesus moved. If you look up the passage and read it in its entirety . . . well, why not just do that now:
Isa 9:1-7
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan — The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them
the bar across their shoulders,the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior's boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
This part at the bottom ~ the darker, underlined part ~ is a promise of the coming Messiah. The names given: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace ~ these are names that each combine a natural and a supernatural component. Wonderful is a word that could also be translated miraculous, that is counsel that is not just wise but miraculous. Mighty, as in the strength of man, and God ~ pretty self-explanatory. Everlasting or eternal and father. And Prince, a title of human designation, of Shalowm, the kind of peace that comes from God. These terms hint at the fact that the messiah would be, as Jesus was, fully God and fully man. I think by referencing this verse, Matthew was introducing Jesus as Messiah. He was telling us that He was the one who would be the great light, and who was the promised Messiah. This intro gives the sermon that Jesus preached on that hillside context. Matthew was saying, I think, "Listen! The one speaking is not just some clever rabbi who teaches pretty well. He is THE MESSIAH. He is coming to establish the Kingdom. The government of the Kingdom is on His shoulders. What Jesus said in this sermon is not merely "good advise" ~ '' Matthew ends this introduction by telling us that from that time Jesus preached, "Repent for the Kingdom of God is near." I think, in fact, that that is the thesis statement of the entire sermon.
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