Matthew 4

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:13

Matthew 4:13. Leaving Nazareth Namely, when they had rejected his word, and even attempted to kill him, as is described Luke 4:29: he came and dwelt in Capernaum, upon the sea-coast “Capernaum is nowhere mentioned in the Old Testament, either by its own name or by any other. Probably it was one of those towns which the Jews built after their return from Babylon. Its exact situation has not, as yet, been determined with certainty by geographers: only, from its being on the confines of the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:14-15

Matthew 4:14-15. That it might be fulfilled. Or, whereby was fulfilled, that which was spoken by Esaias Namely, Isaiah 9:1-2, where see the notes. The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, &c. Isaiah, in this passage, comforts the Jewish Church of his time against the desolation about to be made through the Assyrian invasion, by foretelling that they who should have the greatest share in that calamity should afterward enjoy, in the greatest plenty, the means of salvation... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:16

Matthew 4:16. The people who sat in darkness They whose predecessors were afflicted by the Assyrians, and who, before Christ visited them, were captives of Satan, and had lived in gross ignorance of God and religion, being far from Jerusalem, the place of worship, and intermixed with the Tyrians, Sidonians, and other wicked heathen: saw a great light This is spoken by Isaiah in the prophetic style, which represents things future as already accomplished, because certainly to be... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:17

Matthew 4:17. From that time Jesus began to preach He had preached before, both to Jews and Samaritans, John 4:41; John 4:45, but from this time he began to preach publicly and statedly, and to insist on the same doctrine that John had done: and with good reason, for the repentance which John taught, still was and ever will be, the necessary preparation for that inward kingdom of heaven, or, of God, which is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. The phrase, however, is not... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:18

Matthew 4:18. And Jesus, walking, &c., saw two brethren One of the two, at least, namely, Andrew, had been a disciple of the Baptist. And the Apostle John “informs us, John 1:40; John 1:42, that they had both before been called to the knowledge of Christ, upon the banks of Jordan, and that the name of Peter had been given to Simon. And it is probable that, from their first acquaintance with him, they followed Jesus for some time, and went with him to Cana and Capernaum, John 2:3;... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:19-20

Matthew 4:19-20. He saith unto them Namely, after some previous circumstances, an account of which is given, Luke 5:1-11. Follow me That is, not only now and then, as you have hitherto done, since my baptism, John 1:37; but now leave your ordinary employments, and become my constant attendants; that by continually hearing my doctrine, and seeing my miracles, you may be fitted, in due time, to become my messengers to mankind. It is observable that, when God has called men to offices of... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:21-22

Matthew 4:21-22. Going on from thence Mark says, A little further thence, He saw two other brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother The reader will observe, there was another James, the son of Alpheus, or Cleophas, commonly called James the Less. In a ship, with Zebedee their father By the sea-side, mending their nets Which had been broken by the vast draught of fishes they had taken just before. And he called them Not with his voice only, but by his Spirit... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:23

Matthew 4:23. And Jesus went about all Galilee Accompanied, it seems, by the four disciples above named; teaching in their synagogues The word, συναγωγη , rendered, synagogue, may either signify the congregation, or the place in which they assembled. But it seems here, and generally, to mean the latter. Synagogues were in every city, from the time of the Babylonish captivity, and perhaps before that time. For, it is certain, the Jews neither did nor could assemble in the temple at... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:24

Matthew 4:24. His fame went through all Syria Of which the country of the Jews and Samaritans was but a small part. Pliny tells us, that Syria contained several provinces, Comagene to the north, Phœnicia to the west, Cœlosyria to the south, Palmyrene, and the province of Seleucia, in the middle part. If, by all Syria, the evangelist means all these different provinces of Syria, our Lord’s fame must at this time have been exceedingly great. Nor is there any thing incredible in the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:25

Matthew 4:25. And there followed him great multitudes Affected with the sight, or fame of his miracles, which was now very great, from Galilee Its many and populous towns and villages. See note on Matthew 4:15. From Decapolis A tract of land on the east side of the sea of Galilee, which had its name from δεκα , ten, and πολις , a city, because it contained only ten cities, which were situated near each other, and formed into a distinct district, the metropolis of which was Damascus. read more

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:13

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:14-15

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:16

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:17

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:18

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:19-20

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:21-22

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:23

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:24

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:25

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