Jesus triumphs over the devil, proclaims the kingdom of God, and calls disciples to follow him.
Jesus is tempted in the forest. The temptations are a diabolical attempt to subvert God’s plan for human redemption by causing Jesus to fall into sin and disobedience, disqualifying Him as the sinless Savior. The Holy Spirit guided Jesus in His earthly life, providing a pattern for Jesus’ followers to be empowered and led by the Holy Spirit. Keep in mind that Jesus does not have faith that needs to be strengthened, but this testing period provides evidence that He is sinless despite being tempted.
God never tempts anyone to do evil (James 1:13 – Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one), but he will use circumstances to test a person’s character (Hebrews 11:17 – By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son).
-Tests = strengthens you
-Tempts = lure to sin. God doesn’t want His people to sin.
In verse 4 while Satan was tempting Jesus, Jesus responded with scripture from Deuteronomy (8:2-3 – that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord). We need the word of God.
In verse 6, Satan misuses Psalm 91: 11-12 in an attempt to manipulate Jesus (For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways). Satan’s goal is for Jesus to reveal Himself as the Son of God prematurely, which goes against the Father’s plan for Jesus to suffer and die for humanity’s sins.
Again in verse 7, Jesus responds with a quote from Deuteronomy 6:16, which gives clear instruction not to test God.
Satan’s offer of ownership of the entire world in verse 9 has heft because the rule of the earth did actually belong to Satan. In 2 Corinthians 4:4, the Devil is called the “god of this world”. This is the only verse in scripture where worldly prosperity is offered. Anyone who claims living a Christian life results in earthly prosperity is entirely false and frankly satanic, as shown here. This is known as “prosperity gospel”.
After rebuking the devil again, Jesus went to Galilee.
After John was arrested, Jesus began his ministry, which was similar to John’s. They both preached repentance from sin. The chapter continues on to describe Jesus calling his first disciples, Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, and John. Jesus previously met Peter and Andrew, and that is told in John 1:35-42. Andrew knew that Jesus was the Messiah, which is why they obeyed so quickly. It isn’t obviously stated in Matthew, but it is thought that John (not the baptist) had met Jesus before through John the Baptist. Note that Mark 1:20 says James and John left their father with three servants, not alone with no help.
The chapter continues on to detail how Jesus preached and healed the sick throughout many areas. This demonstrated both His power and compassion.
Below is the fourth chapter of Matthew.
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Matthew 4:
The Temptation of Jesus
4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,
“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and 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 command his angels concerning you,’
and
“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
Jesus Begins His Ministry
12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people dwelling in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.”
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”[a]
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
18 While 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 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”[b] 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And 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, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Jesus Ministers to Great Crowds
23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.