The man of St Matthew

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

THE OPENING OF JESUS' MINISTRY: Mt 4,12-25

The scene is set for Jesus' public ministry with three short scenes as we noted in the overview. Matthew has developed Mk 1,14-20 by adding the OT quotation in 4,13-17 and then providing his own summary in 4,23-25. Note what comes in between and consider its significance.

Arrival in Galilee: 4,12-17

In verse 12, translations tell of John being arrested. The Greek word here means "handed over". See how the word reappears in Mt 26,15.16. What conclusions can be drawn?

What do you make of the geography in verse 13? Many bibles have maps, see if you can discover the territory which includes Capernaum.
Then look up the quotation in verses 15 & 16 in Isaiah 9,1-2, read on to verse 7 (though in some Bibles that will be 8,23-9,6). Note how the introduction in verse 14 is similar to 2,15.17.23.

Compare verse 17 with Mk 1,15 and with 3,2.

Now take a look at my response.

The Calling of the First Disciples: 4,18-22

Consider why Jesus needs the disciples to be present right at the beginning of his ministry. The clue can be found in 5,1.
Notice how the two calls are parallel in the way they unfold. Look at 1 Kings 19,19-21. See how there are four elements in the call by Jesus but five in the call by Elijah. What therefore are the similarities with the calls by Jesus and Elijah and what are the differences (see 10,37)?
Notice how Simon is given his alternative name (see Mk 1,16) and look at 16,18. Where does Jesus meet the disciples? Who takes the initiative, what is the response?

Now take another look at my response.

Transition: 4,23-25

This summary is effectively special to Matthew as a development of Mk 1,39. Why do I call this a transition? Look at 4,23 and 9,35. What are the three activities of Jesus? Look through what comes in-between, noticing the difference between chapters 5 to 7 and chapters 8 and 9. Consider how as a result these five chapters form Matthew's major presentation of Jesus.

What is the effect of verses 24 and 25? How do they lead-in to 5,1?

Again take a look at my response.

The Sunday Gospel

All but the last two verses of this passage are read as the Gospel for the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, 4,12-23. There is no obvious reason why verses 24 and 25 are omitted.
A shorter form of the Gospel, 4,12-17, omits the call of the disciples.

The OT reading which accompanies this Gospel is Isaiah 8,23-9,3. This we've seen is the source of Matthew's quotation in 4,15-16 and we've looked at the whole passage already, 8,23-9,6 (or 9,1-7).

The evangelist now has Jesus ready and in position to deliver his key-note speech, the Sermon on the Mount. Let us move on to our overview of the Sermon as we begin chapter 5.