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.

Jesus Is Tempted in the Wilderness

1
Then the Spirit led Yeshua up into the wilderness to be tempted by the Adversary. ​
2
After Yeshua had fasted forty days and nights, he was hungry. ​
3
The Tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, order these stones to become bread."
4
But he answered, "The Tanakh says, `Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of ADONAI'" ​
5
Then the Adversary took him to the holy city and set him on the highest point of the Temple.
6
"If you are the Son of God," he said, "jump! For the Tanakh says, `He will order his angels to be responsible for you. . . . They will support you with their hands, so that you will not hurt your feet on the stones.'" ​
7
Yeshua replied to him, "But it also says, `Do not put ADONAI your God to the test.'"h ​
8
Once more, the Adversary took him up to the summit of a very high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in all their glory,
9
and said to him, "All this I will give you if you will bow down and worship me."
10
"Away with you, Satan!" Yeshua told him, "For the Tanakh says, `Worship ADONAI your God, and serve only him.'" ​
11
Then the Adversary let him alone, and angels came and took care of him. ​

Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee

12
When Yeshua heard that Yochanan had been put in prison, he returned to the Galil; ​
13
but he left Natzeret and came to live in K'far-Nachum, a lake shore town near the boundary between Z'vulun and Naftali. ​
14
This happened in order to fulfill what Yesha`yahu the prophet had said,
15
"Land of Z'vulun and land of Naftali, toward the lake, beyond the Yarden, Galil-of-the-Goyim --
16
the people living in darkness have seen a great light; upon those living in the region, in the shadow of death, light has dawned." ​
17
From that time on, Yeshua began proclaiming, "Turn from your sins to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!" ​

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

18
As Yeshua walked by Lake Kinneret, he saw two brothers who were fishermen -- Shim`on, known as Kefa, and his brother Andrew -- throwing their net into the lake. ​
19
Yeshua said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men!" ​
20
At once they left their nets and went with him.
21
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers -- Ya'akov Ben-Zavdai and Yochanan his brother -- in the boat with their father Zavdai, repairing their nets; and he called them.
22
At once they left the boat and their father and went with Yeshua. ​

Jesus’ Ministry of Teaching and Healing

23
Yeshua went all over the Galil teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing people from every kind of disease and sickness. ​
24
Word of him spread throughout all Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill, suffering from various diseases and pains, and those held in the power of demons, and epileptics and paralytics; and he healed them. ​
25
Huge crowds followed him from the Galil, the Ten Towns, Yerushalayim, Y'hudah, and `Ever-HaYarden.

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.

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