Matthew 4: The King’s Testing

MATTHEW 4 STRUCTURE
    │
    ├─ vv. 1-11   TEMPTATION → Testing the Son
    │   ├─► Spirit leads Jesus to wilderness
    │   ├─► 40 days fasting
    │   ├─► Three temptations from Satan
    │   ├─► Jesus responds with Scripture (Deuteronomy)
    │   └─► Satan leaves, angels minister
    │
    ├─ vv. 12-17  MINISTRY LAUNCH → Fulfilling Prophecy
    │   ├─► John arrested, Jesus withdraws to Galilee
    │   ├─► Settles in Capernaum
    │   ├─► Fulfills Isaiah 9:1-2 (light in darkness)
    │   └─► Preaches: "Repent, kingdom of heaven is near"
    │
    ├─ vv. 18-22  CALLING DISCIPLES → Immediate Response
    │   ├─► Calls Peter and Andrew (fishermen)
    │   ├─► "Follow me, I'll make you fishers of men"
    │   ├─► They leave nets immediately
    │   ├─► Calls James and John (also fishermen)
    │   └─► They leave boat and father immediately
    │
    └─ vv. 23-25  KINGDOM POWER → Teaching and Healing
        ├─► Teaching in synagogues
        ├─► Proclaiming gospel of kingdom
        ├─► Healing every disease and sickness
        └─► Fame spreads, crowds follow from everywhere

WHAT PROVES THE SON'S IDENTITY?
    │
    ├─ SATAN'S TEST (vv. 1-11):
    │   └─► Use your power for:
    │       ├─ Self-provision (bread)
    │       ├─ Self-validation (temple jump)
    │       └─ Self-exaltation (kingdoms)
    │           │
    │           └─► Shortcuts that bypass the cross
    │
    ├─ JESUS' RESPONSE:
    │   └─► Trust Father's provision
    │       Trust Father's timing
    │       Worship Father alone
    │       │
    │       └─► Obedience, not shortcuts
    │
    └─ THE PATTERN:
        └─► Where Israel failed (40 years in wilderness)
            Jesus succeeds (40 days in wilderness)
            │
            └─► True Sonship = Faithful obedience
                Using only Scripture
                Trusting Father completely

THE SETUP (v. 1)
    │
    └─► "Then Jesus was LED BY THE SPIRIT into the wilderness
         to be TEMPTED by the devil"
        │
        ├─ AGENT: "Led by the Spirit"
        │   └─► ἀνήχθη (anēchthē) — "was led up, brought up"
        │       Passive voice = Spirit is the actor
        │       │
        │       └─► This isn't Satan's ambush
        │           This is PLANNED testing
        │           Father's design
        │
        ├─ LOCATION: "Wilderness"
        │   └─► Same wilderness John baptized in
        │       Desert, isolated, harsh
        │       │
        │       └─► ECHOES: Israel in wilderness (40 years)
        │           Jesus = New Israel
        │           Will He succeed where they failed?
        │
        └─ PURPOSE: "To be tempted"
            │
            └─► πειρασθῆναι (peirasthēnai)
                "To be tested, tried, tempted"
                │
                ├─ BY: The devil (διάβολος, diabolos)
                │   └─► "Slanderer, accuser, adversary"
                │       Same tempter from Garden (Gen 3)
                │
                └─► WHY TEST JESUS?
                    │
                    ├─ Prove His faithfulness
                    ├─ Demonstrate obedience
                    └─► Show He's qualified to be Savior
                        │
                        └─► If He can't resist temptation,
                            He can't save us FROM temptation

