Matthew 4:1-17

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted^[a] by the devil.

2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’^[b] ”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.

6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’^[c] ”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’^[d] ”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.

9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’^[e] ”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Jesus Begins to Preach

12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee.

13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—

14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”^[f]

17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Cross References

• 1. Hebrews 4:15
• 2. Genesis 3:1-7
• 3. Exodus 34:28; 1 Kings 19:8
• 4. 1 Thessalonians 3:5
• 5. S Matthew 3:17; Matthew 14:33; Matthew 16:16; Matthew 27:54; Mark 3:11; Luke 1:35; Luke 22:70; John 1:34,49; John 5:25; John 11:27; John 20:31; Acts 9:20; Romans 1:4; 1Jn 5:10-13,20; Revelation 2:18
• 6. Deuteronomy 8:3; John 4:34
• 7. Nehemiah 11:1; Daniel 9:24; Matthew 27:53
• 8. S ver 3
• 9. Psalms 91:11,12
• 10. Deuteronomy 6:16
• 11. 1 Chronicles 21:1; Job 1:6-9; Matthew 16:23; Mark 4:15; Luke 10:18; Luke 13:16; Luke 22:3,31; Romans 16:20; 2 Corinthians 2:11; 2 Corinthians 11:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 12:9
• 12. Deuteronomy 6:13
• 13. James 4:7
• 14. Matthew 26:53; Luke 22:43; Hebrews 1:14
• 15. Matthew 14:3
• 16. Mark 1:14
• 17. Mark 1:21; Mark 9:33; Luke 4:23,31; John 2:12; John 4:46,47
• 18. S Matthew 1:22
• 19. Isaiah 9:1,2; Luke 2:32; Jn 1:4,5,9
• 20. S Matthew 3:2

Footnotes

• [a] The Greek for "tempted" can also mean "tested" .
• [b] Deut. 8:3
• [c] Psalm 91:11,12
• [d] Deut. 6:16
• [e] Deut. 6:13
• [f] Isaiah 9:1,2