Matthew 4
About MatthewWritten by AI
Matthew is the first of the four Gospels, the accounts of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Early Christians said it was written by Matthew, the tax collector Jesus called to follow Him. The book itself does not name its author, and scholars differ on its date, though many place it in the later first century.
Matthew writes with Jewish readers especially in mind. He opens with a family line reaching back to Abraham and David, and he keeps showing how Jesus fulfills what the prophets said. He also gathers Jesus' teaching into five long sermons, starting with the Sermon on the Mount, set between stories of healing, conflict, and the road to the cross.
Watch for the phrase "the kingdom of heaven," and for how the book is bookended by God's presence. Jesus is named Immanuel, God with us, at the start, and at the end He promises, “And surely I am with you always.”
Before you read Matthew 4Written by AI
Jesus fasts forty days in the wilderness and is tempted by the devil. Notice that He answers every temptation with Scripture from Deuteronomy. Then He begins preaching in Galilee, calls four fishermen to follow Him, and heals many, and crowds start gathering from all over the region.
The Temptation of Jesus
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.
The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
But Jesus answered,
“It is written:
‘Man shall not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written:
‘He will command His angels concerning You,
and they will lift You up in their hands,
so that You will not strike Your foot
against a stone.’”
Jesus replied,
“It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.”
“Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him.
“For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.
Jesus Begins His Ministry
When Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, He withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
“Land of Zebulun
and land of Naphtali,
the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death,
a light has dawned.”
From that time on Jesus began to preach,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
The First Disciples
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said,
“and I will make you fishers of men.” And at once they left their nets and followed Him.
Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.
Jesus Heals the Multitudes
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and He healed them.
Large crowds followed Him, having come from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.