012305prep.html

Matthew 4:12-23

4: 12 When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and went to settle down in Capernaum, a town by the lake of Galilee, at the border of Zebulun and Naphtali.

14 In this way the word of the prophet Isaiah was fulfilled: 15 Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali crossed by the Road of the Sea, and you who live by the Jordan, Galilee, land of pagans, listen:

16 The people who lived in darkness have seen a great light; on those who live in the land of the shadow of death, a light has shone.

• 17 From that time on Jesus began to proclaim his message, "Change your ways: the kingdom of heaven is near."

18 As Jesus walked by the lake of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 He said to them, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fish for people."

20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

21 He went on from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them.
22 At once they left the boat and their father and followed him.

23 Jesus went around all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom, and curing all kinds of sickness and disease among the people.

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Commentary

• 17. Change your ways. The Greek word is often-times translated as "convert", or "repent". In 3:11 we put "change of heart", which is the closest to the Greek word. This term can be understood in many ways. In the mouth of John the Baptist, "Be converted" means "turn away from your sins." With Jesus, "conversion" means a renewal of life from inside out. The Gospel will tell us that this renewal follows the discovery of God's mercy and is the work of his Spirit within us.

The kingdom of heaven is near. The Jews at that time said "kingdom of Heaven" instead of "kingdom of God". Jesus proclaims that God comes to reign among us meaning that we receive definitive salvation.

[The Community Christian Bible]

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1. John was arrested. Trouble is brewing. Darkness is settling in. Even so, on those who live in the land of the shadow of death, a light has shone. The opportunity for change is still present. Regret for the past need not control our living in the present. A new covenant, the presence of forgiveness is nigh.

Repent	Our Father
the kingdom of heaven is near	who art heaven, thy kingdom come
Repent	Thy will be done
the kingdom of heaven is near	on earth as it is in heaven
Repent	Give us this day our daily bread
the kingdom of heaven is near	forgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us
Repent	Lead us not into temptation
the kingdom of heaven is near	but deliver us from evil

2. The needed change is available in daily life. We hear about this twice in a row, lending importance to this.

The call: “Come, follow me (change/repent), and I will make you fish for people (the kingdom of heaven is near).”

The response: “At once the left their nets (changed/repentant) and followed him (the nearness of heaven, emmanuel).

The third call and response is to you and to me, today. And tomorrow. And forever. And to all, not just to you and me.

3. All of this is leading to a new image of a Peaceable Place: “Jesus went around all Galilee, changing religious gatherings, evidencing the nearness of God through the curing of all kinds of sickness and disease among the people.”

What would it look like in your community if your particular religious gathering evidenced the nearness of GOD by more than talk?.