Jesus defeats Satan by quoting exclusively from Deuteronomy, the same book that records Israel's wilderness failures, reversing their disobedience with perfect Torah obedience.
Matthew 4
The Temptation of Jesus
1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward.
3The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of God’s mouth.’”
5Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple,
6and 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, so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’”
7Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’”
8Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
9He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.”
10Then 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.’”
11Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him.
Jesus Begins His Ministry
12Now when Jesus heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee.
13Leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
14that 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,
16the 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.”
17From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
The Call of the First Disciples
18Walking 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.
19He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.”
20They immediately left their nets and followed him.
21Going 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.
22They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.
Jesus Ministers in Galilee
23Jesus 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.
24The 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.
25Great multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan followed him.
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Theme
Matthew 4 presents Jesus' preparation for and launch of his public ministry through three pivotal events. After successfully resisting Satan's temptations in the wilderness by appealing to Scripture, Jesus relocates to Capernaum and begins proclaiming the arrival of God's kingdom. He then calls his first disciples—Peter, Andrew, James, and John—who immediately abandon their fishing careers to follow him, before embarking on a ministry of teaching, preaching, and healing throughout Galilee that draws massive crowds from across the region.
Context
Following his baptism and divine affirmation in chapter 3, Jesus now begins the active phase of his ministry that will dominate the remainder of Matthew's Gospel.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-11 The Temptation of Jesus Jesus fasts forty days in the wilderness and defeats Satan's three temptations by quoting Scripture.
- 12-17 Jesus Begins His Ministry Jesus moves to Capernaum and begins preaching repentance and the nearness of God's kingdom, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy about light coming to those in darkness.
- 18-22 The Call of the First Disciples Jesus calls two pairs of fishermen brothers—Peter and Andrew, then James and John—who immediately leave their work to follow him.
- 23-25 Jesus Ministers in Galilee Jesus travels throughout Galilee teaching, preaching, and healing all manner of diseases, drawing great crowds from surrounding regions.
The Temptation of Jesus
4:1–4:11 narrative dialogue defiant
After fasting forty days, Jesus is tempted by Satan in the wilderness with offers of bread, protection, and worldly power. Jesus resists each temptation by quoting Scripture, and angels minister to him after Satan's defeat.
quotation_chain
Jesus defeats Satan by quoting exclusively from Deuteronomy, the same book that records Israel's wilderness failures, reversing their disobedience with perfect Torah obedience.
Jesus Begins His Ministry
4:12–4:17 gospel narration hopeful
Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee after John's arrest, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy about light coming to those in darkness. He proclaims the nearness of the Kingdom of Heaven and calls people to repentance.
quotation_chain
Matthew's quotation of Isaiah 9:1 transforms a prophecy about Assyrian conquest into messianic fulfillment, making "Galilee of the Gentiles" the strategic launching point for Jesus's universal mission.
The Call of the First Disciples
4:18–4:22 gospel narration urgent
Jesus calls his first four disciples—Peter, Andrew, James, and John—who immediately leave their fishing occupation to follow him. This demonstrates the compelling nature of Jesus' call and the disciples' immediate obedience.
person_contrast
Jesus transforms the disciples' professional identity with wordplay—"fishers of men"—creating a metaphorical bridge that makes their radical career abandonment feel like natural progression rather than sacrifice.
Jesus Ministers in Galilee
4:23–4:25 gospel narration triumphant
Jesus conducts a comprehensive ministry throughout Galilee, teaching in synagogues, preaching the gospel, and healing all manner of diseases. His fame spreads throughout the region, drawing great crowds from multiple areas.
person_contrast
Matthew's threefold description of Jesus's ministry—teaching, preaching, and healing—establishes the only comprehensive ministerial framework that appears verbatim again in Matthew 9:35, creating a literary inclusio around Jesus's Galilean campaign.
Insights
Matthew's quotation of Isaiah 9:1 transforms a prophecy about Assyrian conquest into messianic fulfillment, making "Galilee of the Gentiles" the strategic launching point for Jesus's universal mission.
Jesus transforms the disciples' professional identity with wordplay—"fishers of men"—creating a metaphorical bridge that makes their radical career abandonment feel like natural progression rather than sacrifice.
Matthew's threefold description of Jesus's ministry—teaching, preaching, and healing—establishes the only comprehensive ministerial framework that appears verbatim again in Matthew 9:35, creating a literary inclusio around Jesus's Galilean campaign.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Matthew 4:1 5 references
Parallels 2
Lexicals 3
Luke 4:2 Lexical
for forty days, being tempted by the devil. He ate nothing in those days. Afterward, when they were completed, he was hu…
Mark 1:13 Lexical
He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals; and the angels were serving h…
Acts 10:38 Lexical
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who we…
Matthew 4:2 1 reference
Matthew 4:3 2 references
Matthew 4:4 3 references
Matthew 4:5 2 references
Matthew 4:6 5 references
Lexicals 5
Luke 4:11 Lexical
and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest perhaps you dash your foot against a stone.’”
