Sequence in Chronology: 8 of 26
Topics Covered: Jesus moves to Capernaum and fulfills prophecy, some disciples called for preaching tour, a demonic man is healed, the Lord's popularity skyrockets, Peter's mother-in-law is healed.
Jesus preaches throughout Galilee, Sermon on the Mount is given, travel back to Capernaum, paralyzed man healed, the Lord forgives sins and is accused of blasphemy, Matthew becomes a disciple, parables of new cloth on old and new wine in old bottles are given.
Bible References: Matthew 4:18 - 8:4, 8:14 - 17, 9:2 - 17, Mark 1:16 - 2:22, Luke 4:31 - 44, 5:1 - 39, 6:20 - 7:1.
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June 27 A.D.
to Early 28 A.D.
Called to Follow Jesus
Jesus, after escaping a June 1, 27 A.D. (Pentecost) attempt on his life in Nazareth, heads to Capernaum in fulfillment of prophecy.
And after leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is on the seaside, on the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, saying,
"The land of Zabulon and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people who were sitting in darkness have seen a great light; and to those who were sitting in the realm and shadow of death, light has sprung up." (Matthew 4:13 - 16, see also Luke 4:31 - 32).
The Lord soon calls Peter, Andrew, James and John, while they are fishing on the Sea of Galilee, to come with him on his first preaching tour in Galilee (Mark 1:16 - 20, Matthew 4:18 - 22, Luke 5:1 - 11). The first destination of the group is back in Capernaum.
Demons Reveal Truth
Although his disciples, at this point in history, had yet to fully grasp who Jesus was, demonic spirits have no doubts whatsoever! A demon-possessed man, while the Lord is preaching in a Capernaum synagogue, screams that he knows his identity.
"Ah! What have we to do with You, Jesus the Nazarean? Have You come to bring us to nothing? I know Who You are, the Holy One of God." (Luke 4:34).
The demon is quickly silenced and cast out of the man (Mark 1:23 - 26, Luke 4:33 - 37). News of this display of Christ's authority and power rapidly spreads throughout Galilee.
Great Signs, Awesome Wonders
Jesus and the disciples, after leaving the synagogue for Peter's house, find his mother-in-law sick. The Lord rebukes the fever and she is healed (Matthew 8:14 - 15, Mark 1:29 - 31, Luke 4:38 - 39). This event shows not only Jesus' mercy, but also that Peter (unlike what some denominations teach) was a married man. This fact is further confirmed by the Apostle Paul (1Corinthians 9:5) who stated many of the apostles were, in fact, married.
Countless people, after Peter's mother-in-law was made healthy, are healed and many are freed of demon possession (Mark 1:32 - 34, Luke 4:40 - 41, Matthew 8:16 - 17).
The Lord, after praying early in the morning, continues preaching throughout the Galilee region (Mark 1:39, Luke 4:42 - 44, Matthew 4:23 - 25). His preaching, along with a constant stream of spectacular miracles and great wonders, causes his popularity to spread like wildfire.
Then His fame went out into all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were sick, oppressed by various diseases and torments, and possessed by demons, and lunatics, and paralytics; and He healed them. And great multitudes followed Him from Galilee, and Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and beyond (east of) the Jordan (Matthew 4:24 - 25, HBFV).
It should be noted that Luke 4:33 - 44, chronologically, comes AFTER Luke 5:1 - 11. This is because the Lord first had to call Peter and others, who forsook everything to follow him (Luke 5:1 - 11, Mark 1:16 - 20, Matthew 4:18 - 22), BEFORE he accompanied Peter to his home and healed his relative (Harmony of the Gospels).
Sermon on the Mount
Jesus (based on tradition) travels to Mount Eremos which is located on the northwestern part of the Sea of Galilee. It is here that he will give his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1 - 8:1, Luke 6:20 - 7:1). This message, early in his ministry, introduces many of the foundational teachings, along with promises, that underpin God's New Covenant offered to all humans.
"These teachings, now known as the Sermon on the Mount, were the beginning words of the New Covenant. Unlike the Old Covenant, which offered the physical blessings of health and prosperity, the New Covenant opened the way to the spiritual blessings of eternal life with everlasting power and glory." (Harmony of the Gospels, 3rd edition, pg. 73).
