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Explanation for:
Matthew
4
:
12
And when Jesus had heard that John was delivered up, he retired into Galilee:
12
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Why does He depart once more? To instruct us not to confront temptations on our own, but rather to retreat and avoid them. One is not at fault for steering clear of peril; instead, it is the one who lacks bravery in the midst of danger who bears the blame. Christ’s withdrawal to Capernaum serves this purpose, addressing the animosity of the Jewish leaders while simultaneously fulfilling prophecy. Like a fisherman eager to draw in the teachers of the divine, He moves to that city where they resided, engaged in their craft. Notice how Christ, whenever He intends to reach out to the Gentiles, draws His motivations from the actions of the Jews. In this instance, the Jews, having conspired against the Forerunner and imprisoned him, compel Jesus to enter into the realm of Gentile Galilee."},{"author-name":"Anonymous Commentary (Opus Imperfectum)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Who is the source of this? It undoubtedly comes from God. No one can harm a righteous person unless God permits it. A sinner might have an impact on another sinner, as God shows little regard for the sinner, but certainly, a righteous person is beyond harm, for the Lord serves as a refuge for all who place their faith in Him, as stated in Psalm 17:31. Furthermore, it is written, \\"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father's will,\\" emphasizing that we, of little faith, are much more valued, for even the hairs of our heads are counted. Understanding this, the Lord withdrew not from fear of death but for two significant reasons. First, to hold back His suffering until the appointed moment, and second, to illustrate how we can evade the perils of temptation—not because He feared such trials, but because we might not withstand every temptation. As our Teacher, He leads us along the path of truth, and we, His disciples, follow Him. It is clear that He chooses a path not solely for Himself but one that we can bear. If Christ were to act solely according to His divine power and not in ways we could also follow, we could not truly be His disciples, nor would we be capable of walking in His footsteps."},{"author-name":"Cyrill of Alexandria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a8ea5c988a4fc073480_Cyrill%20of%20Alexandria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"Christ left, not because of fear, but to guide us in how to turn away from those who persecute us. His movement from Judea to the Gentiles illustrates that He turns away from the Jewish people, not only when they transgress against God directly but also when they sin against the holy prophets."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Upon learning of Herod the tetrarch's imprisonment of him, as he later mentions, he withdrew, illustrating the importance of steering clear of temptation. The issue lies not in encountering peril, but rather in failing to stand resolute when faced with it. He journeyed to Galilee so that, firstly, the prophecy regarding it could be fulfilled, as will be detailed, and secondly, that the fishermen—namely the apostles residing there—might be gathered. Consequently, the angels, after Christ's ascension into glory, referred to them as Galileans, asking, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up to heaven?’ (Acts 1:11)."},{"author-name":"Nicephoros (Theotokis)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8958407451968d9c204fb_Nicephoros%20(Theotokis).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":18,"exegesis-text":"John the Baptist boldly confronted Herod, the tetrarch, condemning him for taking Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, along with numerous other sins he had committed: \\"It is not lawful for you,\\" John asserted, \\"to have your brother's wife\\" (Mk. 6:18). In response, Herod grew angry and compounded his sins by imprisoning John: \\"But Herod the tetrarch,\\" the Evangelist notes, \\"was rebuked by him\\"—referring to John—\\"concerning Herodias, his brother’s wife; and he did all these things, and shut John up in prison\\" (Luke 3:19-20). Afterward, following the celebration of Herod's birthday, he resolved, \\"I will kill him\\" (Matthew 14:10). When Jesus, the incarnate God, learned that John had been imprisoned, He departed from Judea and journeyed to Galilee, where both Jews and Gentiles resided at that time. \\n\\nFrom this, we can observe that Herod is a mere imitator, who detests and persecutes a man driven by divine passion, offering sincere rebuke and encouragement to lead him away from his sinful desires. Additionally, it is noteworthy that Jesus Christ left Judea without fear of persecution or harm; for whom could He fear, given that the heavenly realm, the earthly realm, and the realm of the dead tremble before Him? He exited not out of fear of being captured by the treacherous Jews and handed over to Herod, who might imprison Him as he did John. Rather, as the Almighty God, He chose to willingly submit Himself to their authority, suffering through humiliation, being pierced, and laid in a tomb. He aimed to demonstrate through His actions what He had taught: \\"But when they persecute you,\\" He instructed, \\"in this city, flee to another\\" (Matthew 10:23). Let us understand that we must yield to righteous anger, avoiding situations that jeopardize our souls or lives."