Matthew 4:1-25 King James Version Bible

Summary and Message of Matthew 4 – Jesus’ Temptation, Ministry, and Disciples

Matthew 4:1-25 King James Version Bible. Matthew Chapter 4 contains the account of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, the beginning of His ministry in Galilee, and the calling of His first disciples.

Jesus’ Temptation, His Ministry, and His Calling of His First Disciple

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TEMPTATION OF JESUS

Preparation and Testing: After His baptism, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. This period of fasting and testing underscores His readiness and qualification for His messianic mission.
Overcoming Temptation: Jesus resists three specific temptations from Satan, each representing fundamental human desires and testing His obedience to God. He responds to each temptation with Scripture, highlighting the power of God’s Word in overcoming sin and temptation.

• First Temptation: Satan tempts Jesus to turn stones into bread, appealing to His hunger. Jesus responds by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, emphasizing that man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
• Second Temptation: Satan takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and challenges Him to throw Himself down, quoting Psalm 91:11-12. Jesus replies with Deuteronomy 6:16, stating that one should not test the Lord.
• Third Temptation: Satan offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if He will worship him. Jesus responds with Deuteronomy 6:13, declaring that worship and service belong to God alone.

Victory over Satan: Jesus’ triumph over these temptations demonstrates His sinlessness and authority over Satan, setting an example for believers in resisting temptation through reliance on God’s Word and faithfulness to God’s will.

BEGINNING OF JESUS’ MINISTRY:

• Fulfillment of Prophecy: Jesus moves to Capernaum, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah about the light dawning in Galilee of the Gentiles. This signifies the beginning of His ministry and the expansion of God’s salvation to all people, not just the Jews.*
• Preaching Repentance: Jesus begins His public ministry with the same message as John the Baptist: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” This call to repentance is central to His teaching and mission.

CALLING OF THE FIRST DISCIPLES:

• Invitation to Follow: Jesus calls Peter and Andrew, promising to make them “fishers of men.” He also calls James and John. Their immediate response, leaving their nets and family, reflects the total commitment required to follow Jesus.
• Formation of the Community: The calling of these first disciples marks the beginning of a new community centered around Jesus, who will be trained to carry on His mission.

HEALING AND TEACHING MINISTRY

Demonstration of Authority: Jesus goes throughout Galilee, teaching in synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. His miracles confirm His divine authority and compassion, drawing large crowds from various regions.

Matthew 4:1-25 King James Version Bible

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.

THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS (Matthew 4:4-11)

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.

JESUS BEGINS HIS MINISTRY (Matthew 4:12-17)

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.

JESUS CALLS THE FIRST DECIPLES (Matthew 4:18-22)

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.

JESUS MINISTERS TO GREAT CROWDS (Matthew 4:23-25)

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.