Matthew 4 : Easy-to-Read Version
The Temptation of Jesus (Mk. 1:12-13; Lk. 4:1-13)
4 1Then the Spirit* led Jesus into the desert. Jesus was taken there to be tempted by the devil. 2Jesus ate nothing for 40 days and nights. After this, he was very hungry. 3The devil came to Jesus to tempt him. The devil said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these rocks to become bread." 4Jesus answered him, "It is written [in the Scriptures*], 'It is not just bread that keeps people alive. People's lives depend on what God says.'" Deuteronomy 8:3
5Then the devil led Jesus to the holy city (Jerusalem). The devil put Jesus on a very high place on the temple.* 6The devil said, "If you are the Son of God, jump off. Why? Because it is written [in the Scriptures*], 'God will command his angels for you, and their hands will catch you, so that you will not hit your foot on a rock.'" Psalm 91:11-12
7Jesus answered him, "It also says [in the Scriptures*], 'You must not test (doubt) the Lord your God.'" Deuteronomy 6:16
8Then the devil led Jesus to the top of a very high mountain. The devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, and all the great things that are in those kingdoms. 9The devil said, "If you will bow down and worship me, I will give you all these things." 10Jesus said to the devil, "Go away from me, Satan! It is written [in the Scriptures*], 'You must worship the Lord your God. Serve only him!'" Deuteronomy 6:13
11So the devil left Jesus. And then some angels came to Jesus and helped him.
Jesus Begins His Work in Galilee (Mk. 1:14-15; Lk. 4:14-15)
12Jesus heard that John was put in prison. So Jesus went back to Galilee. 13Jesus did not stay in Nazareth. He went and lived in Capernaum, a town near the lake (Lake Galilee). Capernaum is in the area near Zebulun and Naphtali. 14Jesus did this to make happen what the prophet* Isaiah said: 15"[Look at] the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the lands by the road that goes to the sea, the area past the Jordan River-- Galilee, the land where non-Jewish people live. 16Those people live in darkness (sin), but they have seen a great light; the light has come for those people that live in the land that is dark like a grave." Isaiah 9:1-2
17From that time Jesus began to tell people [what God wanted]. This is what he said: "Change your hearts and lives, because the kingdom of heaven is coming soon."
Jesus Chooses Some Followers (Mk. 1:16-20; Lk. 5:1-11)
18Jesus was walking by Lake Galilee. He saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Simon's brother Andrew. The two brothers were fishermen and they were fishing in the lake with a net. 19Jesus said, "Come follow me. I will make you [a different kind of] fishermen. You will work to gather people, [not fish]." 20Simon and Andrew left their nets and followed Jesus. 21Jesus continued walking by Lake Galilee. He saw two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee. They were preparing their nets to catch fish. Jesus told the brothers to come with him. 22So the brothers left the boat and their father, and they followed Jesus.
Jesus Teaches and Heals People (Lk. 6:17-19)
23Jesus went everywhere in the country of Galilee. Jesus taught in the synagogues* and told the Good News about the kingdom of heaven. And Jesus healed all the people's diseases and sicknesses. 24The news about Jesus spread all over Syria. And people brought all the sick people to Jesus. These sick people were suffering from different kinds of diseases and pain. Some people were suffering with very bad pain, some people had demons* inside them, some people were epileptics,* and some people were paralyzed (crippled). Jesus healed all these people. 25Many, many people followed Jesus. These people were from Galilee, the Ten Towns,* Jerusalem, Judea, and the area across the Jordan River.
Spirit, Holy Spirit Also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Comforter. Joined with God and Christ, he does God's work among people in the world. Scriptures Holy Writings--the Old Testament. temple The special building in Jerusalem for Jewish worship. prophet A person that spoke for God. Sometimes a prophet told things that would happen in the future. synagogue(s) Synagogues were places where Jews gathered for prayer, study of the Scriptures, and other public meetings. demon(s) Demons are evil spirits from the devil. epileptics People with a sickness that causes them sometimes to lose control of their bodies. Ten Towns Greek, "Decapolis," an area on the east side of Lake Galilee. It once had ten main towns.