Pr. DFD : Epiphany 3 Series A

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Epiphany 3 Series A

Epiphany 3 - Series A

(26 January 2020)

Isaiah 9:1–4

1 Corinthians 1:10–18

Matthew 4:12–25

The Lord Manifests His Glory through His Office of the Holy Ministry

Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities and stretch forth the hand of Your majesty to heal and defend us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and rules with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen

By His coming in the flesh and by His preaching and miracles, the Lord Jesus shines the light of His Gospel upon “the people who walked in darkness” and “who dwelt in a land of deep darkness” (Isaiah 9:2). He has also “multiplied the nation” and “increased its joy” (Isaiah 9:3) by calling disciples to Himself from the ends of the earth. For this purpose, He calls Peter and Andrew, with James and John, to follow Him and be “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). As Jesus did, they also go forth “proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people” (Matthew 4:23). They preach the foolishness of the cross of Christ as the very power and wisdom of God. This word and preaching of the cross divides “those who are perishing” from “us who are being saved” (1 Corinthians 1:18), but it unites the Church, the one Body of Christ, “in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10).

Through
Rev. Dr. Daniel J. Brege

The ESV translates Matthew 4:14: so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled. Unfortunately the little word “by” makes it sound like Isaiah is the originator of the prophecy quoted by Matthew. Actually this little word “by” (διὰ ) is better translated “through”. Thus Matthew is informing us that Isaiah was God’s instrument—that God spoke through Isaiah. Therefore Isaiah did not create his prophecy, but God was using Isaiah as His instrument to speak inspired words to humanity. Such wording is conveying the doctrine of Inspiration, for the Holy Spirit indeed speaks through the mouth of his holy prophets (Luke 1:70). And no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21).

As I was privileged to be in Israel less than two weeks ago, I saw there a photo-copy of the Dead Sea scroll of the complete book of Isaiah. This scroll that pre-dates the time of Christ was completely “unrolled’ so the entire book of Isaiah was before me. Scholars are amazed that the wording—and even the Hebrew script—is practically identical with the Hebrew of the book of Isaiah we read today. This is partly so because the Jews indeed believed that every little “jot and tittle” of the Hebrew was inspired by God, so they took extreme care whenever they hand-copied any of the writings of the “Old Testament”.

So what had God spoken through Isaiah? He spoke many wonderful prophecies about the coming Christ—prophecies that speak with crystal clarity. The Spirit predicted that a child would be born for us, a son would be given…and His name would be the Mighty God (9:6). Matthew’s gospel-reading for Sunday presents to us the verses preceding this astounding prediction of the Christ-child’s birth. Matthew informs us that Jesus began His ministry by fulfilling God’s prediction through Isaiah that the Christ would shine forth in the land of Zebulun and Naphtali. These lands that had entered a state of spiritual darkness, lands that were so dark that they had substantially rejected their Jewish heritage, these were the very lands where the Christ would shine forth with holy preaching and heretofore unseen miracles. Here the Christ began to herald the gospel of the kingdom, a gospel that would culminate in the cross and the empty tomb of the kingdom’s king.

As the gospel of the kingdom announced both by word and by deed the presence of the Christ, so this Christ and this gospel would ultimately take believers to the climactic work of the kingdom: Christ dying for mankind’s salvation. Thus appropriately Isaiah—or rather God through Isaiah—predicted: But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:5,6).

Through. Indeed God works through means, actively participating in His creation. The Spirit of God spoke through His prophets and apostles. God sent His Son through a virgin. The Son of God creates our salvation through His death and resurrection. God brings us to faith through His Holy Word. Through: God is always the agent, the one who must act upon us and upon His entire creation. Every good thing must come from Him, and we bow before Him as He gives us good things through the instruments He chooses.

Jesus begins His ministry –

Matthew 4:12

Ἀκούσας δὲ ὅτι Ἰωάννης παρεδόθη ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν.

Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.

John is "handed over" his time is done. This term is usually used of Jesus. When the forerunner is taken He is next. Jesus starts in Galilee. Even as he begins his ministry the kingdom is suffering violence...to this day (22 January the anniversary of Roe v Wade)

He withdraws... (to pray?)

Matthew 4:13

καὶ καταλιπὼν τὴν Ναζαρὰ ἐλθὼν κατῴκησεν εἰς Καφαρναοὺμ τὴν παραθαλασσίαν ἐν ὁρίοις Ζαβουλὼν καὶ Νεφθαλίμ•

And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,

Jesus leaves Nazareth (further separation) settles in Capernaum. But not a permanent situation. "The Son of Man will have no place to rest his head".

