"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"
Chapter Four
Following His baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness
where He fasted for forty days and overcame temptation by the devil
(1-11). Returning to Galilee and moving from Nazareth to Capernaum,
Jesus began His Galilean ministry preaching the same message of the
kingdom of heaven as that of John the Baptist. After selecting four
disciples, Jesus went about Galilee teaching in the synagogues and
healing all kinds of sickness and disease. Soon great multitudes from
surrounding regions began to follow Him (12-25).
POINTS TO PONDER
* How Jesus overcame His temptation by the devil
* The beginning of His ministry in Galilee, His message and methods
* The call of Peter, Andrew, James, and John to discipleship
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- The temptation of Jesus - Mt 4:1-11
- The beginning of Jesus’ Galilean ministry - Mt 4:12-25
2) With what three temptations did Satan challenge Jesus? (3,6,9)
- "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become
bread."
- "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down (from the pinnacle
of the temple)."
- "All these things (kingdoms of the world) I will give You if You
will fall down and worship me."
3) How did Jesus respond to each of the three temptations? (4,7,10)
- With the Word of God ("It is written...")
4) Where did Jesus begin His public ministry? Fulfilling what prophecy?
(12-16)
- The region of Galilee; as prophesied by Isaiah (Isa 9:1-2)
5) What was the theme of Jesus’ preaching? (17)
- "The kingdom of heaven is at hand."
6) Who were the four fishermen called to follow Jesus? (18-22)
- Peter and Andrew, James and John
7) How did Jesus conduct His ministry in Galilee? (23-24)
- Teaching in the synagogues
- Healing all kinds of disease and sickness, including demon
possession
8) Where did people come from to follow Jesus? (25)
- Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan