According to the theory of
Markan Priority, this verse is based closely on the very similar . The verse refers to
John the Baptist, the central character of
Matthew 3, and to his arrest by
Herod Antipas. The Gospel of Matthew does not go into greater detail about John's arrest until
chapter 14. Although
verse 11 refers to the end of Jesus' period of temptation in the wilderness, there is not necessarily an immediate connection between this episode and his return north from
Judea to Galilee, where he had lived since his childhood.
E. H. Plumptre argues that "there is a great break", although he sees some of the events of
John's opening chapters filling this gap. However,
Heinrich Meyer holds that "a longer intervening period between the temptation and the return to Galilee is not hinted at by Matthew (nor even by Mark)", and he notes that
Luke's narrative (Luke 4:13-14) more closely connects the defeat of
the tempter with Jesus' return north. Jones, and most others readers, believe that some months likely elapsed. There is no historical record of exactly when John was arrested, which would clarify the dating. Jesus had left Galilee to be baptized in
Matthew 3:13. Schweizer notes that the text does not make clear that the arrest of John the Baptist was the cause of Jesus' return to Galilee, only that the two events occurred at the same time. However, France notes that the word
withdrew in Matthew almost always refers to a retreat from hostile forces, implying that is what is happening here. Both Judea and Galilee were under the control of Herod Antipas at this point, so unlike
Matthew 2:22 this is not a move to the domain of a different ruler, but it is perfectly plausible that distant Galilee would be safer for John's followers than the area around the
Jordan. Matthew also says nothing about what occurred between the temptation and arrest of John. Jesus is often portrayed as serving as one of John's disciples during this period. France agrees with this theory. He thus sees the arrest as causing an important change in Jesus' ministry. In the area by the Jordan it is presumed that Jesus adopted John's baptism-based ministry. France argues the flight to Galilee induced a transition to a ministry based on itinerant preaching. Though Nolland notes that Matthew does not contain the same extensive John/Jesus parallels as Mark. ==Commentary from the Church Fathers==