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 Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.
Matthew Chapter 4 of the King James Version (KJV) Bible is a significant chapter that showcases the spiritual strength and mission of Jesus Christ. It outlines the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, the commencement of His ministry, His teachings, and the gathering of His first disciples. The chapter underscores the theme of spiritual warfare, the importance of obedience and trust in God, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the power of the Gospel.
The chapter begins with Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting for forty days and forty nights, Jesus was hungry, and the tempter came to Him. This sets the stage for the theme of spiritual warfare, a battle not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil. The wilderness experience of Jesus is symbolic of the Christian journey, which may involve periods of testing and temptation. Yet, as Jesus demonstrated, these trials are not insurmountable for those who place their trust in God.
The devil tempts Jesus three times, each time trying to exploit a different aspect of human vulnerability. First, he tempts Jesus to turn stones into bread, exploiting physical hunger and the desire for self-sufficiency. However, Jesus responds by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God". This response emphasizes the importance of spiritual nourishment and the supremacy of God’s word over physical needs.
The second temptation involves the devil taking Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple, challenging Him to throw Himself down, promising angels would save Him. This temptation exploits the desire for spectacular demonstrations of divine protection. Yet, Jesus again responds with scripture, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God". This response underscores the importance of not testing God's protection presumptuously.
In the third temptation, the devil takes Jesus to a high mountain, offering Him all the kingdoms of the world if He would worship him. This temptation exploits the desire for power and glory. Jesus, however, rebukes the devil with the words, "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve". This response emphasizes the sovereignty of God and the duty of every believer to worship and serve Him alone.
After overcoming the temptations, Jesus begins His public ministry. He leaves Nazareth and settles in Capernaum, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah (Isaiah 9:1-2) about a great light shining in the land of Zebulun and Naphtali. This fulfillment of prophecy underscores the divinity of Jesus and His mission as the Messiah.
Jesus' message was simple and profound: "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand". The call to repentance is a central theme in Jesus' teachings. It signifies a change of heart, a turning away from sin, and a turning towards God. The mention of the 'kingdom of heaven' indicates the nearness of God's rule, which Jesus came to establish. This message of repentance and the kingdom of heaven is the core of the Gospel, the 'Good News' that Jesus brought to humanity.
The latter part of Matthew Chapter 4 describes the calling of Jesus' first disciples. While walking by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus sees Simon Peter and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea. He calls them with the words, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men". Immediately, they leave their nets and follow Him. This immediate response to Jesus' call signifies the disciples' obedience and trust in Jesus.
Similarly, Jesus calls two other brothers, James and John, who also immediately leave their boat and their father to follow Jesus. The calling of the disciples highlights the cost of discipleship, which may involve leaving behind one's livelihood and even family. Yet, it also underscores the privilege and joy of being part of Jesus' mission - to reach out and draw people into the kingdom of God.
The chapter concludes with Jesus traveling throughout Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and disease among the people. His fame spreads throughout Syria, and people from various regions bring to Him all who were ill with various diseases, and He healed them. This healing ministry of Jesus shows His compassion and power and validates His message and mission.
In conclusion, Matthew Chapter 4 presents a vivid picture of Jesus' temptation, His victorious resistance to the devil's allurements, the initiation of His public ministry, His message of repentance and the kingdom of heaven, and His healing ministry. The chapter underscores the spiritual warfare that believers are engaged in, the need for reliance on God's Word, the call to repentance, the cost and privilege of discipleship, and the power of the Gospel to heal and transform lives. As such, it provides valuable lessons for believers on how to live a victorious Christian life.
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