The Temptation of Jesus
Study note
The three temptations target Jesus' identity as the Son of God, challenging him to use his power for personal comfort, to test God's faithfulness, and to gain authority through compromise with evil. Jesus defeats each temptation by quoting from Deuteronomy, demonstrating that God's Word is the ultimate weapon against spiritual attack. His victory in the wilderness succeeds where Israel failed during their forty years of testing.
1 Right after that, the Spirit guided Jesus out into the wilderness so the devil could put him to the test. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2 Jesus went without eating for forty days and forty nights. By the end, he was extremely hungry. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
3 The devil came to him and said, "Since you are the Son of God, why not turn these stones into loaves of bread?" And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 Jesus answered him, "The scriptures say, 'People need more than bread to truly live. They need every word that God speaks.'" But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
5 Next, the devil took him to the holy city of Jerusalem. He made him stand on the very top of the temple. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 The devil said, "Since you are the Son of God, jump off! After all, the scriptures say, 'God will order his angels to watch over you. They will catch you with their hands so you will not even stub your toe on a rock.'" And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus replied, "The scriptures also say, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
8 Then the devil brought him to the peak of an extremely tall mountain. From there, he showed Jesus every kingdom on earth and all their impressive wealth. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 The devil told him, "I will hand all of this over to you — everything you see — if you will bow down and worship me." And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Jesus fired back, "Leave now, Satan! The scriptures say, 'Worship the Lord your God. Serve only him.'" Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 At that point, the devil gave up and left. Then angels came and cared for Jesus. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee
Study note
Jesus' relocation to Capernaum in Galilee after John's imprisonment fulfills Isaiah's prophecy about a great light dawning in the land of Zabulon and Nephthalim. His preaching echoes John's message -- 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near' -- but now the King himself is delivering the proclamation. The shift from Nazareth to Capernaum positions Jesus at a crossroads of trade and culture, bringing his message to a diverse population.
12 When the news reached Jesus that John had been thrown in prison, he traveled to the region of Galilee. Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
13 He moved away from Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum. It was a lakeside town in the land of Zabulon and Nephthalim. And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
14 This happened to bring about what the prophet Esaias had said long ago: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
15 "The land of Zabulon and Nephthalim, by the road to the sea. It is past the Jordan River. It is Galilee, where non-Jewish people live -- The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
16 the people living in the dark have seen a brilliant light break through. For those trapped in the shadow of death, a bright new day has arrived." The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
17 From then on, Jesus started spreading his message everywhere: "Turn away from your sins. God's kingdom is about to arrive." From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Calling the First Disciples
Study note
Jesus calls two pairs of brothers -- Simon Peter and Andrew, then James and John -- from their fishing nets to become 'fishers of men.' Their immediate, wholehearted response to Jesus' call demonstrates the compelling authority of his person and message. Leaving behind their livelihoods and families, these men become the foundation of a movement that would transform the world.
18 One day Jesus was walking along the Sea of Galilee. He saw two brothers -- Simon (also called Peter) and Andrew. They were throwing their fishing net into the water because that was their job. And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19 Jesus called out to them, "Come with me, and I will teach you how to bring people to God instead of catching fish." And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 Without a moment's delay, they dropped their nets and went with him. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
21 A little farther down the shore, he noticed two more brothers — James and John, sons of Zebedee. They were sitting in a boat with their father Zebedee, patching up their torn nets. Jesus called out to them too. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
22 They left the boat and their father behind then and there and went with Jesus. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
Jesus' Healing Ministry Throughout Galilee
Study note
This summary passage describes Jesus' threefold ministry of teaching, preaching, and healing as he travels throughout Galilee. The wide variety of ailments he heals -- diseases, pains, demon possession, seizures, and paralysis -- demonstrates his comprehensive authority over all forms of human suffering. His growing fame draws crowds from every direction, establishing his reputation across the entire region.
23 Jesus traveled all across Galilee. He taught in the Jewish meeting places, shared the good news about God's kingdom, and made every kind of sick and diseased person well again. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
24 Word about him traveled all through Syria. People brought everyone who was suffering — those with painful diseases, those troubled by demons, those who had seizures, and those who could not move their bodies. Jesus healed every one of them. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
25 Huge crowds followed him everywhere. They came from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judaea, and from across the Jordan River. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judæa, and from beyond Jordan.