"AFTER FASTING FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS" (v. 2)
    │
    ├─ DURATION: 40 days and nights
    │   └─► Not arbitrary
    │       SYMBOLIC number
    │       │
    │       └─► Biblical 40s:
    │           │
    │           ├─ Moses: 40 days on Mt. Sinai (Ex 34:28)
    │           ├─ Elijah: 40 days to Mt. Horeb (1 Kings 19:8)
    │           ├─ Israel: 40 years in wilderness (Num 14:33-34)
    │           └─► Testing period, preparation time
    │
    ├─ FASTING:
    │   └─► νηστεύσας (nēsteusas) — "having fasted"
    │       No food for 40 days
    │       │
    │       └─► Physical weakness
    │           Human limitation exposed
    │           │
    │           └─► Sets up first temptation
    │
    └─ RESULT: "He was hungry"
        │
        └─► Understatement
            Not "a bit peckish"
            STARVING
            │
            └─► Maximum physical vulnerability
                Perfect time for Satan to strike

THE TEMPTATION (v. 3)
    │
    └─► "If you are the Son of God,
         tell these STONES to become BREAD"
        │
        ├─ "IF you are the Son of God"
        │   └─► εἰ υἱὸς εἶ τοῦ θεοῦ (ei huios ei tou theou)
        │       │
        │       ├─ NOT questioning IF (doubt)
        │       └─► IS: "Since you are" (condition assumed)
        │           │
        │           └─► Satan knows who Jesus is
        │               He's not doubting identity
        │               He's testing WHAT Jesus will do
        │                   with that identity
        │
        ├─ "Tell these STONES to become BREAD"
        │   └─► The appeal:
        │       │
        │       ├─ You're HUNGRY
        │       ├─ You HAVE the power
        │       └─► Why not USE it?
        │           │
        │           └─► Legitimate need (food)
        │               Legitimate power (Son of God)
        │               │
        │               └─► So what's wrong?
        │
        └─► THE ISSUE:
            │
            └─► Using divine power for SELF-PROVISION
                Instead of TRUSTING FATHER
                │
                ├─ Circumvent Father's provision
                ├─ Act independently
                └─► Satisfy self, not wait on God
                    │
                    └─► Seems small, but it's huge:
                        Will Jesus trust Father
                        even when starving?

"IT IS WRITTEN" (v. 4)
    │
    └─► γέγραπται (gegraptai) — "it stands written"
        Perfect tense = permanent authority
        │
        └─► Quotes Deuteronomy 8:3
            │
            "Man shall not live on BREAD ALONE,
             but on EVERY WORD that comes from
             the mouth of God"
            │
            ├─ CONTEXT (Deut 8:3):
            │   └─► Israel in wilderness
            │       God provided manna
            │       Teaching: Depend on God's word
            │       Not just physical provision
            │
            └─► JESUS' POINT:
                │
                └─► Life sustained by MORE than bread
                    │
                    ├─ Physical food = temporary
                    └─► God's word = eternal sustenance
                        │
                        └─► "EVERY WORD from God's mouth"
                            │
                            ├─ Father hasn't told Jesus
                            │   to make bread
                            │
                            └─► Therefore: WAIT
                                Trust Father's provision
                                Don't act independently
                                │
                                └─► Obedience > Appetite

THE SETUP (v. 5)
    │
    └─► "Then the devil took him to the holy city
         and had him stand on the HIGHEST POINT of the temple"
        │
        ├─ LOCATION: Jerusalem ("holy city")
        │   └─► The religious center
        │       Most sacred place
        │
        └─ POSITION: "Highest point of the temple"
            │
            └─► πτερύγιον (pterygion) — "pinnacle, highest point"
                Likely southeast corner
                450-foot drop to Kidron Valley below
                │
                └─► Public, dramatic, visible
                    Perfect stage for a sign

"IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD, THROW YOURSELF DOWN" (v. 6)
    │
    ├─ Same "IF" as before
    │   └─► "Since you are the Son..."
    │       Not doubting, testing
    │
    ├─ THE COMMAND: "Throw yourself down"
    │   └─► βάλε σεαυτὸν κάτω (bale seauton katō)
    │       "Cast yourself down"
    │       │
    │       └─► Spectacular leap
    │           Public demonstration
    │           Undeniable proof
    │
    └─ THE JUSTIFICATION: Satan quotes SCRIPTURE
        │
        └─► Psalm 91:11-12
            "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"
            │
            ├─ Satan's logic:
            │   └─► Scripture promises protection
            │       You're the Son of God
            │       THEREFORE: Jump!
            │       Angels will save you
            │       Prove your identity
            │
            └─► THE APPEAL:
                │
                ├─ Validate yourself publicly
                ├─ Remove all doubt
                └─► Force God's hand
                    │
                    └─► If God's word is true,
                        He MUST save you

