Welcome to A Journey through the New Testament! In this series, we will systematically journey through every chapter in the New Testament, unveiling the marvelous insights that can be found in the scriptures.
In Matthew 4, Jesus successfully navigated through the temptations posed by the enemy, proving Himself worthy of the anointing received during His baptism. Matthew's primary goal remains to enlighten the Jews about the fulfillment of prophecies concerning Jesus. He specifically references Isaiah 9:1-2, demonstrating the alignment of Jesus' ministry with the foretold scriptures.
Matthew 4:15-16
"The land of Zabulon and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up."
Following His fast, Jesus embarked on ministry in Galilee, the northern region of Israel assigned to the tribes of Zabulon and Nephthalim. While Matthew correlates Jesus' ministry with Isaiah's prophecy, the deeper implications of the prophecy (Matt 4:16) reveal a twofold message.
"The people which sat in darkness saw a great light."
"The people which sat in the region of the shadow of death, light is sprung up."
Contrary to initial impressions, these phrases encapsulate the entirety of Jesus' earthly ministry. Isaiah not only foretold the inception but also anticipated the conclusion of Jesus' ministry.
"and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light..."
The "shadow of death" denotes a literal place in the lower parts of the earth, as mentioned in Job 38:17. At the culmination of Jesus' ministry, He not only endured the cross but descended into the lower parts of the earth, proclaiming His message to those dwelling in the land of the shadow of death.
1 Peter 3:18-20
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
The Psalms reinforce this profound prophecy:
Psalm 107:9-11&14-16
9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
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14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
15 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
Isaiah's prophecy encapsulated the entirety of Jesus' glorious ministry, from its promising commencement to its victorious conclusion, bringing light to the darkest realms. What a magnificent prophecy, illustrating the profound impact of Jesus' journey on earth!
Written by Kareem Flowers, Sunrise with Jesus
How did the light of Christ spring up in your life? Share it in the comments below.
REFERENCE SCRIPTURES
Job 10:18-22
18 Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!
19 I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.
20 Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,
21 Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;
22 A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.
Ephesians 4:8-10
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
John 5:25-29 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
The above writing shows Isaiah's prophecy fulfilled.