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Matthew 4

World English Bible

WEB

1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward. 3The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of God’s mouth.’” 5Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’” 7Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’” 8Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’” 11Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him. 12Now when Jesus heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee. 13Leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14that 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, 16the people who sat in darkness saw a great light; to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has dawned.” 17From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” 18Walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.” 20They immediately left their nets and followed him. 21Going 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. 22They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him. 23Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them. 25Great multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan followed him.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Matthew Chapter 4 begins with the account of Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. This period of fasting for forty days and nights emphasizes Jesus' humanity and his reliance on God. When the tempter approaches him, he presents three significant temptations: turning stones into bread, throwing himself from the pinnacle of the temple, and offering all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for worship. Each time, Jesus responds with Scripture, demonstrating his authority and commitment to God's Word. His responses highlight the importance of spiritual sustenance, trust in God, and the exclusive worship of the Lord, fulfilling the commandment found in #Deuteronomy 6:13 and #Deuteronomy 8:3. This encounter illustrates the reality of spiritual warfare and the necessity of being grounded in Scripture to resist temptation.

After overcoming these temptations, Jesus begins his public ministry in #Galilee, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah that speaks of a great light shining in darkness. He calls for repentance, proclaiming the arrival of the Kingdom of Heaven. The chapter concludes with Jesus calling his first disciples, #Peter and #Andrew, who leave their fishing nets to follow him, symbolizing the transformative call of discipleship. This chapter sets the stage for Jesus' ministry, emphasizing his identity as the Son of God and the importance of following him in faith.

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Referenced by

  1. Exodus 20:3v10Exodus 20:3 commands exclusive worship of God, which Jesus reaffirms in Matthew 4:10 during His temptation, emphasizing the importance of worshiping God alone.
  2. Exodus 24:18v2Exodus 24:18 mentions Moses being on the mountain for forty days and forty nights, paralleling Jesus' forty days and nights of fasting in the wilderness in Matthew 4:2, both periods of preparation and divine encounter.
  3. Deuteronomy 6:13v10Deuteronomy 6:13 commands to fear the Lord and serve Him only, which Jesus cites in Matthew 4:10 during His temptation in the wilderness, affirming the exclusive worship of God.
  4. Deuteronomy 6:16v7Deuteronomy 6:16 warns against testing God, which Jesus references in Matthew 4:7 when responding to Satan's temptation, emphasizing trust in God's provision.
  5. Deuteronomy 8:3v4Deuteronomy 8:3 emphasizes that man does not live by bread alone but by every word from God. Jesus quotes this verse during His temptation in the wilderness, highlighting reliance on God's word over physical sustenance.
  6. 1 Kings 19:19v18In 1 Kings 19:19, Elijah calls Elisha to follow him, similar to how Jesus calls His disciples in Matthew 4:18-22. Both passages emphasize the call to discipleship and leaving behind one's former life.
  7. Psalms 91:11v6Psalm 91:11 promises angelic protection, which Satan quotes during the temptation of Jesus, highlighting the misuse of Scripture.
  8. Psalms 119:11v4Psalm 119:11 emphasizes hiding God's word in one's heart to avoid sin, which is exemplified by Jesus quoting Scripture to resist temptation in Matthew 4:4.
  9. Isaiah 8:22v16Isaiah 8:22 describes a time of distress and darkness, which is contrasted with the light brought by Jesus in Matthew 4:16, fulfilling the prophecy of light coming to those in darkness.
  10. Isaiah 9:1-2v15Isaiah 9:1-2 speaks of a great light shining in Galilee, which Matthew 4:15-16 identifies as fulfilled in Jesus' ministry, emphasizing His role as the light to the Gentiles.
  11. Daniel 10:2-3v2Daniel 10:2-3 describes Daniel's mourning and fasting for three weeks, which parallels Jesus' fasting for forty days and nights in Matthew 4:2, highlighting the theme of spiritual preparation and seeking God's guidance.
  12. Mark 1:13v1Mark 1:13 briefly mentions Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, which is detailed in Matthew 4:1-11, highlighting Jesus' victory over Satan and His faithfulness to God.
  13. Mark 1:15v17Mark 1:15 records Jesus proclaiming the kingdom of God and calling for repentance, paralleling Matthew 4:17 where Jesus begins His ministry with the same message.
  14. Mark 1:17v19In Mark 1:17, Jesus calls Simon and Andrew to follow Him and become fishers of men, a call similarly recorded in Matthew 4:19, emphasizing discipleship and evangelism.
  15. Luke 4:1v1Both passages describe Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, highlighting the beginning of His public ministry and His preparation through testing.
  16. Luke 5:10v19In Luke 5:10, Jesus tells Simon Peter that he will catch men, paralleling Matthew 4:19 where Jesus calls His disciples to be fishers of men, indicating their future role in evangelism.
  17. Hebrews 2:18v1Hebrews 2:18 states that Jesus is able to help those who are being tempted because He Himself suffered when tempted, which is illustrated in Matthew 4:1-11 where Jesus is tempted by Satan in the wilderness.

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