THE PROBLEM
    │
    └─► Not TESTING God's word
        TESTING God Himself
        │
        ├─ God WILL keep His promises
        │   └─► In HIS timing
        │       For HIS purposes
        │       Not on DEMAND
        │
        └─► This is PRESUMPTION
            │
            └─► Creating situation REQUIRING rescue
                To PROVE God will act
                │
                └─► Manipulating God
                    Demanding proof
                    Testing faithfulness

"IT IS ALSO WRITTEN" (v. 7)
    │
    └─► πάλιν γέγραπται (palin gegraptai)
        "Again it stands written"
        │
        └─► Quotes Deuteronomy 6:16
            │
            "Do not PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST"
            │
            ├─ CONTEXT (Deut 6:16):
            │   └─► Israel at Massah (Ex 17:1-7)
            │       No water in desert
            │       They DEMANDED: "Is God with us or not?"
            │       │
            │       └─► Tested God = Demanded proof
            │           Instead of trusting
            │
            └─► JESUS' POINT:
                │
                └─► Scripture interprets Scripture
                    │
                    ├─ Yes, God promises protection (Ps 91)
                    └─► But NO, don't test Him (Deut 6:16)
                        │
                        └─► Difference:
                            │
                            ├─ FAITH: Trusts without proof
                            └─► PRESUMPTION: Demands proof
                                │
                                └─► Jesus won't manipulate Father
                                    Won't force His hand
                                    Will trust WITHOUT spectacular sign

THE SETUP (v. 8)
    │
    └─► "Again, the devil took him to a VERY HIGH MOUNTAIN
         and showed him ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD
         and their SPLENDOR"
        │
        ├─ LOCATION: "Very high mountain"
        │   └─► Symbolic viewpoint
        │       Comprehensive vision
        │
        └─ THE VISION: "All kingdoms... and their splendor"
            │
            └─► πάσας τὰς βασιλείας... καὶ τὴν δόξαν
                "All the kingdoms... and the glory"
                │
                ├─ Political power
                ├─ Wealth, prestige
                └─► Everything humanity values
                    │
                    └─► This IS Jesus' mission goal
                        He came to RECLAIM kingdoms
                        Establish God's rule
                        │
                        └─► So Satan offers shortcut

"ALL THIS I WILL GIVE YOU IF YOU WILL BOW DOWN
 AND WORSHIP ME" (v. 9)
    │
    ├─ THE OFFER: "All this I will give you"
    │   └─► Every kingdom
    │       All authority
    │       Complete dominion
    │       │
    │       └─► Satan's claim:
    │           "I can give this"
    │           │
    │           └─► IS IT TRUE?
    │               │
    │               ├─ Yes, partially (Luke 4:6)
    │               │   └─► Satan = "god of this world" (2 Cor 4:4)
    │               │       "Prince of this world" (John 12:31)
    │               │       Adam's abdicated authority
    │               │       Now under Satan's control
    │               │
    │               └─► But LIMITED:
    │                   God still sovereign
    │                   Satan's time limited
    │
    └─ THE CONDITION: "If you will bow down and worship me"
        │
        └─► προσκυνήσῃς μοι (proskynēsēs moi)
            "Worship me, bow to me"
            │
            └─► One act of worship
                │
                ├─ Skip the cross
                ├─ Avoid the suffering
                └─► Get the kingdoms NOW
                    │
                    └─► THE APPEAL:
                        │
                        └─► Your goal = kingdoms
                            I offer = kingdoms
                            │
                            ├─ Legitimate goal
                            └─► Illegitimate means
                                │
                                └─► Worship Satan = Get results
                                    Without suffering
                                    Without waiting

THE CHOICE
    │
    ├─ SATAN'S WAY:
    │   └─► Glory WITHOUT suffering
    │       Crown WITHOUT cross
    │       Kingdoms WITHOUT sacrifice
    │       │
    │       └─► One bow → Everything
    │
    └─ FATHER'S WAY:
        └─► Suffering → Glory
            Cross → Crown
            Death → Resurrection
            │
            └─► Obedience → Everything
                │
                └─► Which path will Jesus take?

