Jesus now moved to Capernaum. It can hardly be described as his headquarters, because his ministry necessarily involved considerable movement about the country. But this was to be the main centre of his work throughout the ensuing year. There were several reasons for this.
Matthew links this move with John’s imprisonment, which must have taken place about the time Jesus came north (John 4:1,3). The word used by Matthew and Mark here is the one normally used in the gospels for betrayal (43 times), and also with the somewhat milder meaning: delivered, handed over. The implication seems to be that John was paying the penalty for being so plain-spoken in his preaching. The Pharisees did not forgive sins of that sort. It was probably by their false accusation and contrivance in the first place that John now found himself a prisoner (Matthew 17:12).
Accordingly Matthew describes this transfer of activities to Capernaum by a word which carried a hint of flight (4:12). Later on it is described as “his own city” (Matthew 9:1); and the narrative of 17:24 tells of him paying temple tribute there, thus implying that by that time he had been recognized as a citizen of Capernaum for more than a year.
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Author: Harry Whittaker
Keywords: Capernaum, borders of Zebulun and Naphtali, borders of Zebulun, Galilee, Jesus preached in Galilee
Bible reference(s): Isaiah 9:1, Matt. 4:13-17, Mark 1:14-15, Luke 4:31
Source: Studies in the Gospels.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.