Revelation 18:21 Lexical
A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence will Babylon…
Luke 4:10 Lexical
for it is written, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you;’
Revelation 2:18 Lexical
“To the angel of the assembly in Thyatira write: “The Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet ar…
Luke 4:9 Lexical
He led him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, cast you…
Matthew 4:7 1 reference
Matthew 4:8 3 references
Lexicals 3
Revelation 21:10 Lexical
He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out o…
Matthew 17:1 Lexical
After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by them…
Mark 9:2 Lexical
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by themsel…
Matthew 4:10 2 references
Quotations 1
Matthew 4:11 5 references
Lexicals 5
Mark 1:31 Lexical
He came and took her by the hand and raised her up. The fever left her immediately, and she served them.
Matthew 25:41 Lexical
Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared fo…
Matthew 18:21 Lexical
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?…
Matthew 13:36 Lexical
Then Jesus sent the multitudes away, and went into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the para…
Matthew 28:2 Lexical
Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky and came and rolled away the stone…
Matthew 4:12 2 references
Matthew 4:14 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 8:17 Lexical
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, “He took our infirmities and bore our di…
Matthew 12:17 Lexical
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
Matthew 3:3 Lexical
For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make the way…
John 12:38 Lexical
that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? To whom has…
Matthew 21:4 Lexical
All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying,
Matthew 4:15 5 references
Lexicals 4
Matthew 19:1 Lexical
When Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan.
John 6:1 Lexical
After these things, Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee, which is also called the Sea of Tiberias.
Revelation 20:8 Lexical
and he will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them to…
Luke 21:25 Lexical
“There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of…
Matthew 4:16 5 references
Lexicals 5
Luke 1:79 Lexical
to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Luke 22:56 Lexical
A certain servant girl saw him as he sat in the light, and looking intently at him, said, “This man also was with him.”
Revelation 6:8 Lexical
And behold, a pale horse, and the name of he who sat on it was Death. Hades followed with him. Authority over one fourth…
Revelation 17:15 Lexical
He said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.
Revelation 20:11 Lexical
I saw a great white throne and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the sky fled away. There was found no pl…
Matthew 4:17 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 3:2 Lexical
“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
Matthew 10:7 Lexical
As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’
Mark 1:15 Lexical
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”
Matthew 11:20 Lexical
Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn’t repent.
Matthew 24:14 Lexical
This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end w…
Matthew 4:18 5 references
Lexicals 5
Mark 1:16 Lexical
Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net into the sea, for they…
John 1:40 Lexical
One of the two who heard John and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
Luke 5:2 Lexical
He saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.
Matthew 10:2 Lexical
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these. The first, Simon, who is called Peter; Andrew, his brother; James the so…
Luke 6:14 Lexical
Simon, whom he also named Peter; Andrew, his brother; James; John; Philip; Bartholomew;
Matthew 4:19 1 reference
Matthew 4:20 1 reference
Matthew 4:21 5 references
Lexicals 5
Mark 1:19 Lexical
Going on a little further from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat m…
Mark 3:17 Lexical
James the son of Zebedee; and John, the brother of James, (whom he called Boanerges, which means, Sons of Thunder);
Matthew 10:2 Lexical
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these. The first, Simon, who is called Peter; Andrew, his brother; James the so…
Luke 5:2 Lexical
He saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.
Mark 1:20 Lexical
Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him…
Matthew 4:22 3 references
Lexicals 3
Mark 1:20 Lexical
Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him…
Luke 5:11 Lexical
When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him.
Mark 1:18 Lexical
Immediately they left their nets, and followed him.
Matthew 4:23 4 references
Lexicals 4
Matthew 9:35 Lexical
Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Good News of the Kingdo…
Matthew 10:1 Lexical
He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal e…
Matthew 24:14 Lexical
This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end w…
Acts 28:31 Lexical
preaching God’s Kingdom and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance.
Matthew 4:24 5 references
Lexicals 5
Mark 1:34 Lexical
He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons. He didn’t allow the demons to speak, becaus…
Matthew 8:16 Lexical
When evening came, they brought to him many possessed with demons. He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all w…
Matthew 14:35 Lexical
When the people of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region and brought to him all who were…
Matthew 17:15 Lexical
“Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is epileptic and suffers grievously; for he often falls into the fire, and often int…
Luke 4:40 Lexical
When the sun was setting, all those who had any sick with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on…
Matthew 4:25 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 19:1 Lexical
When Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan.
Mark 10:1 Lexical
He arose from there and came into the borders of Judea and beyond the Jordan. Multitudes came together to him again. As…
Mark 3:8 Lexical
from Jerusalem, from Idumaea, beyond the Jordan, and those from around Tyre and Sidon. A great multitude, hearing what g…
Mark 15:41 Lexical
who, when he was in Galilee, followed him and served him; and many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.
Matthew 3:5 Lexical
Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.
Interlinear
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Translation Notes
Key Passages
Historical Context
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Temptation Of Jesus
~30 ADSatan's temptation of Jesus in the wilderness for forty days after his baptism. Jesus' victory over temptation demonstrated his sinlessness and qualified him as the perfect sacrifice for sin.
Satan tempts Jesus with bread, protection, and power after forty days of wilderness fasting.
The Temptation of Jesus