"AWAY FROM ME, SATAN!" (v. 10)
    │
    └─► Ὕπαγε, Σατανᾶ (Hypage, Satana)
        "Get behind me, Satan"
        │
        ├─ IMMEDIATE rejection
        │   └─► No consideration
        │       No negotiation
        │       INSTANT refusal
        │
        └─► "FOR IT IS WRITTEN"
            │
            └─► Quotes Deuteronomy 6:13
                │
                "WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD,
                 and SERVE HIM ONLY"
                │
                ├─ CONTEXT (Deut 6:13):
                │   └─► First commandment
                │       No other gods
                │       Exclusive worship
                │
                └─► JESUS' POINT:
                    │
                    └─► Non-negotiable principle
                        │
                        ├─ WORSHIP = God alone
                        ├─ SERVICE = God alone
                        └─► NO exceptions
                            │
                            └─► Not even for:
                                ├─ Good goals
                                ├─ Quick results
                                └─► Avoiding suffering
                                    │
                                    └─► The END doesn't justify
                                        MEANS that violate worship

"THEN THE DEVIL LEFT HIM" (v. 11)
    │
    ├─ Satan's departure
    │   └─► ἀφίησιν αὐτόν (aphiēsin auton)
    │       "Leaves him, lets him go"
    │       │
    │       └─► Temporary retreat
    │           Luke 4:13: "Until an opportune time"
    │           │
    │           └─► Satan will return:
    │               Gethsemane, Golgotha
    │               But Jesus will win there too
    │
    └─► "AND ANGELS CAME AND ATTENDED HIM"
        │
        └─► διηκόνουν (diēkonoun) — "ministered to, served"
            │
            ├─ Physical care (food, strength)
            ├─ Spiritual encouragement
            └─► Heavenly reinforcement
                │
                └─► PATTERN:
                    │
                    ├─ Test completed
                    ├─ Victory won
                    └─► Now: provision comes
                        │
                        └─► Father provides AFTER obedience
                            Not before
                            Not during demand
                            AFTER faithful trust

JESUS DEFEATS SATAN USING
    │
    ├─ Scripture ONLY
    │   └─► Three temptations
    │       Three "It is written" responses
    │       │
    │       └─► The sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17)
    │           Word of God = weapon
    │
    ├─ Father's WILL
    │   └─► Refuses shortcuts
    │       Trusts Father's timing
    │       │
    │       └─► Obedience > Comfort
    │           Obedience > Proof
    │           Obedience > Glory
    │
    └─► NO other power demonstrated
        │
        └─► Not miracles
            Not angelic armies
            Just SCRIPTURE
            │
            └─► Pattern for US:
                We fight same way
                Same weapon
                Same trust

THE TRANSITION (vv. 12-13)
    │
    ├─ v. 12: "When Jesus heard that JOHN HAD BEEN PUT IN PRISON"
    │   └─► παρεδόθη (paredothē) — "was handed over, betrayed"
    │       │
    │       └─► Herod Antipas arrested John (ch. 14)
    │           John's ministry ending
    │           Jesus' ministry beginning
    │           │
    │           └─► Torch passed
    │
    └─ "He WITHDREW to Galilee"
        │
        └─► ἀνεχώρησεν (anechōrēsen) — "withdrew, departed"
            │
            ├─ NOT: Cowardice
            │   └─► Strategic repositioning
            │       Father's timing
            │
            └─ GALILEE:
                │
                └─► Northern region
                    Away from Jerusalem's scrutiny
                    Mixed population (Jews + Gentiles)
                    │
                    └─► "Galilee of the Gentiles" (v. 15)
                        Despised region
                        Perfect place for light

