Matthew4

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he fasted forty days and was tempted by the devil, overcoming each trial by quoting scripture. Following John's imprisonment, Jesus began his public ministry in Galilee, preaching repentance and the kingdom of heaven. He called his first disciples, Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John, to become "fishers of men." Jesus then traveled throughout Galilee, teaching, preaching the gospel, and healing all manner of sickness and disease, drawing large multitudes.
Listen to this chapter
0:00 0:00

Jesus Is Tempted in the Wilderness

1
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. ​
2
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he afterward hungered. ​
3
And the tempter came and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.
4
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. ​
5
Then the devil taketh him into the holy city; and he set him on the pinnacle of the temple,
6
and saith unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and, On their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone. ​
7
Jesus said unto him, Again it is written, Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God. ​
8
Again, the devil taketh him unto an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9
and he said unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. ​
11
Then the devil leaveth him; and behold, angels came and ministered unto him. ​

Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee

12
Now when he heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee; ​
13
and leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali: ​
14
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
15
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, Toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,
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. ​
17
From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ​

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

18
And walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishers. ​
19
And he saith unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men. ​
20
And they straightway left the nets, and followed him.
21
And going on from thence he saw two other brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
22
And they straightway left the boat and their father, and followed him. ​

Jesus’ Ministry of Teaching and Healing

23
And Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness among the people. ​
24
And the report of him went forth into all Syria: and they brought unto him all that were sick, holden with divers diseases and torments, possessed with demons, and epileptic, and palsied; and he healed them. ​
25
And there followed him great multitudes from Galilee and Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judæa and from beyond the Jordan.

Study Notes for Matthew 4

Verse 1

The temptation narrative immediately follows Jesus’ baptism, signifying the necessary preparation for his public ministry. Jesus is led by the Spirit, demonstrating his reliance on God even in the face of trial.

Verse 2

The forty days and nights echo the testing of Israel in the wilderness (Deut. 8:2) and Moses’ time on Sinai, establishing Jesus as the faithful representative who succeeds where Israel failed.

Verse 4

Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 8:3. This response prioritizes spiritual sustenance through God’s word over immediate physical satisfaction, establishing the authority of Scripture over fleshly needs.

Verse 6

The devil attempts to manipulate Scripture (Psalm 91:11-12) to prompt a display of messianic power, challenging Jesus to test God's promise of protection.

Verse 7

Jesus counters the misapplication of Scripture by quoting Deuteronomy 6:16, affirming that God should not be tested or challenged unnecessarily through acts of presumption.

Verse 10

Jesus definitively rejects the temptation of idolatry and compromise by quoting Deuteronomy 6:13, asserting that divine authority and worship belong to God alone.

Verse 11

The ministry of the angels confirms Jesus' victory over Satan and marks the end of his period of testing, preparing him for the beginning of his public ministry.

Verse 12

John the Baptist’s arrest serves as the transitional marker for Jesus' shift in location and action, signaling that the forerunner’s work is complete and the Messiah’s work is beginning.

Verse 13

Jesus makes Capernaum his home base, strategically positioning himself in a major commercial center on the Sea of Galilee, central to northern Israel.

Verse 16

Matthew emphasizes the fulfillment of Isaiah 9:1-2, highlighting that the Messiah's light is intended specifically for the marginalized and mixed region of Galilee, often called 'Galilee of the Gentiles.'

Verse 17

This summarizes the central message of Jesus’ early preaching. It echoes John the Baptist’s call but emphasizes the imminence of God’s sovereign rule ('the kingdom of heaven is at hand').

Verse 18

Jesus initiates the call, demonstrating his divine authority. The fact that the first disciples were working indicates they were called out of their normal, established livelihoods.

Verse 19

The metaphor 'fishers of men' redefines their vocation, moving them from catching literal fish to gathering people into the community of the kingdom through the gospel.

Verse 22

The immediate abandonment of their nets, boat, and even their father underscores the radical and priority-setting commitment required by Jesus' call to discipleship.

Verse 23

This verse provides a concise summary that structures the subsequent narrative of Jesus' ministry, emphasizing three key components: Teaching (in synagogues), Preaching (the gospel of the kingdom), and Healing (demonstrating the kingdom’s power).

Verse 24

The mention of Syria indicates that Jesus’ fame quickly spread beyond Jewish territories, attracting widespread attention due to the miraculous nature of his healing ministry.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options