Matthew 4:14

ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ Ἠσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος•

so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

Fulfillment of Prophecy

Matthew 4:15

Γῆ Ζαβουλὼν καὶ γῆ Νεφθαλίμ, ὁδὸν θαλάσσης, πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, Γαλιλαία τῶν ἐθνῶν,

"The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-

Matthew 4:16

ὁ λαὸς ὁ καθήμενος ἐν σκοτίᾳ φῶς εἶδεν μέγα, καὶ τοῖς καθημένοις ἐν χώρᾳ καὶ σκιᾷ θανάτου φῶς ἀνέτειλεν αὐτοῖς.

the people (literally "sitting") dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned."

The “land of milk and honey” have turned into sand and death. This is the Epiphany - people living in darkness have seen light.

These people were the nobodies Peter was called out on the night of Jesus' arrest for his Galilean accent.

These people are sitting without hope.

Matthew 4:17

Ἀπὸ τότε ἤρξατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς κηρύσσειν καὶ λέγειν• Μετανοεῖτε, ἤγγικεν γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." -

The kingdom is drawing near...it is at arms reach. The kingdom is the presence and work of Christ. The kingdom is Jesus. (In their midst)

The message is preached to those who had been separated. (Northern Kingdom) Through paganism they had merged into the Syrian culture.

Every great prophet has preached repentance. Remember, repentance has tow parts. Contrition and faith...more than just stop it!

Jesus Calls His First disciples -

Matthew 4:18

Περιπατῶν δὲ παρὰ τὴν θάλασσαν τῆς Γαλιλαίας εἶδεν δύο ἀδελφούς, Σίμωνα τὸν λεγόμενον Πέτρον καὶ Ἀνδρέαν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, βάλλοντας ἀμφίβληστρον εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, ἦσαν γὰρ ἁλιεῖς•

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

Matthew 4:19

καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς• Δεῦτε ὀπίσω μου, καὶ ποιήσω ὑμᾶς ἁλιεῖς ἀνθρώπων.

And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

Matthew 4:20

οἱ δὲ εὐθέως ἀφέντες τὰ δίκτυα ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ.

Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

This is a specific calling. They are turning to a new vocation. A sudden change. They become the ultimate net throwers. Jesus is establishing his Church and this is how it works based on the foundation of the prophets and apostles.

Matthew 4:21

Καὶ προβὰς ἐκεῖθεν εἶδεν ἄλλους δύο ἀδελφούς, Ἰάκωβον τὸν τοῦ Ζεβεδαίου καὶ Ἰωάννην τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ μετὰ Ζεβεδαίου τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν καταρτίζοντας τὰ δίκτυα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτούς.

And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.

They were cleaning/mending nets. They were done for the day. The other two were still fishing casting their nets. Yet once called they left all.

Here James is the dominant one.

Everyone has a calling. Zebedee stayed behind fishing for fish rejoicing in his vocation doing God's work in a secular world. Every job is honorable. Reflect the light where you live.

Matthew 4:22

οἱ δὲ εὐθέως ἀφέντες τὸ πλοῖον καὶ τὸν πατέρα αὐτῶν ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ.

Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. -

Jesus ministers to great crowds -

Matthew 4:23

Καὶ περιῆγεν ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ, διδάσκων ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν καὶ κηρύσσων τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας καὶ θεραπεύων πᾶσαν νόσον καὶ πᾶσαν μαλακίαν ἐν τῷ λαῷ.

And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.

All kind of maladies (see the Collect for the day) illnesses are specifically mentioned in v. 24 -

Matthew 4:24

καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ἡ ἀκοὴ αὐτοῦ εἰς ὅλην τὴν Συρίαν• καὶ προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ πάντας τοὺς κακῶς ἔχοντας ποικίλαις νόσοις καὶ βασάνοις συνεχομένους, δαιμονιζομένους καὶ σεληνιαζομένους καὶ παραλυτικούς, καὶ ἐθεράπευσεν αὐτούς.

So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them.

Matthew 4:25

καὶ ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ ὄχλοι πολλοὶ ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας καὶ Δεκαπόλεως καὶ Ἱεροσολύμων καὶ Ἰουδαίας καὶ πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου.

And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. -

His fame is spreading. Crowds are following.