"LEAVING NAZARETH, HE WENT AND LIVED IN CAPERNAUM" (v. 13)
    │
    ├─ LEAVING: Nazareth (hometown)
    │   └─► Where He grew up
    │       But rejected there (Luke 4:16-30)
    │       │
    │       └─► "Prophet without honor in hometown"
    │
    └─ SETTLING: Capernaum
        │
        └─► Καφαρναούμ (Kapharnaoum)
            │
            ├─ Fishing village on Sea of Galilee
            ├─ Trade route location
            ├─ Peter's hometown
            └─► Ministry headquarters
                │
                └─► "By the lake"
                    Accessible, active, strategic

"TO FULFILL WHAT WAS SAID THROUGH ISAIAH" (vv. 14-16)
    │
    └─► Isaiah 9:1-2
        │
        "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
         the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
         Galilee of the Gentiles—
         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"
        │
        ├─ ORIGINAL CONTEXT (Isaiah 9:1-2):
        │   └─► Written ~700 BC
        │       Assyrian invasion devastated north
        │       Zebulun, Naphtali first conquered (722 BC)
        │       Darkness = judgment, exile, oppression
        │       │
        │       └─► But promise: LIGHT coming
        │           Future hope
        │
        └─ MATTHEW'S FULFILLMENT:
            │
            └─► Jesus = the LIGHT
                │
                ├─ "People living in DARKNESS"
                │   └─► σκότει (skotei) — darkness
                │       │
                │       ├─ Physical: Gentile territory
                │       ├─ Spiritual: Away from Jerusalem
                │       └─► Moral: Sin, oppression
                │
                ├─ "Shadow of DEATH"
                │   └─► σκιᾷ θανάτου (skia thanatou)
                │       Deepest darkness
                │       Hopelessness
                │
                └─ "GREAT LIGHT has dawned"
                    └─► φῶς μέγα (phōs mega)
                        │
                        └─► Not gradual improvement
                            SUDDEN breakthrough
                            Light DAWNED
                            │
                            └─► Jesus arrives = Light invades

"FROM THAT TIME ON JESUS BEGAN TO PREACH" (v. 17)
    │
    └─► Ἀπὸ τότε ἤρξατο (Apo tote ērxato)
        "From then He began"
        │
        └─► Official start of public ministry
            │
            └─► THE MESSAGE:
                │
                "REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN HAS COME NEAR"
                │
                └─► EXACT same message as John (3:2)
                    │
                    ├─ Continuity with John
                    └─► But Jesus = the King Himself
                        │
                        └─► John announced kingdom
                            Jesus BRINGS kingdom

PETER AND ANDREW (vv. 18-20)
    │
    ├─ SETTING (v. 18):
    │   └─► "As Jesus was WALKING beside the Sea of Galilee"
    │       │
    │       └─► Ordinary moment
    │           No fanfare
    │           Just walking
    │
    ├─ WHO HE SAW (v. 18):
    │   └─► "Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew"
    │       │
    │       ├─ PETER: Σίμων (Simōn)
    │       │   └─► Hebrew: Shim'on
    │       │       Name means "hearing"
    │       │       Later named "Peter" (rock) by Jesus
    │       │
    │       └─ ANDREW: Ἀνδρέας (Andreas)
    │           Name means "manly"
    │           Peter's brother
    │
    ├─ WHAT THEY WERE DOING (v. 18):
    │   └─► "Casting a NET into the lake,
    │        for they were FISHERMEN"
    │       │
    │       └─► ἀμφιβάλλοντας (amphiballontas)
    │           "Throwing a casting-net"
    │           │
    │           └─► Working
    │               Ordinary occupation
    │               Making a living
    │
    └─ THE CALL (v. 19):
        │
        └─► "COME, FOLLOW ME,
             and I will SEND you out
             to FISH FOR PEOPLE"
            │
            ├─ "COME, FOLLOW ME"
            │   └─► δεῦτε ὀπίσω μου (deute opisō mou)
            │       "Come after me, behind me"
            │       │
            │       └─► Rabbinic pattern:
            │           Students chose rabbis
            │           BUT: Jesus initiates
            │           │
            │           └─► Reversal:
            │               He calls, they follow
            │
            └─ "I will MAKE you FISHERS OF PEOPLE"
                └─► ποιήσω ὑμᾶς ἁλιεῖς ἀνθρώπων
                    (poiēsō hymas halieis anthrōpōn)
                    │
                    ├─ "I will MAKE" (ποιήσω)
                    │   └─► Not "you become"
                    │       I will TRANSFORM you
                    │       │
                    │       └─► Jesus does the making
                    │           Not self-improvement
                    │
                    └─ "Fishers of PEOPLE"
                        │
                        └─► Same skill, new target
                            Catching fish → Catching people
                            For dinner → For kingdom

