The Gospel According to St. Matthew

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- Chapter 4 -

(Mark 1:12–13; Luke 4:1–13)

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert, in order to be tempted by the devil.

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

And approaching, the tempter said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

And in response he said, “It has been written: ‘Not by bread alone shall man live, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

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

and said to him: “If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down. For it has been written: ‘For he has given charge of you to his angels, and they shall take you into their hands, lest perhaps you may hurt your foot against a stone.’ ”

Jesus said to him, “Again, it has been written: ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”

Again, the devil took him up, onto a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory,(a)

and said to him, “All these things I will give to you, if you will fall down and adore me.”

Then Jesus said to him: “Go away, Satan. For it has been written: ‘You shall adore the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ ”

Then the devil left him. And behold, Angels approached and ministered to him.

Jesus Begins His Ministry

(Isaiah 9:1–7; Mark 1:14–15; Luke 4:14–15)

And when Jesus had heard that John had been handed over, he withdrew into Galilee.

And leaving behind the city of Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, near the sea, at the borders of Zebulun and of Naphtali,

in order to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way of the sea across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles:

A people who were sitting in darkness have seen a great light. And unto those sitting in the region of the shadow of death, a light has risen.”

From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say: “Repent. For the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.”

The First Disciples

(Mark 1:16–20; Luke 5:1–11; John 1:35–42)

And Jesus, walking near the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen).

And he said to them: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

And at once, leaving behind their nets, they followed him.

And continuing on from there, he saw another two brothers, James of Zebedee, and his brother John, in a ship with their father Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them.

And immediately, leaving their nets and their father behind, they followed him.

Jesus Heals the Multitudes

(Mark 3:7–12; Luke 6:17–19)

And Jesus traveled throughout all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every infirmity among the people.

And reports of him went out to all of Syria, and they brought to him all those who had maladies, those who were in the grasp of various sicknesses and torments, and those who were in the hold of demons, and the mentally ill, and paralytics. And he cured them.(b)

And a great crowd followed him from Galilee, and from the Ten Cities, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from across the Jordan.

Footnotes

(a)4:8 Showed him, etc:That is, pointed out to him where each kingdom lay; and set forth in words what was most glorious and admirable in each of them. Or also set before his eyes, as it were in a large map, a lively representation of all those kingdoms.(Challoner)

(b)4:24 The word ‘lunaticos’ refers to the mentally ill, who were thought to be affected by the phases of the moon. In some contexts, it may also refer to epileptics. Although we today distinguish between mental illness and epilepsy, they are both illnesses affecting the brain or mind.(Conte)

(Mark 1:12–13; Luke 4:1–13)

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward.

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

But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of God’s mouth.’” (a)

Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple,

and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’”(b)

Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’” (c)

Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, (d) Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’” (e)

Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him.

Jesus Begins His Ministry

(Isaiah 9:1–7; Mark 1:14–15; Luke 4:14–15)

Now when Jesus heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee.

Leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,

that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,

“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,

the people who sat in darkness saw a great light; to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has dawned.”(f)

From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

The First Disciples

(Mark 1:16–20; Luke 5:1–11; John 1:35–42)

Walking by the sea of Galilee, he

(g)

saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.

He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.”

They immediately left their nets and followed him.

Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them.

They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.

Jesus Heals the Multitudes

(Mark 3:7–12; Luke 6:17–19)

Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.

The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them.

Great multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan followed him.

Footnotes

(a)4:4 ℘ Deuteronomy 8:3

(b)4:6 ℘ Psalms 91:11-12

(d)4:10 TR and NU read “Go away” instead of “Get behind me”

(e)4:10 ℘ Deuteronomy 6:13

(f)4:16 ℘ Isaiah 9:1-2

(g)4:18 TR reads “Jesus” instead of “he”