Light on the Word - Matthew 3-4

Matthew 4:12-16 (ESV)
Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
the people dwelling in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.”

Matthew is starting to outline Jesus’ ministry.  The rest of the book with capitalize on the fulfillment of the passage he quotes, above.   Jesus is sent to show a “great light.” The people of God (the Jewish people ... the nation of Israel ... at this point) are in darkness.  God’s Word has not been spoke since the last words of the Old Testament (Malachi).  There was 400 years of silence during this time.  After Malachi, God ceased to speak to Israel through the prophets.  They only had the Old Testament Scriptures.  That was not really “silence,” years since they did have the “Old Testament” Scriptures.   However, when Jesus arrives on the seen He brings a new Word and a display of great power.  But, as we see from the above passage, Jesus also brings illumination.  The doctrine of illumination is an important doctrine in the Scripture.  The long and short of it is that man can hear nothing spiritual unless the Spirit of God illuminates the eyes of the person reading the Scriptures.  This is why people might read the Bible and not get it.  The interpretation and illumination of the Bible must come by Christ, through the Spirit. Note how Christ frames this truth in John’s Gospel:

John 14:26 (ESV)
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.