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.
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Jesus Is Tempted in the Wilderness

1
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. ​
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And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. ​
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And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
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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. ​
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Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
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And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. ​
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Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. ​
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Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
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And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
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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. ​
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Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. ​

Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee

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Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; ​
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And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: ​
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That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
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The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
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The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. ​
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From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ​

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

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And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. ​
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And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. ​
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And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
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And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
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And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. ​

Jesus’ Ministry of Teaching and Healing

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And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. ​
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And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. ​
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And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond 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.

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