Matthew 4 Summary - Quick Bible Study

*You can download this outline under the “Resources” tab of our website.

MATTHEW 4 SUMMARY IN 5 MINUTES

• WHEN:

  • The birth of Jesus probably occurred around 4 B.C..

  • From Luke 3:23, we know Jesus began His ministry when He was about 30 years old.

  • This would place the events of Jesus’ ministry roughly between 26-31 A.D..

• CHARACTERS:

  • Jesus - The Messiah. The Son of God who came to save the world from sin.

  • John - Son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. A prophet tasked with preparing the people for the arrival of the Messiah (the Savior).

  • Satan - The tempter, the enemy of God and men.

  • Peter, Andrew, James, and John - 4 fishermen from Galilee who became Jesus’ disciples.

• WHERE:

  • Jesus was tempted in the wilderness (likely the wilderness of Judea).

  • Jesus moved to Capernaum to begin His ministry in Galilee.

  • *See the map above.

• OUTLINE:

  • THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS (4:1-4:11):

    • The Spirit of God led Jesus into the wilderness.

    • In preparation for a period of temptation, Jesus fasted 40 days.

    • Satan tempted Jesus three different ways:

      • 1. Turning stones to bread.

      • 2. Jumping from the pinnacle of the Temple.

      • 3. Worshipping Satan to receive the glory of the kingdoms of the earth.

    • Jesus refused to give into Satan and rebuked him 3 times with scripture.

    • After trying and failing to get Jesus to sin, the devil departed.

  • JESUS BEGINS PREACHING IN GALILEE (4:12=4:17):

    • John had been arrested for preaching, so Jesus went north to Galilee.

    • He made His home in Capernaum, a city by the Sea of Galilee.

    • This fulfilled a prophecy in Isaiah 9:1-2.

    • Jesus began preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

  • JESUS CALLS DISCIPLES AND PERFORMS MIRACLES (4:18-4:25):

    • While at the Sea of Galilee, Jesus called Andrew and Peter to follow Him.

    • Shortly after, He called John and his brother James to be His disciples.

    • All 4 men left their profession of fishing and followed Jesus.

    • Jesus went through the region of Galilee preaching in the synagogues.

    • He healed large numbers of sick and demon possessed people.

    • He amassed a large following from Judea, the Decapolis, and beyond Jordan.

  • BIG PICTURE:

    • Jesus’ success over the Devil was necessary for Him to complete His work on earth.

    • Jesus came to the earth to sacrifice Himself for the sins of mankind.

    • If Jesus had been a sinner Himself, He wouldn’t have been able to be the Savior, He would have needed a savior like the rest of us.

    • But being sinless, He was able to sacrifice Himself as the spotless and pure Lamb of God.

  • APPLICATION:

    • Jesus was able to refuse the Devil’s temptations because He knew the Devil had nothing to offer Him.

    • He knew Satan was a liar and a fraud.

    • He combatted Satan’s lies with the truths found in God’s word.

    • Satan tempts us the same way. He lies to us all the time!

    • The only way to see around the lies, is to have a foundation in truth.

    • Do you know God’s word (the scriptures) well enough to identify when Satan is lying to you?