Matthew 4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 4:13

And leaving Nazareth - Or, entirely leaving Nazareth, και καταλιπων την Ναζαρετ , from κατα , intensive, and Δειπω , I leave. It seems that, from this time, our blessed Lord made Capernaum his ordinary place of residence; and utterly forsook Nazareth, because they had wholly rejected his word, and even attempted to take away his life. See Luke 4:29 . Galilee was bounded by mount Lebanon on the north, by the river Jordan and the sea of Galilee on the east, by Chison on the south,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 4:15

Galilee of the Gentiles - Or of the nations. So called, because it was inhabited by Egyptians, Arabians, and Phoenicians, according to the testimony of Strabo and others. The Hebrew גוים goyim , and the Greek εθνων , signify nations; and, in the Old and New Testaments, mean those people who were not descendants of any of the twelve tribes. The word Gentiles, from gens , a nation, signifies the same. It is worthy of remark, that it was a regular tradition among the ancient Jews, that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 4:16

The people which sat in darkness - This is quoted from Isaiah 9:2 , where, instead of sitting, the prophet used the word walked. The evangelist might on purpose change the term, to point out the increased misery of the state of these persons. Sitting in darkness expresses a greater degree of intellectual blindness, than walking in darkness does. In the time of Christ's appearing, the people were in a much worse state than in the time of the prophet, which was nearly 700 years before; as,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 4:17

Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent - See on Matthew 3:1 , Matthew 3:2 ; (note). Every preacher commissioned by God to proclaim salvation to a lost world, begins his work with preaching the doctrine of repentance. This was the case with all the prophets, John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, all the apostles, and all their genuine successors in the Christian ministry. The reasons are evident in the notes already referred to; and for the explanation of the word κηρυσσειν , preaching or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 4:18

Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother - Why did not Jesus Christ call some of the eminent Scribes or Pharisees to publish his Gospel, and not poor unlearned fishermen, without credit or authority? Because it was the kingdom of heaven they were to preach, and their teaching must come from above: besides, the conversion of sinners, though it be effected instrumentally by the preaching of the Gospel, yet the grand agent in it is the Spirit of God. As the instruments were comparatively... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 4:19

Follow me - Come after me, δευτε οπισω μου . Receive my doctrines, imitate me in my conduct - in every respect be my disciples. We may observe that most of the calls of God to man are expressed in a few solemn words, which alarm, the conscience, and deeply impress the heart. I will make you fishers of men - Ezekiel 47:8-10 , casts much light on this place; and to this prophet our Lord probably alludes. To follow Christ, and be admitted into a partnership of his ministry, is a great... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 4:20

They straightway left their nets - A change, as far as it respected secular things, every way to their disadvantage. The proud and the profane may exult and say, "Such preachers as these cannot be much injured by their sacrifices of secular property - they have nothing but nets, etc., to leave." Let such carpers at the institution of Christ know, that he who has nothing but a net, and leaves that for the sake of doing good to the souls of men, leaves his All: besides, he lived comfortably by... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 4:22

Left the ship and their father - By the ship, το πλοιον , we are to understand the mere fishing-boat, used for extending their nets in the water and bringing the hawser or rope of the farther end to shore, by which the net was pulled to land. But why should these be called to leave their employment and their father, probably now aged? To this I answer, that to be obedient to, provide for, and comfort our parents, is the highest duty we owe or can discharge, except that to God. But, when... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 4:23

Teaching in their synagogues - Synagogue, συναγωγη , from συν , together, and αγω , I bring, a public assembly of persons, or the place where such persons publicly assembled. Synagogues, among the Jews, were not probably older than the return from the Babylonish captivity. They were erected not only in cities and towns, but in the country, and especially by rivers, that they might have water for the convenience of their frequent washings. Not less than ten persons of respectability... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 4:24

Sick people - Τους, κακως εχοντας , those who felt ill - were afflicted with any species of malady. And torments - βασανοις , from βασανιζω , to examine by torture, such as cholics, gouts, and rheumatisms, which racked every joint. Possessed with devils - Daemoniacs. Persons possessed by evil spirits. This is certainly the plain obvious meaning of daemoniac in the Gospels. Many eminent men think that the sacred writers accommodated themselves to the unfounded prejudices of... read more

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