Matthew 4 Summary & Meaning

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Summary

Matthew 4:1–11 – Temptation of Jesus

What happens:
Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and nights, he is hungry and the tempter urges him to turn stones into bread. Jesus quotes Scripture and refuses. The devil then takes him to the holy city, sets him on the pinnacle of the temple, and challenges him to throw himself down so angels will rescue him. Again Jesus resists by citing God’s word. Finally the devil shows him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, offering them if Jesus will bow down. Jesus commands him away, and angels come to attend him.

What it means:
Jesus demonstrates perfect obedience and reliance on Scripture under extreme trial. He refuses to misuse divine power, seeking sustenance or acclaim outside the Father’s will. His victory over temptation models how to resist spiritual attacks by standing on God’s truth.

Matthew 4:12–17 – Beginning of Galilean Ministry

What happens:
After John the Baptist is arrested, Jesus withdraws to Galilee. He settles in Capernaum by the lake, fulfilling prophecy about a light dawning in darkness. From that time he begins to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Crowds from surrounding regions follow him.

What it means:
Jesus launches his public ministry at a moment of opposition to John’s work, showing that God’s plan advances despite human challenges. His central message calls for repentance and signals the nearness of God’s reign.

Matthew 4:18–22 – Calling of the First Disciples

What happens:
Jesus walks beside the Sea of Galilee and sees Simon Peter and Andrew casting nets. He says, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately leave their nets and follow him. He then calls James and John in their boat with Zebedee, and they leave their father and hired servants to follow.

What it means:
Jesus invites ordinary workers into a new vocation of proclaiming the gospel. Their instant response highlights the power of his call to transform lives and priorities without hesitation.

Matthew 4:23–25 – Healing and Teaching in Galilee

What happens:
Jesus goes throughout Galilee, teaching in synagogues, preaching good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. Large crowds follow him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

What it means:
Jesus’ ministry integrates teaching, proclamation, and healing to reveal the kingdom’s power. His growing popularity across diverse regions shows that his message and miracles meet deep spiritual and physical needs.

Application

Resist temptation by relying on God’s word and submitting to the Spirit’s leading
Respond immediately to Jesus’ call, letting go of old priorities to embrace your new mission
Embrace repentance as the gateway to experiencing God’s kingdom in daily life
Combine proclamation of the gospel with acts of compassion to reflect the fullness of God’s reign
Trust that following Jesus brings both personal transformation and participation in his healing work

Bible

¹Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

²And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

³And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

⁴But 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.

⁵Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

⁶And 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.

⁷Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

⁸Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

⁹And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

¹⁰Then 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.

¹¹Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

¹²Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;

¹³And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

¹⁴That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

¹⁵The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

¹⁶The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

¹⁷From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

¹⁸And 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.

¹⁹And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

²⁰And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

²¹And 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.

²²And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

²³And 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.

²⁴And 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.

²⁵And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

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