"AT ONCE THEY LEFT THEIR NETS AND FOLLOWED HIM"
    │
    ├─ "AT ONCE"
    │   └─► εὐθέως (eutheōs) — "immediately, at once"
    │       │
    │       └─► No delay
    │           No hesitation
    │           Instant obedience
    │
    ├─ "LEFT their nets"
    │   └─► ἀφέντες (aphentes) — "leaving, abandoning"
    │       │
    │       └─► Nets = livelihood
    │           Source of income
    │           Family business
    │           │
    │           └─► They ABANDON it
    │               Total commitment
    │
    └─ "FOLLOWED Him"
        └─► ἠκολούθησαν (ēkolouthēsan) — "followed, accompanied"
            │
            └─► Physical following → Spiritual discipleship
                Not just walk behind
                BECOME disciples

THE SECOND PAIR (vv. 21-22)
    │
    ├─ WHO (v. 21):
    │   └─► "James son of Zebedee
    │        and his brother John"
    │       │
    │       ├─ JAMES: Ἰάκωβος (Iakōbos)
    │       │   Hebrew: Ya'akov (Jacob)
    │       │
    │       └─ JOHN: Ἰωάννης (Iōannēs)
    │           Later writes Gospel, 3 letters, Revelation
    │
    ├─ WHERE (v. 21):
    │   └─► "In a boat with their father Zebedee"
    │       │
    │       └─► Family business
    │           Father present
    │           Established operation
    │
    ├─ WHAT (v. 21):
    │   └─► "Preparing their nets"
    │       │
    │       └─► καταρτίζοντας (katartizontas)
    │           "Mending, repairing, preparing"
    │           │
    │           └─► Maintenance work
    │               Daily routine
    │
    ├─ THE CALL (v. 21):
    │   └─► "Jesus called them"
    │       │
    │       └─► ἐκάλεσεν (ekalesen) — "called, summoned"
    │           Same authority as first pair
    │           Same invitation
    │
    └─ THE RESPONSE (v. 22):
        │
        └─► "IMMEDIATELY they left the boat
             and their FATHER and FOLLOWED him"
            │
            ├─ "IMMEDIATELY"
            │   └─► εὐθέως (eutheōs) again
            │       No hesitation
            │
            └─ "Left the boat and their FATHER"
                │
                └─► Even MORE costly:
                    │
                    ├─ Boat = business assets
                    ├─ Father = family obligation
                    └─► Zebedee left with nets to mend
                        │
                        └─► Family relationships subordinate
                            to Jesus' call

JESUS' CALL
    │
    ├─ INITIATIVE: He calls (not rabbis chosen)
    ├─ SIMPLE: "Follow me" (not complex requirements)
    ├─ TRANSFORMATIVE: "I will make you" (not self-effort)
    └─► IMMEDIATE: "At once" they respond
        │
        └─► No negotiation
            No conditions
            Total commitment