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"John was arrested, and the Pharisees celebrated, convinced that the threat posed by the prophet from the Jordan had been resolved. However, they soon learned with great concern that Jesus of Nazareth, whom they had rejected as the Messiah, was baptizing and attracting even more followers than John. This prompted them to focus all their schemes solely on Jesus. Aware of their intentions and knowing that His time of suffering had not yet arrived, Christ chose to retreat to Galilee. Although He had the divine authority to defend Himself against the Pharisees, as previously mentioned, He reserved that divine power for the salvation of others rather than for His own escape as a human. The Evangelist Matthew recounts Jesus' journey to Galilee in these words: When Jesus heard that John was taken into custody, he withdrew to Galilee. Thus, both the news of John’s imprisonment and the scheming of the Pharisees led Jesus to retreat to Galilee."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"It had been a considerable period since the Lord Jesus faced temptation in the wilderness. He arrived in Jerusalem for the Passover celebration but did not remain there for long. He observed that the arrogant scribes and Pharisees, accompanied by the common people of Judea, were less inclined to heed His heavenly teachings than the humble souls from Galilee. Around this time, Herod the tetrarch imprisoned John the Baptist, the Lord's faithful herald. \\n\\nIt is important to note that Herod was influenced by the Jewish leaders, who faced their condemnation from the holy Forerunner. It was to be expected that they would also oppose Christ, the Redeemer, prompting the Lord to withdraw from Judea to Galilee, teaching us not to engage in unnecessary peril. When Jesus learned, as recorded by St. Matthew, that John was taken into custody, He retreated to Galilee. This picturesque region lay between Samaria to the south and the Lebanese mountains to the north. The temperate climate, fertile earth, and lush greenery of its hills and valleys rendered Galilee a flourishing garden. \\n\\nDuring Christ's time, Galilee was home to over two hundred towns and villages, with a population reaching four million. It was in this area that our Lord chose to make His dwelling: here He delivered the majority of His sermons, performed miracles, and selected His apostles from among simple fishermen of Galilee. While it is true that there existed a greater lack of understanding regarding the faith's teachings in Galilee, which led the Jews to disdain the Galileans—often stating, \\"No prophet arises from Galilee; can anything good come from that town?\\"—this sentiment was prevalent among them. Unlike the learned scholars found in Jerusalem and Judea, Galilee lacked such knowledgeable scribes, yet its inhabitants were somewhat less ensnared by misconceptions regarding the awaited Messiah than their Judean counterparts. \\n\\nAlthough the Galileans were not entirely free from these misunderstandings, they largely stemmed from a place of ignorance, contrasting with the Pharisaical arrogance that characterized the Jews' misconceptions. For this reason, every disciple of the Lord Jesus was chosen from Galilee, and He predominantly resided there during His public ministry aimed at the salvation of humanity, visiting Judea and Jerusalem only on occasion—particularly during the annual festivals of Passover, Tabernacles, and Pentecost."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Upon hearing of John's arrest, see Matt. 14:1-13. This occurred a considerable time after the temptation. The Evangelist here leaves out the incidents chronicled by John in chapters 2, 3, and 4 (up to verse 45). However, some of these occurrences will be mentioned later, as we will explore. He transitioned to Galilee from Judea, where He had gone for the Passover festival (cf. Jn. 2:13-4:45). For further information about Galilee, refer to the note on Matthew 2:22."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Not long after John offered his testimony, he faced persecution from the Pharisees, who accused him before Herod Antipas, resulting in his imprisonment. He endured this confinement until his eventual demise, yet he managed to maintain communication with his former disciples and persist in his support of the ministry of Jesus Christ. The Pharisees were not content with their success; upon learning that the new teacher was drawing even larger crowds than John, they were willing to resort to violence against Him. However, since His time had not yet arrived, He left Judea to continue His work among the more open-hearted people in Galilee. The most straightforward route from Judea to Galilee went through Samaria."