Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 4:16

"The people that sat in darkness Saw a great light, And to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, To them did light spring up." — Matthew 4:16 (ASV)

The people who sat in darkness. This is an expression denoting great ignorance. As in darkness or night we can see nothing and do not know where to go, so those who are ignorant of God and their duty are said to be in darkness. The instruction that removes this ignorance is called light (1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 1:6; 1 John 2:8). As ignorance is often connected with crime and vice, so darkness is sometimes used to denote sin (1 Thessalonians 5:5; Ephesians 5:11; Luke 22:53).

The region and shadow of death. This is a forcible and beautiful image, designed also to denote ignorance and sin. It is often used in the Bible and is very expressive. A shadow is caused by an object coming between us and the sun. So the Hebrews pictured death as standing between us and the sun, casting a long, dark, and baleful shadow abroad on the face of the nations, denoting their great ignorance, sin, and woe. It denotes a dismal, gloomy, and dreadful shade, where death and sin reign, like the chilling dampness and horrors of the dwelling-place of the dead (Job 16:16; Job 34:22; Psalms 23:4; Jeremiah 2:6).

These expressions denote that the country of Galilee was peculiarly ignorant and blind. We know that the people were proverbially so. They were distinguished for a coarse, outlandish manner of speech (Mark 14:70) and are represented as having been distinguished by a general profligacy of morals and manners. It shows the great compassion of the Savior, that He went to preach to such poor and despised sinners.

Instead of seeking the rich and the learned, He chose to minister to the needy, the ignorant, and the despised. His office is to enlighten the ignorant, His delight to guide the wandering and to raise up those who are in the shadow of death. In doing this, Jesus set an example for all His followers.

It is their duty to seek out those who are sitting in the shadow of death and to send the gospel to them. A significant part of the world is still lying in wickedness, as wicked and wretched as the land of Zebulun and Naphtali was in the time of Jesus. The Lord Jesus is able to enlighten them also. And every Christian should consider it a privilege, as well as a duty, to imitate his Savior in this, and to be permitted to send to them the light of life .