Matthew 4

• Jesus was led by the Spirit: God arranged this test to examine the Messiah’s character (see Deuteronomy 8:2).

• to be tempted by the devil: God started this test of character, using the devil's wish to lead Jesus into sin. God tempts no one (James 1:13–14).

This story of the temptation of Jesus shows clear parallels between Adam and Jesus. Jesus is the second Adam (see Romans 5:12–19) and the second Israel (Matthew 2:15). Unlike the ancient Israelites, Jesus completed Israel’s history by wandering through the desert without sinning. He showed he was the obedient Son of God by defeating Satan in spiritual battle.

Since Jesus faced temptation as a human, he can understand the temptations we encounter (see Hebrews 2:14–18; 4:15). He helps us overcome them as he did (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Forty days and forty nights (see Exodus 24:18; 34:28; 1 Kings 19:8): God tested Israel for forty-years in the wilderness (Exodus 16:35; Deuteronomy 1:3).

Jesus refused to use his supernatural power to get food, trusting God to provide it. The people of Israel relentlessly tested God with complaints and disbelief (see Exodus 16). But, Jesus refused to doubt God's faithfulness. Instead, he relied on God to meet his real need. This was the spiritual provision that comes from every word of God.

Jesus refused to test God by assuming God would always protect him.

It is also written: Jesus responded to the devil's use of Scripture by emphasizing a more important principle (honoring God) which the devil ignored.

• Satan is called "the prince of this world" in John 12:31. He offered Jesus control over all the world's kingdoms and their power. Satan did this to try to stop Jesus from fulfilling God's will.

• Glory means political power and control (for example, Matthew 6:29). Satan planned to tempt Jesus to misuse his divine nature as Son. He wanted to distract him from the path of suffering and obedience that led to the crucifixion.

• Then the devil left Him: Jesus rejected Satan. This points ahead to his later victories over demons (Matthew 12:28), Satan's defeat through the cross (Colossians 2:14–15), and the final victory at the end of time (Romans 16:20; Revelation 12:7–17; 20:2–3, 10).

• Angels had already been part of the Messiah's arrival and protection (Matthew 1:20, 24; 2:13, 19). Now they came and cared for Jesus after his temptation, fulfilling the Old Testament (4:6; see Psalm 91:11–12).

• Herod Antipas was the ruler of Galilee and Perea. He had arrested John the Baptist (see 14:1–12). John was probably working in the area at this time.

• When Jesus heard about this, he left Judea. This was near Perea, where Herod had John arrested. Jesus then went back to Galilee. Jesus left to avoid death before he could finish his mission of revealing God's Kingdom. Like Joseph's escape to Nazareth (Matthew 2:22–23), avoiding danger can also be part of God's plan and fulfill prophecy (4:14–16).

John the Baptist and the Father announced Jesus as the Messiah (3:13–17). He then endured testing in the wilderness with obedience (4:1–11). After this, the Messiah was ready to begin his work. He first preached the message of the kingdom of God to the people of Galilee.

Capernaum was in Galilee, a region that the religious leaders in Judea and Jerusalem viewed negatively (see John 1:46; 7:41–42, 52). Many people from Judea thought Galileans to be unrefined and poorly spoken (compare Matt 26:73). The leaders believed these people could make their teachings less accurate. Galilee also had more non-Jewish people than Judea.

Jesus taught that the kingdom of heaven was coming soon and urged people to repent (stop doing what is wrong) in preparation (see Matthew 3:2; 10:7).

Simon, also known as Peter, became the leader of the apostles (see 14:28; 15:15; 16:16) and the representative disciple (14:29–30; 16:15–19, 22–23).

The call of the first disciples shows one purpose of the ministry of Jesus: to invite people to follow him with self-denying obedience (compare Matthew 4:17, 23–25).

• Come, follow Me: This meant accepting the beliefs and lifestyle of a teacher as your own (Matthew 16:24; Deuteronomy 5:33; 1 Kings 19:19–21).

• fishers of men: The disciples would help in the saving and judging work of the kingdom of heaven (see Matthew 10:5–15; 13:47–51; Ezekiel 29:4–5; Amos 4:2).

They left the boat and their father: To be disciples of Jesus required both commitment and sacrifice from the brothers (see Matthew 8:18–22; 10:38; 16:24; 19:21).

• The Messiah's work focuses on three main activities: teaching … preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing.

• The synagogues were Jewish places for prayer, study, and discussing Scripture and tradition. They were also the social centers of many Jewish villages. The hypocrisy and hostility of Jewish leaders were obvious in the synagogues (Matthew 6:2, 5; 10:17; 12:9–14; 13:54; 23:6, 34).

• Preaching the gospel involves sharing the message about the kingdom of heaven (9:35; 24:14; 26:13; also Mark 1:1; Romans 1:16). This message often causes hostility (see Matthew 9:32–34; 10:27–28; 13:1–9, 18–23).

This summary highlights the main theme of the section (Matthew 4:23–9:38): the work and message of the Messiah. In ancient writings, chapters did not exist. Authors would start and end a section with the same phrase (called an inclusio; see 9:35).

• During the time of Jesus, much of Palestine was under Roman control as part of Syria. At that time, Syria could mean the whole eastern Mediterranean coast. Matthew mentions Syria to show how far news of Jesus spread.

• those having seizures: This refers to epilepsy or demonic possession. In 17:15, a person described this way "falls into the fire for into the water," meaning the boy could not control himself.

• The Decapolis was a group of ten cities, mostly east of the Jordan River and southeast of the Sea of Galilee. These included:

  • Damascus,

  • Raphana,

  • Hippos,

  • Abila (or Canatha),

  • Gadara,

  • Scythopolis,

  • Pella,

  • Dion,

  • Gerasa, and

  • Philadelphia (Amman).

  These cities were mostly Gentile (non-Jewish) and followed Greek culture.