4Matthew 4

Jesus and the Devil

1The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert, so that the devil could test him.Select Matthew 4:1

2After Jesus had gone without eating for 40 days and nights, he was very hungry.Select Matthew 4:2

3Then the devil came to him and said, “If you are God's Son, tell these stones to turn into bread.”Select Matthew 4:3

4Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say: ‘No one can live only on food. People need every word that God has spoken.’ ”Select Matthew 4:4

5Next, the devil took Jesus into the holy city to the highest part of the temple.Select Matthew 4:5

6The 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.’ ”Select Matthew 4:6

7Jesus answered, “The Scriptures also say, ‘Don't try to test the Lord your God!’ ”Select Matthew 4:7

8Finally, the devil took Jesus up on a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms on earth and their power.Select Matthew 4:8

9The devil said to him, “I will give all this to you, if you will bow down and worship me.”Select Matthew 4:9

10Jesus answered, “Go away Satan! The Scriptures say: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ ”Select Matthew 4:10

11Then the devil left Jesus, and angels came to help him.Select Matthew 4:11

Jesus Begins His Work

12When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he went to Galilee.Select Matthew 4:12

13But instead of staying in Nazareth, Jesus moved to Capernaum. This town was beside Lake Galilee in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali.Select Matthew 4:13

14So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said,Select Matthew 4:14

15“Listen, lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, lands along the road to the sea and across the Jordan. Listen Galilee, land of the Gentiles!Select Matthew 4:15

16Although 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.”Select Matthew 4:16

17Then Jesus started preaching, “Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here.”Select Matthew 4:17

Jesus Chooses Four Fishermen

18While Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers. One was Simon, also known as Peter, and the other was Andrew. They were fishermen, and they were casting their net into the lake.Select Matthew 4:18

19Jesus said to them, “Follow me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish.”Select Matthew 4:19

20Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him.Select Matthew 4:20

21Jesus 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.Select Matthew 4:21

22At once they left the boat and their father and went with Jesus.Select Matthew 4:22

Jesus Teaches, Preaches, and Heals

23Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news about God's kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and sickness.Select Matthew 4:23

24News 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, and still others could not walk. But Jesus healed them all.Select Matthew 4:24

25Large crowds followed Jesus from Galilee and the region around the ten cities known as Decapolis. They also came from Jerusalem, Judea, and from across the Jordan River.Select Matthew 4:25