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Matthew 4
Tree of Life Version

Overcoming Temptation with God’s Word

4 Then Yeshua was led by the Ruach into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After He had fasted for forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. 3 And when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are Ben-Elohim, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 But He replied, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”[a]

5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city and placed Him on the highest point of the Temple. 6 “If You are Ben-Elohim,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written,

‘He shall command His angels concerning you,’[b]
and ‘upon their hands they shall lift you up,
so that you may not strike your foot against a stone.’”[c]

7 Yeshua said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put Adonai your God to the test.’”[d]

8 Again, the devil takes Him to a very high mountain and shows Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.”

10 Then Yeshua says to him, “Go away, satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship Adonai your God, and Him only shall you serve.’” [e] 11 Then the devil leaves Him. And behold, angels came and began to take care of Him.

Yeshua Withdraws to Seek God

12 Now when Yeshua heard that John had been handed over, He withdrew to the Galilee. 13 Leaving Natzeret, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,

15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the nations—
16 the people sitting in darkness have seen a great light,
and those sitting in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.”[f]

17 From then on, Yeshua began to proclaim, “Turn away from your sins, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Raising Up Fishers of Men

18 Now as Yeshua was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter and Andrew his brother. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, Jacob the son of Zebedee and John his brother. They were in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and He called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.

23 Yeshua was going throughout all the Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about Him spread throughout all Syria. And they brought to Him all the sick—those tormented by various diseases and afflictions, those plagued by demons, the epileptics, the paralyzed—and He healed them. 25 And large crowds followed Him from the Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 4:4 Deut. 8:3.
  2. Matthew 4:6 Ps. 91:11.
  3. Matthew 4:6 Ps. 91:12.
  4. Matthew 4:7 Dt. 6:16.
  5. Matthew 4:11 Dt. 6:13.
  6. Matthew 4:16 Isa. 8:23-9:1(9:1-2).
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Matthew 4
New Catholic Bible

Chapter 4

Jesus Is Tempted by the Devil.[a]1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted for forty days and forty nights, after which he was famished.

3 Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God,[b] command these stones to be transformed into loaves of bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “As it is written:

‘Man does not live by bread alone,
    but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’ ”[c]

5 Next the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the summit of the temple.[d] 6 [e]Then he 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 with their hands they will raise you up
    lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

7 Jesus said to him, “It is also written:

‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

8 Finally, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their splendor. 9 Then he said to him, “All these will I give you if you kneel down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him in reply, “Depart from me, Satan! It is written:

‘You shall worship the Lord your God,
    and him alone shall you serve.’ ”[f]

11 Then the devil departed from him, and suddenly angels came and ministered to him.

12 Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee.[g]When Jesus learned that John had been arrested,[h] he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Departing from Nazareth, he settled in Capernaum[i] by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 in order that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
    the passageway to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles:
16 The people who lived in darkness
    have seen a great light,
    and for those who dwell in a land darkened by the shadow of death
    light has dawned.”

17 From that day forward Jesus began to proclaim the message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.”

18 Jesus Calls the First Disciples.[j] As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the water, for they were fishermen. 19 He said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately, they abandoned their nets and followed him.

21 As he proceeded farther, he saw two more brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately, they left their boat and their father and followed him.

23 Jesus Proclaims the Message and Heals the Sick.[k] Jesus traveled all throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every type of disease and illness among the people. 24 His reputation spread throughout Syria,[l] and they brought to him all those who were sick, afflicted with various diseases, racked with pain, or possessed by demons, as well as those who were stricken with epilepsy or paralyzed, and he healed them. 25 Great throngs from Galilee, the Decapolis,[m] Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan, followed him.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 4:1 This important passage is again filled with echoes and citations of the Old Testament. The intention is to show the experience and struggles of the Messiah, the new head of the People of God. Just as Moses remained forty days on Sinai, so the Messiah remains forty days in the wilderness (Ex 34:28), forty days being symbolic of a time of preparation for divinely planned activities. Jesus refuses to make use of his miraculous power simply to relieve human need (v. 3f), or to satisfy requests of unbelievers (v. 5ff), or to embrace a Messianic role that would be purely political. The basic theme is the obedience of Jesus to God as he is known through the Old Testament. He rebuffs all three temptations with Scriptural truth from Deuteronomy.
  2. Matthew 4:3 If you are the Son of God: in the sense of the Messianic King of Ps 2.
  3. Matthew 4:4 A citation of Deut 8:3, indicating that the miracles of the Exodus were signs of God’s religious care for Israel.
  4. Matthew 4:5 Summit of the temple: the southeast corner of the wall of the Jerusalem temple, projecting over a ravine.
  5. Matthew 4:6 The devil applies Ps 91:11-12 to the Messiah since it deals with God’s protection of the righteous. Jesus declares (through the words of Deut 6:16) that we should not demand miracles from God as evidence of his care for us.
  6. Matthew 4:10 The citation (Deut 6:13) used by Jesus calls for the basic attitude of worship that everyone should have toward God.
  7. Matthew 4:12 By action and word Jesus inaugurates the kingdom of heaven. The phrase means the kingdom of God, but, like the Jews of his time, Matthew avoids naming God and says, instead, “heaven.” This kingdom or reign is a power that will continue to make its way into the world from now on. Jesus begins his activity in Galilee, a northern province, which some, thinking of Isa 8:23 and 9:1, regarded as the Messiah’s land. It was a region in which different populations and religions lived side by side. The faithful followers of Yahweh, who were pretty much cut off from Jerusalem and its temple, gathered in the synagogues. Different populations, even in the pagan Decapolis (a confederation of ten independent Greek cities, beyond the Jordan), acknowledge the Messiah.
  8. Matthew 4:12 John had been arrested: after John’s arrest (v. 12), Jesus makes Capernaum the center of his activity (v. 13) and preaching (v. 17). The citation from Isa 9:1-2 identifies the ministry of Jesus as fulfilling the prophecy of the restoration of the northern kingdom defeated by the Assyrians in 721 B.C. See notes on Mk 1:14 and Lk 3:20.
  9. Matthew 4:13 Capernaum: on the shore of the Lake (in Hebrew: Sea) of Galilee (v. 18), also known as the Lake of Tiberias or Gennesaret, in territory that had belonged to the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali.
  10. Matthew 4:18 We see the first Church being born; disciples follow the Lord not only to share intimacy with him but to be fishers of men, to be witnesses to him and gather together people in his name—for he is the Messiah. Three of the four (Simon, James, and John) will go on to hold a closer relationship with Jesus (see Mt 17:1; 26:37; Lk 8:51).
  11. Matthew 4:23 As a conclusion to the first part of his Gospel, Matthew gives a summary of Jesus’ ministry, which consisted in teaching, preaching, and healing (v. 23; see also Mt 9:35).
  12. Matthew 4:24 Syria: the area north of Galilee, between Damascus and the Mediterranean Sea.
  13. Matthew 4:25 Decapolis (i.e., the Ten Cities): a league of Greek cities; all were east of the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River except Sythcopolis (Beth Shan).
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Matthew 4
Common English Bible

