ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Matthew 4

Matt. 4:1–25 Jesus the Messiah Begins to Advance the Messianic Kingdom. Jesus triumphs over the devil in the wilderness (vv. 1–11), proclaims the kingdom of God (vv. 12–17), and calls disciples to follow him (vv. 18–22).

Matt. 4:1 Jesus was led up by the Spirit. The Greek for tempted can also mean “tested.” God never tempts anyone to do evil (see note on James 1:13), but he uses circumstances to test a person’s character (see Heb. 11:17).

Matt. 4:2 fasting forty days and forty nights. Jesus’ 40 days of fasting in the wilderness corresponds to Israel’s 40 years of testing in the wilderness (Deut. 8:2–3). Moses also fasted and prayed for 40 days and nights on two occasions (Ex. 24:18; 34:28; see also Elijah in 1 Kings 19:8). Fasting was a means of focusing on prayer.

Matt. 4:3 If you are the Son of God. Despite the devil’s tempting offer, Jesus refused to use his divine power to make the trial any easier for himself.

Matt. 4:4 It is written. Jesus responds by quoting Deut. 8:2.

Matt. 4:5 The holy city is Jerusalem. The pinnacle of the temple is probably the southeast corner of the temple area, the top of which was 300 feet (91 m) above the floor of the Kidron Valley (see Herod’s Temple Complex in the Time of Jesus).

Matt. 4:6–7 for it is written. Such a spectacular display as jumping from this great height unharmed (compare Psalm 91) might have gained Jesus an enthusiastic following. But it would not have followed God’s plan for Jesus’ work as Messiah.

Matt. 4:9 fall down and worship me. The devil offers Jesus a way to rule the world that avoids the cross and exchanges worship of God for worship of Satan. All these I will give you was a lie (see note on Luke 4:5–8).

Matt. 4:12–25 These verses mark the beginning of Jesus’ Galilean ministry. It is traditionally thought that Jesus’ ministry lasted three years: a year of obscurity, a year of popularity, and a year of increasing rejection. Matthew, Mark, and Luke do not say much about the first, obscure year, but it is recounted in John’s Gospel (see John 1–4).

Matt. 4:12 John had been arrested and imprisoned by Herod Antipas, one of Herod the Great’s sons (see 11:2; 14:1–12).

Matt. 4:13 Capernaum was on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was Jesus’ base of operations for his ministry in Galilee.

Matt. 4:16 darkness . . . light. See Isa. 9:1. The region of Zebulun and Naphtali (Matt. 4:13) was devastated by Assyria in 732 b.c. (2 Kings 15:29). They are now the first to see the great light of God’s deliverance in Jesus.

Matt. 4:17 From that time marks a significant turning point in Matthew’s Gospel (compare 16:21). It indicates that the preparations for Jesus’ messianic ministry are complete. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Jesus’ message builds on John the Baptist’s (see note on 3:2).

Matt. 4:18–22 Peter, James, and John become the inner circle among Jesus’ 12 disciples.

Matt. 4:18–19 Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew. These brothers had been followers of Jesus for about a year (see John 1:35–42).

Matt. 4:21 A boat, dated from the first century a.d. or earlier, was found in the Sea of Galilee in 1986. Approximately 26.5 feet long and 7.5 feet wide (8 m by 2.3 m), it could hold about 15 people.

Matt. 4:23 The Galilee region had 200 or more villages and towns, but no major cities. Healing of every disease and every affliction gives a preview of the age to come (Phil. 3:21; Rev. 21:4). On synagogues, see note on Luke 4:16 and The Synagogue and Jewish Worship.

Matt. 4:24 Syria. A Gentile region north of Galilee.

Matt. 4:25 Great crowds followed Jesus, but they had not yet become his disciples (compare 5:1). Decapolis (Greek “ten cities”) is the predominantly Gentile district to the south and east of the Sea of Galilee. Beyond the Jordan commonly referred to the region of Perea, or more generally the territory east of the Jordan River.