THE SUMMARY STATEMENT (v. 23)
    │
    └─► Three activities define Jesus' ministry:
        │
        ├─ TEACHING
        │   └─► διδάσκων (didaskōn) — "teaching"
        │       │
        │       └─► "In their synagogues"
        │           │
        │           ├─ Formal instruction
        │           ├─ Scripture exposition
        │           └─► Public, authoritative
        │
        ├─ PROCLAIMING
        │   └─► κηρύσσων (kēryssōn) — "preaching, proclaiming"
        │       │
        │       └─► "The GOOD NEWS of the kingdom"
        │           │
        │           └─► τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας
        │               (to euangelion tēs basileias)
        │               │
        │               ├─ εὐαγγέλιον = "good news, gospel"
        │               └─► Kingdom announced
        │                   God's rule breaking in
        │
        └─ HEALING
            └─► θεραπεύων (therapeuōn) — "healing, curing"
                │
                └─► "EVERY disease and sickness
                     among the people"
                    │
                    └─► πᾶσαν νόσον καὶ πᾶσαν μαλακίαν
                        (pasan noson kai pasan malakian)
                        │
                        ├─ πᾶσαν (pasan) = "every, all"
                        │   Used TWICE
                        │   Total, comprehensive healing
                        │
                        ├─ νόσον (noson) = "disease, illness"
                        └─ μαλακίαν (malakian) = "sickness, weakness"
                            │
                            └─► No exceptions
                                No failures
                                100% healing rate

WORD + DEED
    │
    ├─ WORD (Teaching + Preaching)
    │   └─► Announces kingdom
    │       Explains God's rule
    │       │
    │       └─► What kingdom IS
    │
    └─ DEED (Healing)
        └─► Demonstrates kingdom
            Proves God's power
            │
            └─► What kingdom DOES
                │
                └─► INTEGRITY:
                    Message matches power
                    Claims proven by action

FAME SPREADS (v. 24)
    │
    └─► "News about him spread ALL OVER SYRIA"
        │
        ├─ SYRIA: Entire region
        │   └─► Not just Galilee
        │       Provincial fame → Regional fame
        │
        └─ PEOPLE BROUGHT "all the sick"
            │
            └─► "Those suffering SEVERE PAIN"
                "The DEMON-POSSESSED"
                "Those having SEIZURES"
                "The PARALYZED"
                │
                └─► Every category of suffering:
                    │
                    ├─ Physical pain
                    ├─ Spiritual oppression
                    ├─ Neurological disorders
                    └─► Mobility issues
                        │
                        └─► "And he HEALED them"
                            │
                            └─► ἐθεράπευσεν (etherapeusen)
                                100% success rate
                                No failures recorded

CROWDS FOLLOW (v. 25)
    │
    └─► "Large crowds from GALILEE,
         the DECAPOLIS, JERUSALEM, JUDEA
         and the region ACROSS THE JORDAN followed him"
        │
        └─► Five regions listed:
            │
            ├─ Galilee (north, Jewish)
            ├─ Decapolis (east, Gentile cities)
            ├─ Jerusalem (center, religious capital)
            ├─ Judea (south, Jewish heartland)
            └─ Across Jordan (east, mixed)
                │
                └─► COMPREHENSIVE response
                    │
                    ├─ Jewish + Gentile
                    ├─ Religious + secular
                    └─► All drawn to Jesus

MATTHEW 4: THE QUALIFIED KING
    │
    ├─ TEMPTATION (vv. 1-11):
    │   ├─► Three tests, three victories
    │   ├─► Using Scripture alone
    │   ├─► Where Israel failed, Jesus succeeds
    │   └─► Proven: Faithful Son
    │       │
    │       └─► QUALIFICATION: Tested and approved
    │
    ├─ MINISTRY LAUNCH (vv. 12-17):
    │   ├─► Withdraws to Galilee
    │   ├─► Fulfills Isaiah 9 (light in darkness)
    │   └─► Preaches: "Repent, kingdom near"
    │       │
    │       └─► PROCLAMATION: Light invades darkness
    │
    ├─ CALLING DISCIPLES (vv. 18-22):
    │   ├─► Calls fishermen
    │   ├─► "Follow me"
    │   └─► Immediate, total response
    │       │
    │       └─► MISSION: Building team
    │
    └─ KINGDOM POWER (vv. 23-25):
        ├─► Teaching, preaching, healing
        ├─► Every disease healed
        └─► Crowds from everywhere follow
            │
            └─► DEMONSTRATION: Word + deed = kingdom

