Matthew 4:25 - Printer Friendly

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

NIV: Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

NASB: Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

CSB: Large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

NLT: Large crowds followed him wherever he went — people from Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River.

KJV: And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

NKJV: Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

Jesus' teaching about the coming kingdom of heaven and His miraculous healings of every kind of disease and affliction quickly made Him famous. He remained in Galilee, but large crowds came to Him from all over the map. Matthew mentioned Syria to the north in the previous verse. Now he adds other regions. The Decapolis, or "ten cities," was a Roman and Gentile region south and east of the Sea of Galilee. Crowds came from Jerusalem and the region of Judea, but also from "beyond the Jordan." This phrase usually referred to the territory east of the Jordan River.

Matthew's statement that the crowds followed Him does not mean that all those people became committed disciples of Jesus. It simply means they literally followed Him from place to place. Their intent was to see the miracles He performed and to hear His teaching. Those who did so had the opportunity to hear the greatest sermon ever given, the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1–2).

Matthew 4:23–25 describes Jesus' ministry all around the region of Galilee. He and disciples travel from place to place. Jesus teaches in the synagogues and proclaims the good news to all that the kingdom of heaven is near. He also displays the power of the kingdom by healing people with every kind of affliction, including diseases, demon possession, and paralysis. Jesus quickly becomes famous, drawing huge crowds of followers from every direction.

Matthew 3 ended with the Holy Spirit coming to rest on Jesus following His baptism. Now the Spirit leads Him into the wilderness to endure tempting by the devil after 40 days of fasting. Jesus demonstrates His sinlessness by resisting all temptations. He begins His ministry in the region of Galilee, settling in Capernaum and calling some disciples to follow Him. Jesus' work in Galilee includes traveling from place to place, proclaiming the good news that the kingdom of heaven is near and healing every kind of affliction. He soon becomes famous, drawing huge crowds from great distances.

Matthew 3 ends with a great affirmation from the voice of God the Father: Jesus is His Son. Immediately after that, God's Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness for a time of temptation by the devil. Jesus passes that test and then begins His ministry in the region of Galilee. Jesus begins to call His disciples and travel around the region. He teaches in the synagogues and heals people with every kind of affliction. Jesus' fame grows quickly. This provides Him a large audience for the Sermon on the Mount, which Matthew begins to record in chapter 5.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.

Accessed 5/4/2024 10:05:16 AM