Study of Matthew 4:16 . Can you help with any relevant Scriptures or comments ?

Question

Matthew 4:16...the people living in darkness

have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of the shadow of death

a light has dawned

See Isa 8:22.... Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness.

See Also Isa 9:1&2.....1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan-

2 The people walking in darkness

have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of the shadow of death

a light has dawned.

Luke 1:79 (a part of Zechariah's Song)..... to shine on those living in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the path of peace."

John 1:9....The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world

Isa 60:1...."Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

Luke 2:32....a light for revelation to the Gentiles

and for glory to your people Israel."

The Scriptures in Isaiah appear to be prophetic , are they ?

"the people living in darkness " what is/was the darkness mentioned in Matt 4:16 (& other quoted scriptures) ?

What is the "great light", was it Jesus or what Jesus had to teach or something else ?

Luke 2:32....a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." Why is it a light for the Gentiles & Israel ?

Have i missed any important points ?

Can you add any relevant scriptures or comments ?

Answer 1

It points to the earthly mission of Jesus Christ, and the light being before those who would see it for what it truly is.  This still applies today!

John 1: 9

  9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

John 3: 19

  19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

John 8: 12

  12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Answer 2

At the time this question was answered Polls & Surveys was full of t1ts.

Answer 3

Psa 107:10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;

Psa 107:11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:

Psa 107:12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.

Psa 107:13 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.

Psa 107:14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

Isa 42:6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

Isa 42:7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Isa 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

Isa 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

Isa 60:3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

Mic 7:8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.

Luk 1:78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

Luk 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Luk 2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Job 3:5 Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.

Job 10:22 A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.

Job 34:22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

Psa 44:19 Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.

Jer 13:16 Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.

Amo 5:8 Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:

Answer 4

Jesus began removing the veil of darkness from mankind shortly after his baptism. Matthew 4:12-16 tells us that this fulfilled Isaiah 9:1, 2, which spoke about the “great light” that would begin to shine on people walking in spiritual darkness. Matthew 4:17 says: “From that time on Jesus commenced preaching and saying: ‘Repent, you people, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.’” By preaching about the good news of God’s Kingdom, Jesus enlightened people about God’s purposes. He “shed light upon life and incorruption through the good news.”—2 Timothy 1:10.

Jesus faithfully reflected God’s light. He said: “I have come as a light into the world, in order that everyone putting faith in me may not remain in the darkness. . . . I have not spoken out of my own impulse, but the Father himself who sent me has given me a commandment as to what to tell and what to speak. Also, I know that his commandment means everlasting life.”—John 12:44-50.

Answer 5

Light is one of the central themes in the Bible.

Light is very important in our lives.  

With out light we could not exist.

So it is that Jesus declared twice

John 8:12  

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

and

John 9:4-5  

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

The verses you quote from Scriptures illustrate the necessity for light in our lives so that we might live.

Jesus claims that he is this light and that we should follow the example he has given us.    

We in turn must become a reflection of that light thereby showing the effect the “Good New of the Gospel message” has had in our lives.  

To do this we have to accept Jesus as our saviour and be baptised (Total immersion).

Matthew 5:14-16

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

We will then follow the instruction

Mark 16:15-16  

And he said unto them,

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

Answer 6

A mushroom cloud comes to mind.