Matthew – Chapter 4

New Testament25 Verses

1Then Jesus was led by the spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the devil.

2And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards he was hungry.

3And the tempter coming said to him: If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4Who answered and said: It is written, Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God.

5Then the devil took him up into the holy city, and set him upon the pinnacle of the temple,

6And said to him: If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written: That he hath given his angels charge over thee, and in their hands shall they bear thee up, lest perhaps thou dash thy foot against a stone.

7Jesus said to him: It is written again: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

8Again the devil took him up into a very high mountain, and shewed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them,

9And said to him: All these will I give thee, if falling down thou wilt adore me.

10Then Jesus saith to him: Begone, Satan: for it is written: The Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and him only shalt thou serve.

11Then the devil left him; and behold angels came and ministered to him.

12And when Jesus had heard that John was delivered up, he retired into Galilee:

13And leaving the city Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capharnaum on the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and of Nephthalim;

14That it might be fulfilled which was said by Isaias the prophet:

15Land of Zabulon and land of Nephthalim, the way of the sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles:

16The people that sat in darkness, hath seen great light: and to them that sat in the region of the shadow of death, light is sprung up.

17From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say: Do penance, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

18And Jesus walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishers).

19And he saith to them: Come ye after me, and I will make you to be fishers of men.

20And they immediately leaving their nets, followed him.

21And 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.

22And they forthwith left their nets and father, and followed him.

23And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom: and healing all manner of sickness and every infirmity, among the people.

24And his fame went throughout all Syria, and they presented to him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and such as were possessed by devils, and lunatics, and those that had the palsy, and he cured them:

25And much people followed him from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

Reflection for Today

Matthew Chapter 4 contributes to the biblical theme of Jesus as the fulfillment of Jewish hopes, which Catholic teaching develops throughout the Catechism. Matthew shows Christ as the new Moses and true Israel (CIC 577). The enduring truth that All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me calls us to response.

The Second Vatican Council's Dei Verbum teaches that "Sacred Scripture is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit" (DV 9). This chapter, like all Scripture, is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness.

Catholic tradition encourages daily engagement with Scripture, whether through the Liturgy of the Hours, personal reading, or group study. The Catechism teaches that "prayer should accompany the reading of Sacred Scripture, so that a dialogue takes place between God and man" (CIC 2653). May your reading of this chapter be a true encounter with the living God.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

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