Matthew 4: Tested, Triumphant, and Calling
Jesus overcomes temptation by the word, begins to preach the kingdom, and calls his first followers.
Matthew 4 (WEB)
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward.
3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4 But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him into the holy city. He 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 will put his angels in charge of you.’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’”
8 Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory.
9 He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.”
10 Then 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.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him.
12 Now when Jesus heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee.
13 Leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region 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 who sat in darkness saw a great light, to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has dawned.”
17 From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
18 Walking 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.
19 He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for 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 They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.
23 Jesus 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.
24 The 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.
25 Great multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and from beyond the Jordan followed him.
Matthew 4 (KJV)
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 was afterward an hungred.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made 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 up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 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.
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
8 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;
9 And saith 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.
12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
16 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.
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
18 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.
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
21 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.
22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
23 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.
24 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.
25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan.
Matthew 4 (ASV)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Summary
Led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Jesus fasts forty days and is tempted by the devil. Three times the tempter pushes him to prove his sonship, to presume on God, and to seize the kingdoms of the world; three times Jesus answers, It is written, refusing to turn from God. He commands Satan to leave, and angels come and serve him. Hearing that John has been arrested, Jesus withdraws to Galilee and settles in Capernaum, fulfilling Isaiah's word that a great light dawns on people in darkness. He begins to preach, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Walking by the sea, he calls Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John, who leave their nets and follow at once. Jesus then teaches, preaches the Good News, and heals throughout Galilee as great crowds follow him.
Main Characters
- Jesus — Resists the devil's temptations by Scripture, preaches the kingdom, calls disciples, and heals throughout Galilee.
- The devil — The tempter who challenges Jesus three times in the wilderness and is finally sent away.
- Simon Peter and Andrew — Fishermen brothers who leave their nets immediately to follow Jesus.
- James and John — Sons of Zebedee who leave their boat and their father to follow Jesus.
- The crowds — Great multitudes from across the region who bring their sick and follow Jesus as he heals and teaches.
Key Verse
Matthew 4:4 (WEB)
But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”
Lessons Learned
- God's written word is our sure defense against temptation.
- Jesus faces the tempter as we do, yet without yielding, and shows the way to stand.
- The call to follow Christ is urgent and worth leaving everything for.
- Jesus brings light, good news, and healing to people sitting in darkness.
- Scripture is our weapon against temptation. Jesus answers the tempter, 'It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God' (Matthew 4:4, WEB).
- We must not put God to the test. When urged to throw himself down, Jesus replies, 'You shall not test the Lord, your God' (Matthew 4:7, WEB).
- Worship belongs to God alone. Jesus rejects the world's kingdoms, saying, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only' (Matthew 4:10, WEB).
- Christ brings light to those in darkness. His ministry fulfills the prophecy that 'the people who sat in darkness saw a great light' (Matthew 4:16, WEB).
- Following Jesus means immediate, wholehearted response. When Jesus calls, Simon and Andrew 'immediately left their nets and followed him' (Matthew 4:20, WEB).
- The kingdom comes with good news and healing. Jesus goes about Galilee 'teaching, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease' (Matthew 4:23, WEB).
- How does Jesus respond to each of the devil's three temptations, and what does he rely on?
- Where does Jesus settle, and how does Matthew connect this to Isaiah's prophecy?
- What is the message Jesus begins to preach, and how does it echo John's preaching?
- How do Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John respond when Jesus calls them?
- Which temptations do you face most often, and how might Scripture help you stand as Jesus did?
- To each temptation Jesus answers, It is written, quoting Scripture: that man lives by God's word (4:4), that we must not test God (4:7), and that we worship and serve God alone (4:10). He relies wholly on God's word and finally sends Satan away.
- Jesus leaves Nazareth and settles in Capernaum in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali (4:13). Matthew connects this to Isaiah's prophecy that the people sitting in darkness, in Galilee of the Gentiles, would see a great light (4:14-16).
- Jesus begins to preach, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand (4:17). This is the very message John preached (compare 3:2), showing continuity in the call to turn to God as his reign draws near.
- When Jesus calls Simon Peter and Andrew, they immediately leave their nets and follow him (4:18-20). James and John immediately leave the boat and their father Zebedee to follow (4:21-22). Their response is prompt and total.
- This is a personal application question. Invite members to name real areas of temptation and Scriptures that help. As leader, model vulnerability, point to Jesus' example, and encourage memorizing specific verses rather than shaming struggles.