Topical Bible: Tyre: City of Multitudes From, Come to Hear Jesus, and to be Healed of Their Diseases

◄ Tyre: City of Multitudes From, Come to Hear Jesus, and to be Healed of Their Diseases ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

Historical and Geographical Context

Tyre, an ancient Phoenician city, is located on the Mediterranean coast in what is now modern-day Lebanon. Known for its wealth and strategic maritime position, Tyre was a significant hub of trade and commerce in the ancient world. The city is mentioned numerous times in the Bible, often in the context of its interactions with Israel and its role in the broader Near Eastern geopolitical landscape.

Biblical Significance

Tyre's significance in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing both its historical interactions with Israel and its prophetic mentions. In the Old Testament, Tyre is noted for its relationship with King David and King Solomon. Hiram, the king of Tyre, provided materials and craftsmen for the construction of Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 5:1-12). This alliance highlights Tyre's importance as a center of skilled labor and resources.

The prophets often spoke of Tyre, sometimes in terms of judgment due to its pride and idolatry. Ezekiel 26-28 contains a series of prophecies against Tyre, foretelling its downfall due to its arrogance and self-sufficiency. Isaiah 23 also speaks of Tyre's destruction and eventual restoration, emphasizing the city's transient glory and the sovereignty of God over nations.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, Tyre is mentioned in the context of Jesus' ministry. The Gospel of Mark records an instance where Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Despite His desire for privacy, His presence could not be hidden, and a Syrophoenician woman approached Him, seeking healing for her demon-possessed daughter (Mark 7:24-30). This encounter underscores the reach of Jesus' reputation and the faith of those outside the Jewish community.

Luke 6:17-19 provides another significant reference to Tyre, describing how people from Tyre and Sidon came to hear Jesus and to be healed of their diseases. The passage states: "A large crowd of His disciples was there along with a great number of people from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases, and those troubled by unclean spirits were healed. The entire crowd was trying to touch Him, because power was coming from Him and healing them all" . This account highlights the widespread impact of Jesus' ministry and the draw of His miraculous works.

Theological Implications

Tyre's inclusion in the Gospel narratives serves as a testament to the universality of Jesus' mission. The city's inhabitants, representative of Gentile populations, sought out Jesus, demonstrating the breaking down of ethnic and cultural barriers in the pursuit of divine truth and healing. This foreshadows the later expansion of the Gospel to the Gentiles, as seen in the Acts of the Apostles and the epistles of Paul.

Furthermore, the interactions between Jesus and the people of Tyre illustrate the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the inclusion of the Gentiles in God's redemptive plan. The faith exhibited by those from Tyre and Sidon serves as a precursor to the broader acceptance of the Gospel message beyond the confines of Israel.

Conclusion

Tyre's role in the biblical narrative is complex, encompassing themes of judgment, redemption, and the expansive reach of God's grace. As a city that both aided in the construction of Israel's sacred spaces and sought the healing touch of Jesus, Tyre stands as a testament to the multifaceted interactions between God and the nations throughout biblical history.

Nave's Topical Index

Mark 3:8
And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came to him.
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Luke 6:17
And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;
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Library

Of the Lengthened Sermon Which, According to Matthew, He Delivered ...
... Jerusalem, and from the sea-coast of Tyre [855] and ... after that descent there were
great multitudes of people ... Lord was now in a certain city,"a circumstance ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xix of the lengthened sermon.htm

C. The Third Period. Chs. 6:12 to 8:56
... and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon ... his way, publishing throughout
the whole city how great ... that were with him, Master, the multitudes press thee ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/c the third period chs.htm

Ambassadors for Christ
... are times when the persecuted in one city are bound ... Mark describes two 'multitudes'"
one made up of Galileans ... the north-west bordering lands of Tyre and Sidon ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/ambassadors for christ.htm

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
... slight, though it should be confirmed by multitudes of them. ... not in the glory of
that which this city descendeth in ... they shall see how far they are come out of ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy city or the.htm

Beginning at Jerusalem. --Luke xxiv. 47.
... And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and ... "Then they went
out of the city, and came ... of the Gadarenes, to the coasts of Tyre and Sidon ...
/.../bunyan/jerusalem sinner saved/beginning at jerusalem luke xxiv 47.htm

The Jerusalem Sinner Saved;
... And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee ... many of the Samaritans
of that city (people, perhaps ... the Gadarenes, to the coasts of Tyre and Sidon ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the jerusalem sinner saved.htm

Fifthly, as this Revelation, to the Judgment of Right and Sober ...
... their God, because he had prepared for them a city. ... earth have committed fornication
with her:"Come out of her ... wherewith the words are brought in, "Hear ye now ...
/.../xiv proposition xiv fifthly as.htm