Matthew 4

Matthew 4 recounts Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness and the beginning of His public ministry. Following His baptism, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the desert, where He is tested by Satan. After overcoming these temptations, Jesus returns to Galilee, where He begins preaching the message of repentance and calling His first disciples. This chapter emphasizes Jesus’ victory over temptation, His fulfillment of prophecy, and the start of His mission to proclaim the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 4:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.

Jesus, following His baptism, is led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to face temptation, showing His obedience and readiness for ministry. The forty days of fasting parallel Israel’s forty years in the wilderness, a time of testing and dependence on God. Jesus’ hunger at the end of this period highlights His humanity and sets the stage for the coming temptations, where He will rely not on physical strength but on spiritual resilience.

Matthew 4:3-4 (NKJV)
3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are 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 proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

The devil’s first temptation targets Jesus’ physical need, suggesting He use His divine power for self-gratification. Jesus counters with Scripture, quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, affirming that obedience to God’s word sustains more deeply than physical bread. This response reveals Jesus’ commitment to dependence on God rather than satisfying immediate needs, showing that true life flows from spiritual nourishment.

Matthew 4:5-7 (NKJV)
5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,
6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”

Here, Satan attempts to manipulate Scripture, urging Jesus to test God’s protection. However, Jesus refuses, quoting Deuteronomy 6:16, which warns against testing God’s faithfulness. Jesus demonstrates that true faith does not seek to prove God’s promises through reckless actions but rests securely in trusting Him without demanding signs.

Matthew 4:8-10 (NKJV)
8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

The third temptation offers Jesus worldly power in exchange for worshipping Satan. Jesus firmly rebukes Satan, quoting Deuteronomy 6:13, emphasizing that worship and allegiance belong to God alone. This rejection underscores His mission’s spiritual nature, refusing worldly shortcuts to establish God’s kingdom. Jesus’ response highlights the importance of serving God above all else, even when facing enticing alternatives.

Matthew 4:11 (NKJV)
11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

After successfully resisting all temptations, Jesus is ministered to by angels, symbolizing divine approval and care. This moment signifies the end of His testing and the beginning of His ministry, empowered by His faithfulness to God. The angels’ presence reaffirms that God provides for His servants when they endure trials, strengthening them for their mission.

Matthew 4:12-17 (NKJV)
12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee.
13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali,
14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles:
16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.”
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

After John’s imprisonment, Jesus relocates to Capernaum, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy of light dawning in Galilee. This move signals the start of His public ministry in a region with both Jews and Gentiles, indicating that His message is for all people. Jesus begins His message with a call to repentance, emphasizing the urgency of turning to God as His kingdom draws near, inviting transformation and hope.

Matthew 4:18-22 (NKJV)
18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them,
22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

Jesus’ call to Peter, Andrew, James, and John emphasizes a personal invitation to follow Him and a mission to reach others. Their immediate response highlights the compelling nature of His call and their willingness to abandon their livelihoods. Jesus’ promise to make them “fishers of men” signifies their new purpose in spreading His message. Their example demonstrates the transformative impact of following Jesus and prioritizing spiritual over material pursuits.

Matthew 4:23-25 (NKJV)
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.
24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.
25 Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

Jesus’ ministry includes teaching, preaching, and healing, demonstrating both compassion and authority. His miracles draw crowds from diverse regions, underscoring the far-reaching appeal of His message. By healing physical and spiritual ailments, Jesus reveals God’s power and compassion, foreshadowing the wholeness He offers in His kingdom. The large following signifies the growing impact of His ministry, laying the foundation for His teachings on the kingdom of heaven.