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The ministry of John the Baptist, which drew a substantial following, had caught the attention of the Pharisees. When they learned that Jesus Christ was attracting even more disciples than John, their scrutiny intensified. Following John's imprisonment, they shifted their focus entirely to the new Teacher, whom John had identified as the One coming after him. The Lord was confident in His mission and did not seek confrontation, knowing that His appointed time had not yet arrived (John 7:30). St. John Chrysostom comments that although the Lord possessed the strength to control His adversaries, He chose not to, so as not to leave them in doubt about the truth of His Incarnation. Consequently, He often behaved in a more relatable manner, wishing that they recognize both His divinity and His humanity.\\n\\nFinding Judea unsafe, Jesus chose to withdraw to Galilee, under the governance of Herod Antipas. This ruler had yet to hear of Christ, and John's imprisonment, which had its own significant reasons, did not hinder the spread of the Gospel in Galilee. Traveling from Samaria, Christ the Saviour proceeded to Galilee, a land chosen by Providence to receive the enlightening message of the Gospel before Judea (Isaiah 9:1, 2). His brief ministry in Jerusalem demonstrated to the Lord that the sincere hearts of the simple, albeit uneducated, Galileans were more receptive to the truth of the Gospel, compared to the arrogance and misguided perceptions of the Jerusalem Jews, burdened by the prejudices of their blind teachers, the Pharisees (Matthew 23:16). These so-called wise men, who possessed the key to understanding yet used it to block access for others (Luke 11:52), watched with envious malice as the Lord preached and performed miracles in the far-off towns and villages of Galilee and made Jerusalem a hostile environment for any prophet who challenged their views.\\n\\nIn order to further His teachings undisturbed, Jesus Christ selected Galilee as the focal point of His ministry, visiting Jerusalem and other locations in Palestine only sporadically to share the message of salvation. Here, in Galilee, He gathered His Apostles, all of whom hailed from this region often overlooked by the Jews (John 7:41), and performed the majority of His miracles with the primary aim of promoting the spiritual well-being of humanity—strengthening their faith in Him as the Son of God and the Saviour of all. The Evangelist Luke notes that Jesus returned to Galilee filled with the Holy Spirit’s power (4:14), referring to the authority of His words and miracles, which flowed from Him as an unfailing source of grace. He was welcomed with enthusiasm; the Galileans who had traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover and witnessed His deeds there relayed the news to their fellow countrymen upon their return. Thus, well before Jesus arrived in Galilee, the excitement surrounding His name had begun to spread widely."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"When examining the accounts of all the Gospel writers regarding Christ's return to Galilee, we observe several distinct perspectives. The Gospel of Mark only mentions the incident that prompted Christ to leave Judea for Galilee—specifically, the imprisonment of John the Baptist. In contrast, Matthew provides insight into the reason for this relocation, while John elaborates on how this event relates to the identity of Jesus Christ. The Pharisees, likely involved in the schemes leading to the Baptist’s imprisonment through their influence in Herod's court, were unsettled by the growing success of Christ’s ministry. Understanding their intentions to do to Him what Herod had done to John, the Lord chose to withdraw from Judea, where the Pharisees exerted significant power. \\n\\nLuke, who briefly noted the imprisonment of John earlier in relation to Christ's preaching activities, does not mention this incident at all and connects Jesus’ return to Galilee with His baptism and the temptation He faced from the devil in the wilderness: “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee.” Luke perceives the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus at His baptism as His anointing for messianic service, while the temptation in the wilderness represents the first encounter in His redemptive battle against the forces of darkness—an important preparation for His ministry to humanity. After overcoming this personal trial and achieving victory over evil, Jesus, filled with the Spirit, commenced His public mission in Galilee. Through the empowerment received at His baptism, Christ began His ministry as the Messiah."},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Following John's imprisonment (John 3:23, 24), Jesus chose to depart from Judea. It had recently come to His attention that the Pharisees, His most watchful opponents, had shifted their focus entirely from John to Him due to the growing number of His followers. As a result, Jesus decided to leave Judea and journey to Galilee. The fact that John was imprisoned was unlikely to dissuade Him from this decision, as it stemmed from specific circumstances. Herod had either been unaware of Jesus or had yet to take notice of Him. Thus, Jesus, along with His disciples, embarked on the journey to Galilee, passing through Samaria. A devout Israelite would normally have avoided this region, opting instead to travel through Perea, east of the Jordan River, but the Lord was always unconcerned with such superstitious customs."}]}
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