The Lord's message begins with the beatitudes, a series of eight promised rewards for those who obey God and adopt certain traits (Matthew 5:1 - 12, Luke 6:20 - 26). He then introduces the parables of the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13 - 16). After stressing he did not come to abolish God's laws, he reveals the full and true spiritual intent of several Old Testament teachings such as "an eye for an eye" and how we are to treat our enemies (Matthew 5:17 - 48, Luke 6:29 - 36).
This extended message also includes instructions on how we should perform good works, how we should pray and fast, and what should be our attitude toward material possessions (Matthew 6:1 - 34). We are admonished to be persistent in our requests before God (Matthew 7:7 - 12), told how to tell if someone is a false prophet (Matthew 7:15 - 20, Luke 6:43 - 45), and warned that merely professing belief in Jesus is not enough to receive eternal life.
The Lord closes his message by stressing that only those who obey and do God's will are worthy to be in his Kingdom. Those who do not obey God's law, who do not do what the Bible teaches, will be rejected.
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but the one who is doing the will of My Father, Who is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy through Your name? . . . And then I will confess to them, 'I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who work lawlessness.' . . .
"And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not practice them shall be compared to a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand . . ." (Matthew 7:21 - 23, 26, see also Luke 6:46 - 49).
The ultimate purpose of the Sermon on the Mount is to give mankind the foundation needed to build holy righteous character. Without such character nothing else matters!
Therefore, you shall be perfect, even as your Father Who is in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48).
Home and Healings
Jesus, after giving the Sermon on the Mount, travels back home to Capernaum (Matthew 8:1, Luke 7:1). While in the city he heals a man who is a leper.
And a leper came to Him, beseeching Him and kneeling down to Him, and saying to Him, "If You will, You have the power to cleanse me." Then Jesus, being moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I will. Be cleansed." (Mark 1:40 - 41, see also Matthew 8:2 - 4 and Luke 5:12 - 15).
Blasphemy to Forgive?
Sometime later four men, who want to have their paralyzed friend healed, attempt and fail to reach Jesus due to the huge crowd surrounding him. They then decide to climb to the roof of the house he is at and, opening a huge hole, lower the man on his stretcher in front of Christ! The faith of the men is rewarded by their friend being healed and forgiven.
Certain religious leaders, who witness the miracle, believe in their hearts that the Lord is committing blasphemy by proclaiming the man's sins are forgiven. What they believe is technically true as only God can ultimately forgive sin as sin is against his holy and righteous law. Their error is that they refuse to believe Jesus is the Son of God. The Lord, who knows their thoughts, asserts that he indeed has the authority to forgive sins.
But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, "Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? . . . I speak these words so that you may understand that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins." Then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." (Matthew 9:4, 6, see also Mark 2:3 - 12, Luke 5:17 - 26).
The Calling of Matthew
Matthew, sometime after the above incident, is called to be a disciple (Mark 2:13 - 14, Luke 5:27 - 28, Matthew 9:9). He then hosts a feast for Jesus where he also invites fellow tax collectors. Some religious leaders, who voice their disapproval of eating with such "sinners," are corrected by Christ.
And it came to pass that, when He sat down to eat in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat down with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him.
But when the scribes and the Pharisees saw Him eating with tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, "Why is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?"
And after hearing this, Jesus said to them, "Those who are strong do not need a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Mark 2:15 - 17, see also Matthew 9:10 - 13 and Luke 5:29 - 32).
Why Don't They Fast?
Later, after an unknown period, Jesus is asked why his disciples do not fast but those of John the Baptist and the Pharisees do. Part of his answer includes giving the parables of new cloth on old and new wine in old bottles.
"Now no one sews a new piece of cloth onto an old garment; for that which is put in to fill up the hole takes away from the garment, and a worse tear develops.
"Neither do they put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins will burst, and the wine will spill out, and the wineskins will be destroyed; but they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved together." (Matthew 9:16 - 17, see also Mark 2:18 - 22 and Luke 5:33 - 39).