Matthew 4

1-3. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter cam and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."

Jesus was led by the Spirit to be tempted. He was tempted after 40 days of fasting. Was He not tempted before that time? It makes sense that Diabolos would wait until Jesus was weak and tired before trying to lead Him astray.

4. But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”

When Jesus is quoting from Deuteronomy the meaning is clear and if you read the scripture in context it means the same.

5-6. Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 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’; and‘On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”

When the devil quotes Psalm 91 it is out of context and sounds like it has a completely different meaning than what it was intended to mean when read in its' entirety.

This gives me pause ... I want to make sure that when I quote scripture it is not simply taking a small piece out of context to make it fit my purposes. Scripture, the very breath of God should be read and remembered to honor His purposes ... never to simply support our purposes.

7-11. Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written, ' You shall 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 the3ir glory; and he said to Him, "All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, Go, Satan! For it is written, ' You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.

When Jesus says "Begone", Satan goes and then angels come and care for Jesus.


12-17. Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, He cam and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:  “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light, And those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, Upon them a Light dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

How long were the angels ministering to Jesus before He came out of the wilderness and heard the news about John being in jail?

18-22. Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fisherman. And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going 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; and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

As Jesus is preaching and bringing light into the darkness of the Gentiles he calls two sets of brothers away from their fishing boats. Simon Peter and Andrew and then James and John, the sons of Zebedee. How did Zebedee feel about his sons just walking out on the family business in the middle of the work day?

23-25. Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.

Jesus went about teaching and preaching and healing all kinds of sicknesses. Is it any wonder that people began to flock and follow Him, bringing their sick and lame with them? I would have gone. I'm sure once I got there and heard Him preach I would have been moved. I would have run after Him with Rebekah in my arms hoping for miracles of perfect health for her.