Discovery BoxMatthew 4:13 
Context4:13 While in Galilee, he moved from Nazareth 1 to make his home in Capernaum 2 by the sea, 3 in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
Matthew 12:44
Context12:44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the home I left.’ 4 When it returns, 5 it finds the house 6 empty, swept clean, and put in order. 7
1 map For location see Map1 D3; Map2 C2; Map3 D5; Map4 C1; Map5 G3.
2 tn Grk “and leaving Nazareth, he came and took up residence in Capernaum.”
sn Capernaum was a town located on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, 680 ft (204 m) below sea level. It was a major trade and economic center in the North Galilean region, and it became the hub of operations for Jesus’ Galilean ministry.
map For location see Map1 D2; Map2 C3; Map3 B2.
3 tn Or “by the lake.”
sn By the sea refers to the Sea of Galilee.
4 tn Grk “I will return to my house from which I came.”
5 tn Grk “comes.”
6 tn The words “the house” are not in Greek but are implied.
7 sn The image of the house empty, swept clean, and put in order refers to the life of the person from whom the demon departed. The key to the example appears to be that no one else has been invited in to dwell. If an exorcism occurs and there is no response to God, then the way is free for the demon to return. Some see the reference to exorcism as more symbolic; thus the story’s only point is about responding to Jesus. This is possible and certainly is an application of the passage.
