New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Matthew 4
1
The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert. There the devil tempted him.
Reference
Parallel theme
Hebrews 2:18
John 14:30
Ezekiel 40:2
Spirit
Romans 8:14
Ezekiel 43:5
Ezekiel 3:14
Acts 8:39
Ezekiel 3:12
1 Kings 18:12
3
The tempter came to him. He said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
Reference
4
Jesus answered, "It is written, 'Man doesn't live only on bread. He also lives on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "--(Deuteronomy 8:3)
Reference
Parallel theme
Exodus 16:15
Exodus 16:35
Exodus 16:8
References God
Luke 4:8
Matthew 4:7
Word
Deuteronomy 8:3
Luke 4:4
John 6:63
Romans 15:4
Ephesians 6:17
5
Then the devil took Jesus to the holy city. He had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
Reference
6
"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. It is written, " 'The Lord will command his angels to take good care of you. They will lift you up in their hands. Then you won't trip over a stone.' " --(Psalm 91:11,12)
Reference
Parallel theme
Hebrews 1:14
Psalm 34:7
2 Corinthians 11:14
Psalm 34:20
Job 1:10
Job 5:23
References God
Matthew 4:4
7
Jesus answered him, "It is also written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' "--(Deuteronomy 6:16)
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 10:9
Hebrews 3:9
Psalm 95:9
References God
Deuteronomy 6:16
Psalm 78:18
Psalm 78:41
Malachi 3:15
References Lord
Exodus 17:2
Exodus 17:7
Acts 5:9
8
Finally, the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain. He showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
Reference
Glory
1 Peter 1:24
Kingdom
Revelation 11:15
Daniel 4:30
Esther 5:11
Esther 1:4
Parallel theme
Matthew 16:26
10
Jesus said to him, "Get away from me, Satan! It is written, 'Worship the Lord your God. He is the only one you should serve.' "--(Deuteronomy 6:13)
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Peter 5:9
1 Chronicles 21:1
References God
Deuteronomy 10:20
Joshua 24:14
1 Samuel 7:3
James 4:7
Matthew 16:23
Job 2:1
References Lord
Job 1:12
Worship
Luke 4:8
11
Then the devil left Jesus. Angels came and took care of him.
Reference
Evil
Luke 4:13
Parallel theme
Matthew 26:53
Hebrews 1:14
Luke 22:43
Hebrews 1:6
Mark 1:13
Matthew 4:6
John 14:30
Luke 22:53
13
Jesus left Nazareth. He went to live in the city of Capernaum. It was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali.
Reference
📍 Capernaum
14
In that way, what the prophet Isaiah had said came true. He had said,
Reference
Parallel theme
Luke 22:37
Matthew 26:54
John 15:25
John 19:28
Prophecy
Matthew 2:23
Luke 24:44
Matthew 2:15
Matthew 1:22
Matthew 26:56
Matthew 8:17
15
"Land of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali! Galilee, where non?Jewish people live! Land along the Mediterranean Sea! Territory east of the Jordan River!
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 9:1
16
The people who are now living in darkness will see a great light. They are now living in a very dark land. But a light will shine on them." --(Isaiah 9:1,2)
Reference
Darkness
Amos 5:8
Job 34:22
Job 3:5
Light
Isaiah 9:2
Micah 7:8
Luke 2:32
Job 10:22
Jeremiah 13:16
Parallel theme
Psalm 44:19
17
From that time on Jesus began to preach. "Turn away from your sins!" he said. "The kingdom of heaven is near."
Reference
Kingdom
Matthew 3:2
Repentance
Acts 2:38
Luke 5:32
Luke 24:47
Acts 17:30
Matthew 9:13
Acts 26:20
Luke 15:7
Acts 3:19
Luke 15:10
18
One day Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee. There he saw two brothers. They were Simon Peter and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the lake. They were fishermen.
Reference
📍 Sea of Galilee
People
21
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers. They were James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee. As they were preparing their nets, Jesus called out to them.
Reference
People
23
Jesus went all over Galilee. There he taught in the synagogues. He preached the good news of God's kingdom. He healed every illness and sickness the people had.