FROM TESTING TO MISSION
    │
    ├─ Identity declared (ch. 3:17)
    │   └─► "This is my Son"
    │
    ├─ Identity tested (4:1-11)
    │   └─► Wilderness temptations
    │       Proven faithful
    │
    └─ Mission launched (4:12-25)
        │
        └─► Teaching + Healing
            Calling + Demonstrating
            │
            └─► Qualified King → Active ministry

WHAT SATAN OFFERED
    │
    ├─ Bread: Satisfy legitimate hunger
    ├─ Temple: Prove you're God's Son (which is TRUE)
    └─ Kingdoms: Fulfill your mission (which He came to do)
        │
        └─► All GOOD goals
            All LEGITIMATE desires
            │
            └─► But accomplished through:
                │
                ├─ Independence (don't trust Father)
                ├─ Presumption (force God's hand)
                └─ Compromise (worship Satan)

WHAT JESUS DIDN'T USE
    │
    ├─ Theological arguments
    ├─ Philosophical reasoning
    ├─ Angelic reinforcements
    └─ Divine power display
        │
        └─► Just SCRIPTURE

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE
    │
    └─► Jesus modeled how WE fight
        │
        ├─ Not with powers we don't possess
        └─► With the weapon we DO have
            │
            └─► Word of God
                Memorized
                Applied
                Trusted

THE PATTERN
    │
    └─► Jesus = NEW Israel
        TRUE Son
        │
        └─► Where first son failed
            Second Son succeeds
            │
            └─► Adam failed → Jesus succeeded
                Israel failed → Jesus succeeded
                I fail → Jesus succeeds
                │
                └─► My hope: NOT my obedience
                    HIS perfect obedience

WHAT'S SHOCKING
    │
    ├─ No resume presentation
    ├─ No benefit package
    ├─ No job description
    └─ No "think about it"
        │
        └─► Just: "Follow me"
            And they do
            IMMEDIATELY

NORMAL RABBI-STUDENT
    │
    ├─ Student seeks rabbi
    ├─ Proves worthiness
    └─ Gets accepted
        │
        └─► Student initiative

JESUS' PATTERN
    │
    ├─ Jesus seeks students
    ├─ No qualifications required
    └─ Simple command: "Follow"
        │
        └─► Jesus' initiative
            │
            └─► Because He's NOT just a rabbi
                He's LORD

THE PATTERN
    │
    ├─ WORD (teaching/preaching)
    │   └─► "Kingdom of heaven is near"
    │       Claims authority
    │
    └─ DEED (healing)
        └─► Demonstrates authority
            Proves claims
            │
            └─► Integrity = Claims match power

WORD WITHOUT DEED
    │
    └─► Theology without power
        Knowledge without transformation
        │
        └─► "We teach the kingdom"
            But nothing changes

DEED WITHOUT WORD
    │
    └─► Power without truth
        Experience without foundation
        │
        └─► "We see miracles"
            But don't know why

JESUS' HEALING RECORD
    │
    └─► 100% success rate
        │
        ├─ No failures
        ├─ No "couldn't heal this one"
        └─► EVERY disease
            │
            └─► Why?
                │
                └─► Demonstrating:
                    Kingdom power is TOTAL
                    Not partial
                    Not "maybe"
                    COMPREHENSIVE

THE SEQUENCE
    │
    ├─ Ch 3: Identity declared
    │   └─► "This is my Son"
    │
    ├─ Ch 4:1-11: Identity tested
    │   └─► Wilderness proves faithfulness
    │
    └─ Ch 4:12-25: Mission launched
        └─► Teaching, healing, calling
            │
            └─► Proven King → Active ministry