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Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
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And after fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.
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Then the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
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But Jesus answered, “It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
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Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,
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and 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 they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.”
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Jesus said to him, “It is also written: You shall not tempt the Lord your God!”
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Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory,
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and said to Him, “All these I will give You, if You will fall down and worship me.”
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Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written: You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve!”
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Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Jesus.
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But when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, He withdrew to Galilee.
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He left Nazareth and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
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that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
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“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, —
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the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light has dawned.”
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From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
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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.
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Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
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They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
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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,
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and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
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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.
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Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.
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Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
📖 Summary of Matthew 4
Matthew 4 contains important events in Jesus’ life after His baptism: the temptation in the wilderness, the beginning of His ministry, and the calling of the first disciples.
The structure of Matthew 4:
- Jesus Is Tempted in the Wilderness (verses 1–11):
After being baptized, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness and tempted by the devil for 40 days. There were three main temptations:- Turn stones into bread (testing physical needs).
- Jump from the pinnacle of the temple (testing God’s protection).
- Worship the devil to gain the kingdoms of the world (testing loyalty and worship).
- Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee (verses 12–17):
After John the Baptist was arrested, Jesus began ministering in the region of Galilee and proclaimed:
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” - Jesus Calls the First Disciples (verses 18–22):
He called Simon (Peter) and Andrew, then James and John. They immediately left their work as fishermen to follow Him. - Jesus’ Ministry in Galilee (verses 23–25):
Jesus taught in the synagogues, preached the gospel of the kingdom, and healed every kind of disease. Many people from various regions followed Him.
📘 Teachings from Matthew 4
- Jesus overcame temptation with the Word of God:
Each time He was tempted, Jesus answered with Scripture, showing that the Word is the main weapon in facing temptation. - Temptation is part of spiritual preparation:
Before ministering, Jesus was tested. This teaches us that the process of spiritual refining and strengthening often comes before a great calling. - The call of disciples is a call to leave everything behind:
When Jesus called, the disciples immediately left their work and family. This teaches total obedience and radical faith. - Jesus brings light to dark places:
Galilee was called a spiritually “dark region.” Jesus’ presence brought light and hope to the nations. - The kingdom of God comes in power, love, and healing:
Jesus’ ministry included teaching, healing, and restoration. The gospel is not only words, but also real action.
✨ Spiritual Meaning of Matthew 4
- Temptation is not sin, but an opportunity to overcome:
Jesus did not sin even though He was tempted. He became an example of how we too can overcome by the strength that comes from the Lord. - The kingdom of God calls everyone to repent:
Jesus’ first call was the same as John’s: “Repent!” This shows the importance of a changed life. - Following Jesus means being ready to leave comfort behind:
Following Christ is not merely believing, but surrendering our lives to be used by Him. - Jesus is the light of the world who transforms the darkness of the heart:
He came to forgotten places and transformed them with the power of love and truth.
