Matthew 4:16 … To See a Great Light (06/03/17)
“The people who sat in darkness have Seen a great Light. And for those who sat in the region of death, Light has also dawned.”~ Jesus (Matthew 4:16)
First of all, as is so often the case with the Gospel of Matthew, this verse is a direct allusion to (and almost a direct quote from) the Old Testament Scriptures – in this case Isaiah 9:2 — “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who lived in a land of deep darkness — on them light has shined.”) And this is important for the simple reason that the Gospels – and especially the Gospel of Matthew – show Jesus repeatedly and flagrantly amending (and in many cases actually abolishing) the Old Testament laws that were still in effect in his day …
And this Truth is made even more clear when we look to the very next verse; a verse which reads “From that time Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is already at hand” (Matthew 4:17) – a verse which laid the groundwork for his entire ministry, with “repent” actually being the Greek word “metanoeo;” a word that meant not “self-criticize” or “admit fault” but rather “completely alter one’s lifestyle” (see Strong’s #3340), in this case moving away from self-centered behaviors (behaviors easily justified by strict applications of an outdated & hyper-critical religious law) and towards a selfless Way of Being that chose to humbly seek out and actively Care for everyone – especially enemies & outcasts (see Matthew 5:17-18 — where “fulfill” was actually the Hebrew word “pleroo,” a word that meant not “blindly support” but rather “to make complete”, and Matthew 7:21-24, Matthew 18:3-4, John 13:15-17, Matthew 5:43-48, Matthew 215:35-40 et al).
Note as well that “Light” for Jesus was actually a symbolic reference to a mental awakening to the correctness of his Way, coupled with a spiritual awakening to the practical Truth of selfless Love (see Matthew 5:16, Luke 11:34-35, John 1:4-5, John 12:35-37, John 14:12, John 8:12 + John 14:20-26 et al). And “Light” is also the liberation from darkness; the darkness that was composed of lust inspired by fear – especially the fear of death (see Hebrews 2:14-15).
True, the Christian church (founded upon the theological inanities of Paul) tried to combat this fear by combating death – by creating an eternal Heaven in the Hereafter for those who proved themselves worthy of the same (see Romans 5:21, Romans 11:21-22, Romans 14:10-12, 1 Corinthians 4:4, 1 Corinthians 5:13, 1 Corinthians 11:32, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 1 Thessalonians 1:10 et al); a theology that forever will bear the Bad Fruit of sadness, division, oppression, condemnation, despair, and – worst of all – an intensification of the very fear that caused such trouble in the first place …
And all of this exists to this day in direct opposition to The Way of Christ (see Mark 10:18, John 5:22, Luke 17:20-21, John 14:20 et al); a Way of Living that combats fear in this lifetime, by usurping that fear via radical acts of selfless Love (see Matthew 5:48 + 1 John 4:18 + John 13:15-17 et al).
And this is why those “who sat in the region of death” are specifically mentioned, for it is these people (those who are in great pain, or great fear, or great despair, or very near their actual demise) who are most susceptible to awakening to the Truth of The Way. And this is why we have been Called to “repent” – to turn from our arrogance & our selfishness in order that we might Love others fully, and thereby “give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide their feet into the Way of Peace.” (Luke 1:79)
Amen … Let it be so.
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