The people who sat in darkness saw great light; and to them who sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung up.
All Commentaries on Matthew 4:16 Go To Matthew 4
Rabanus Maurus
AD 856
Matthew having related the forty days’ fast, the temptation of Christ, and the ministry of Angels, proceeds, “Jesus having heard that John was cast into prison.”.
ap. Anselm: In allegory, John and the rest of the Prophets were the voice going before the Word. When prophecy ceased and was fettered, then came the Word, fulfilling what the Prophet had spoken of it, “He departed into Galilee,” i.e. From figure to verity. It is “by the sea-coast,” because placed near the waves of this world, it is daily beaten by the storms of persecution. It is situated between Zabulon and Naphtali, i.e. common to Jews and Gentiles. Zabulon is interpreted, ‘the abode of strength;’ because the Apostles, who were chosen from Judaea, were strong.Nephtali, ‘extension,’ because the Church of the Gentiles was extended through the world.
