Matthew 4

1 Then Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] was led [guided, directed] by the Spirit [the vital principle or mental disposition of a person, breath] into the wilderness [a deserted, uninhabited place] to be tempted [tested, tried] by the devil [the false accuser, Satan]. word study 2 After fasting [going without food, abstaining] forty [a period of testing] days [a 24-hour period, a period of time] and forty [a period of trial] nights [the time of darkness, a period of rest], He was [afterward, later] hungry [felt a strong need, was in need of food]. word study 3 The tempter [Satan, the adversary] came to Him and said, “If You are [truly, as claimed] the Son [Child, heir] of God [the Father, divine], tell [command, speak to] these stones [rocks, pebbles] to become [be made, transformed into] bread [loaves, food].” word study 4 But Jesus answered, “It is written [in the Scriptures, recorded by God]: ‘Man [a human being, created by God] shall not live [have life, exist] on bread [food, physical sustenance] alone [by itself, without anything else], but on every word [declaration, utterance] that comes [proceeds, goes out] from the mouth [the source of speech, communication] of God [the one true deity, Creator].’ ” word study 5 Then [at that specific point in time] the devil [Satan, the adversary] took Him [Jesus, the Messiah] to the holy [set apart, dedicated to God] city [Jerusalem, the city of God] and set Him [placed, positioned] on the pinnacle [the highest point, the most extreme edge] of the temple [the sacred place, the house of God]. word study 6 “If You are [truly, genuinely] the Son of God [having God’s nature, divine],” he said, “throw [cast, hurl] Yourself down [from the heights, into the depths]. For it is written: ‘He will command [order, charge] His angels [messengers, heavenly beings] concerning You, and they will lift [bear, uphold] You up in their hands [with care, with power], so that You will not strike [stumble, trip] Your foot [a step, a path] against a stone [a rock, an obstacle].’ ” word study 7 Jesus [the Son of God, the Savior] replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not [refuse to, absolutely not] put the Lord [the Supreme Ruler, Yehovah] your God [the Almighty, Creator] to the test [to prove, to tempt, to challenge].’ ” word study 8 Again [once more, a second time], the devil [Satan, the adversary] took Him [Jesus, the Messiah] to a very [exceedingly, extremely] high mountain [a lofty elevation] and showed Him [revealed, exhibited] all the kingdoms [nations, realms] of the world [the earth, human society] and their glory [honor, splendor, divine majesty]. word study 9 “All [every, everything] this [these things, these kingdoms] I will give [bestow, grant] You,” he said, “if [on condition that, provided that] You will fall down [collapse, prostrate yourself] and worship [show reverence, bow to] me [my authority, my power].” word study 10 “Away from Me [be gone, depart], Satan [the accuser, adversary]!” Jesus [God is salvation] declared. “For it is written [recorded, inscribed]: ‘Worship [show reverence, bow down to] the Lord [Master, supreme authority] your God [the one true deity] and serve [minister to, give homage to] Him [alone, exclusively] only [solely, uniquely].’ ” word study 11 Then [at that specific point in time] the devil [the adversary, Satan] left [released, sent away] Him, and [behind him, in his place] angels [heavenly messengers] came [approached, drew near] and ministered [served, attended to His needs] to Him. word study 12 When Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] heard [to understand and obey] that John [the Baptist, a prophet and forerunner] had been [delivered up, surrendered] imprisoned [put in jail, cast into prison], He withdrew [to leave, depart from a place] to [toward, into the region of] Galilee [a region in Palestine where Jesus ministered]. word study 13 Leaving [abandoning, departing from] Nazareth, He went [came, traveled] and lived [dwelt, resided] in Capernaum, which is [located, situated] by the sea [seaside, coastal area] in the region [borders, territory] of Zebulun [a tribe of Israel] and Naphtali [another tribe of Israel], word study 14 to fulfill [make complete, satisfy] what was spoken [declared, uttered] through [by means of, because of] the prophet [one who speaks for God, interpreter of God’s will] Isaiah [a prophet]: word study 15 “Land [region, territory] of Zebulun and land [earth, soil] of Naphtali, the Way [road, path] of the Sea [large body of water], beyond [on the other side of] the Jordan [river in Palestine], Galilee [region in Palestine] of the Gentiles [non-Jewish people, nations]— word study 16 the people [living in spiritual ignorance] living in darkness [the absence of spiritual light] have seen [perceived, experienced] a great [intense, extraordinary] light [the presence of God, spiritual illumination]; on those living in the land [region, country] of the shadow [darkness, gloom] of death [separation from God, eternal darkness], a light [hope, salvation] has dawned [arisen, become visible].” word study 17 From that time on Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] began to preach [proclaim, herald a message], “Repent [turn from sin, change your mind], for the kingdom [God’s royal power, dominion] of heaven [the sky, God’s home] is near [at hand, has arrived].” word study 18 As Jesus was walking beside [by the shore of] the Sea [large body of water, symbolizing the world] of Galilee [a region in Palestine, significant to Jesus’ ministry], He saw two brothers [male siblings, fellow believers], Simon [called, named] called Peter [a rock, a stone, symbolizing strength and stability] and his brother [male sibling, close relative] Andrew [manly, courageous]. They were casting [throwing, launching] a net [a fishing net, a tool for gathering] into the sea [the water, the deep], for [because, since] they were fishermen [those who catch fish, providers]. word study 19 “Come [come after me], follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I [as your Lord and Teacher] will make you [disciples, followers] fishers [catchers, gatherers] of men [human beings, people].” word study 20 And at once [immediately, without delay] they left [released, abandoned] their nets [fishing tools, equipment] and followed [accompanied, obeyed] Him [Jesus, their Master]. word study 21 Going on [advancing, moving forward] from there, He saw two [another pair of] other brothers, James [a fisherman] son of Zebedee and his brother [fellow sibling] John. They were in a boat [ship, vessel] with their father [parent, male guardian] Zebedee, mending [repairing, refitting] their nets [fishing gear, equipment]. Jesus [the Messiah, Savior] called [invited, summoned] them, word study 22 and immediately [at once, without delay] they left [released, abandoned] the boat [ship, vessel] and their father [parent, patriarch] and followed [accompanied, obeyed] Him [Jesus, the Messiah]. word study 23 Jesus [the Messiah, God’s anointed] went throughout [traveled about, preaching in] Galilee, teaching [instructing, guiding] in their synagogues [gatherings, places of worship], preaching [proclaiming, heralding] the gospel [good news, message of salvation] of the kingdom [God’s royal power, dominion], and healing [restoring, making whole] every [all, every kind of] disease [sickness, illness] and sickness [weakness, malady] among [in the midst of, surrounded by] the people [a crowd, a multitude]. word study 24 News about Him [his fame, reputation] spread all over Syria [the region, province], and people brought to Him all who were ill [sick, afflicted] with various [divers, different] diseases [sicknesses, maladies], those suffering [tormented, troubled] acute pain [severe anguish], the demon-possessed [under evil spirits’ control], those having [experiencing] seizures [epileptic fits], and the paralyzed [unable to move, lame]—and He healed [cured, restored to health] them. word study 25 The large crowds [great multitudes, many people] that followed [accompanied, walked with] Him came from Galilee [the region of Galilee], the Decapolis [a region with ten cities], Jerusalem [the city of Jerusalem], Judea [the southern region of Palestine], and beyond [on the other side of, across] the Jordan [the river Jordan, a significant location]. word study