Reference
Kingdom
Matthew 9:35
Luke 8:1
Parallel theme
Mark 1:39
Matthew 11:5
Psalm 103:3
Matthew 13:54
Mark 1:21
Mark 6:2
References Jesus
Luke 7:22
Acts 10:38
24
News about him spread all over Syria. People brought to him all who were ill with different kinds of sicknesses. Some were suffering great pain. Others were controlled by demons. Some were shaking wildly. Others couldn't move at all. And Jesus healed all of them.
Reference
Evil
Matthew 12:22
Matthew 17:18
Matthew 15:22
Acts 10:38
Mark 1:32
Parallel theme
Matthew 17:15
Matthew 8:6
Luke 5:15
Luke 2:2
Acts 15:23
Chapter Summary
Matthew 4 begins with Jesus entering the wilderness for forty days of fasting and testing, where Satan challenges Him to use His divine identity for personal advantage, manipulate God's promises, and accept worldly power in exchange for worship.
Jesus rejects every temptation by remaining completely obedient to God, demonstrating that His mission will not be accomplished through selfish satisfaction, sensational displays of power, or political domination but through faithful dependence upon God.
After John the Baptist is imprisoned, Jesus moves to Galilee and settles in Capernaum, beginning the public ministry that Matthew connects with Isaiah's prophecy about light appearing in a region that had experienced darkness and oppression.
Jesus' central proclamation is that people should repent because the kingdom of heaven has come near, continuing John's message while now embodying the kingdom's arrival through His own ministry.
He then calls Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John, four fishermen who immediately leave their nets, boats, and—in the case of James and John—their father, demonstrating the decisive commitment expected from those who follow Jesus.
Jesus describes their new mission as becoming fishers of people, transforming their ordinary occupation into an image of gathering people into God's kingdom.
The chapter then expands the picture of Jesus' ministry throughout Galilee, where He teaches in synagogues, announces the good news of God's kingdom, and heals diseases and suffering, causing His reputation to spread far beyond Galilee into Syria, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and the regions beyond the Jordan.
The central message is that Matthew 4 presents Jesus as the obedient Son who defeats temptation, announces the arrival of God's kingdom, calls ordinary people to become His disciples, and demonstrates the kingdom's power through teaching, preaching, healing, and deliverance.
The chapter therefore establishes the essential pattern of Jesus' ministry: He remains completely faithful to God, calls people to repentance and committed discipleship, and brings God's restoring power to people experiencing physical, spiritual, and social suffering, while His growing reputation draws increasingly larger crowds from throughout the surrounding region.
Jesus rejects every temptation by remaining completely obedient to God, demonstrating that His mission will not be accomplished through selfish satisfaction, sensational displays of power, or political domination but through faithful dependence upon God.
After John the Baptist is imprisoned, Jesus moves to Galilee and settles in Capernaum, beginning the public ministry that Matthew connects with Isaiah's prophecy about light appearing in a region that had experienced darkness and oppression.
Jesus' central proclamation is that people should repent because the kingdom of heaven has come near, continuing John's message while now embodying the kingdom's arrival through His own ministry.
He then calls Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John, four fishermen who immediately leave their nets, boats, and—in the case of James and John—their father, demonstrating the decisive commitment expected from those who follow Jesus.
Jesus describes their new mission as becoming fishers of people, transforming their ordinary occupation into an image of gathering people into God's kingdom.
The chapter then expands the picture of Jesus' ministry throughout Galilee, where He teaches in synagogues, announces the good news of God's kingdom, and heals diseases and suffering, causing His reputation to spread far beyond Galilee into Syria, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and the regions beyond the Jordan.
The central message is that Matthew 4 presents Jesus as the obedient Son who defeats temptation, announces the arrival of God's kingdom, calls ordinary people to become His disciples, and demonstrates the kingdom's power through teaching, preaching, healing, and deliverance.
The chapter therefore establishes the essential pattern of Jesus' ministry: He remains completely faithful to God, calls people to repentance and committed discipleship, and brings God's restoring power to people experiencing physical, spiritual, and social suffering, while His growing reputation draws increasingly larger crowds from throughout the surrounding region.