Temptation of Jesus

4 Then the Spirit led Jesus up into the wilderness so that the devil might tempt him. 2 After Jesus had fasted for forty days and forty nights, he was starving. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “Since you are God’s Son, command these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus replied, “It’s written, People won’t live only by bread, but by every word spoken by God.”[a]

5 After that the devil brought him into the holy city and stood him at the highest point of the temple. He said to him, 6 “Since you are God’s Son, throw yourself down; for it is written, I will command my angels concerning you, and they will take you up in their hands so that you won’t hit your foot on a stone.”[b]

7 Jesus replied, “Again it’s written, Don’t test the Lord your God.”[c]

8 Then the devil brought him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 He said, “I’ll give you all these if you bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus responded, “Go away, Satan, because it’s written,You will worship the Lord your God and serve only him.”[d] 11 The devil left him, and angels came and took care of him.

Move to Galilee

12 Now when Jesus heard that John was arrested, he went to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and settled in Capernaum, which lies alongside the sea in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This fulfilled what Isaiah the prophet said:

15 Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
        alongside the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,
16     the people who lived in the dark have seen a great light,
        and a light has come upon those who lived in the region and in shadow of death.[e]

17 From that time Jesus began to announce, “Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of heaven!”

Calling of the first disciples

18 As Jesus walked alongside the Galilee Sea, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, throwing fishing nets into the sea, because they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” he said, “and I’ll show you how to fish for people.” 20 Right away, they left their nets and followed him. 21 Continuing on, he saw another set of brothers, James the son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father repairing their nets. Jesus called them and 22 immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Ministry to the crowds

23 Jesus traveled throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues. He announced the good news of the kingdom and healed every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread throughout Syria. People brought to him all those who had various kinds of diseases, those in pain, those possessed by demons, those with epilepsy, and those who were paralyzed, and he healed them. 25 Large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from the areas beyond the Jordan River.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 4:4 Deut 8:3
  2. Matthew 4:6 Ps 91:11-12
  3. Matthew 4:7 Deut 6:16
  4. Matthew 4:10 Deut 6:13
  5. Matthew 4:16 Isa 9:1-2
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Matthew 4
New International Version

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness(A)

4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a](B) by the devil.(C) 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights,(D) he was hungry. 3 The tempter(E) came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God,(F) tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”(G)

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city(H) and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,”(I) 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.’[c]”(J)

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”(K)

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan!(L) For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]”(M)

11 Then the devil left him,(N) and angels came and attended him.(O)

Jesus Begins to Preach

12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison,(P) he withdrew to Galilee.(Q) 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum,(R) which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill(S) what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
    the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
    Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 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.”[f](T)

17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven(U) has come near.”

Jesus Calls His First Disciples(V)

18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee,(W) he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter(X) and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,”(Y) Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.(Z)

21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John.(AA) They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.(AB)

Jesus Heals the Sick

23 Jesus went throughout Galilee,(AC) teaching in their synagogues,(AD) proclaiming the good news(AE) of the kingdom,(AF) and healing every disease and sickness among the people.(AG) 24 News about him spread all over Syria,(AH) and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed,(AI) those having seizures,(AJ) and the paralyzed;(AK) and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,[g] Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.(AL)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 4:1 The Greek for tempted can also mean tested.
  2. Matthew 4:4 Deut. 8:3
  3. Matthew 4:6 Psalm 91:11,12
  4. Matthew 4:7 Deut. 6:16
  5. Matthew 4:10 Deut. 6:13
  6. Matthew 4:16 Isaiah 9:1,2
  7. Matthew 4:25 That is, the Ten Cities
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Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.

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