Matthew 4

The Temptation of Jesus

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wildernesst to be tempted by the devil.2 After he fasted forty days and forty nights he was famished.t3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.”t4 But he answered,t “It is written, ‘Mantdoes not livetby bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”s5 Then the devil took him to the holy city,s had him standt on the highest points 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’s and ‘with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”s7 Jesus said to him, “Once again it is written: ‘You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.’”s8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur.t9 And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you throw yourself to the ground and worshipt me.”10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go away,s Satan! For it is written: ‘You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”s

11 Then the devil left him, and angelst came and began ministering to his needs.

Preaching in Galilee

12 Now when Jesust heard that John had been imprisoned,t he went into Galilee.13 While in Galilee, he moved from Nazareths to make his home in Capernaumtss by the sea,ts in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,

14 so that what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled:t

15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way by the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles –

16 the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
and on those who sit in the region and shadow of death a light has dawned.”s

17 From that time Jesus began to preach this message:t “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

The Call of the Disciples

18 Ast he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen).t19 He said to them, “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people.”ts20 Theyt left their nets immediately and followed him.s21 Going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in a boatt with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. Thent he called them.

22 Theyt immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.

Jesus’ Healing Ministry

23 Jesust went throughout all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues,s preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of disease and sickness among the people.24 So a report about him spread throughout Syria. Peoplet brought to him all who suffered with various illnesses and afflictions, those who had seizures,t paralytics, and those possessed by demons,t and he healed them.

25 And large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis,ts Jerusalem,s Judea, and beyond the Jordan River.t

MATTHEW 4

Jesus and the Devil

(Mark 1.12,13; Luke 4.1-13)

1  t The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert, so that the devil could test him. 2 After Jesus had gone without eatingt for 40 days and nights, he was very hungry.

3 Then the devil came to him and said, “If you are God's Son, tell these stones to turn into bread.”

4  t Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say:
‘No one can live only on food.
People need every word
that God has spoken.’ ”
5 Next, the devil took Jesus into the holy city to the highest part of the temple.

6 t The devil said, “If you are God's Son, jump off. The Scriptures say:
‘God will give his angels
orders about you.
They will catch you
in their arms,
and you won't hurt
your feet on the stones.’ ”

7  t Jesus answered, “The Scriptures also say, ‘Don't try to test the Lord your God!’ ”
8 Finally, the devil took Jesus up on a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms on earth and their power.

9 The devil said to him, “I will give all this to you, if you will bow down and worship me.”

10  t Jesus answered, “Go away Satan! The Scriptures say:
‘Worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.’ ”

11 Then the devil left Jesus, and angels came to help him.

Jesus Begins His Work

(Mark 1.14,15; Luke 4.14,15)

14 So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said,

15  t “Listen, lands of Zebulun
and Naphtali,
lands along the road
to the sea
and across the Jordan.
Listen Galilee,
land of the Gentiles!

16 Although your people
live in darkness,
they will see
a bright light.
Although they live
in the shadow of death,
a light will shine
on them.”

17  t Then Jesus started preaching, “Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here.”t

Jesus Chooses //Four Fishermen

(Mark 1.16-20; Luke 5.1-11)

20 Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him.
21 Jesus walked on until he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father, mending their nets. Jesus asked them to come with him.

22 At once they left the boat and their father and went with Jesus.

Jesus Teaches, Preaches, //and Heals

(Luke 6.17-19)

24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people with every kind of sickness or disease were brought to him. Some of them had a lot of demons in them, others were thought to be crazy, t and still others could not walk. But Jesus healed them all.
25 Large crowds followed Jesus from Galilee and the region around the ten cities known as Decapolis.t They also came from Jerusalem, Judea, and from across the Jordan River.