Matthew 4

Jesus is now driven by God's Spirit into the desert, where he is tempted by the devil. Deserts are considered places of wandering and spiritual vulnerability (and the possibility of spiritual growth.) The devil makes three challenges to "be like God." This was the sin of Adam and Eve. Jesus, unlike Adam and Eve, turns the devil down. The devil is a person, not equal to God, but who tempts or deceives faithful people, usually with rationalizations to dump God and run their own life.

Jesus goes on to teach. Matthew wants Jewish Christians to believe in Jesus, so he often casts Jesus as a rabbi (teacher) in the best Jewish tradition. The beginning of Jesus' teaching time is seen by Matthew as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy that a new era will someday come. Jesus inaugurates the new era. Jesus preaches (teaches) that the Kingdom of Heaven is now coming. The KOH is not a place but is life the way God intended it to be. This life was impossible for us to achieve/experience until Jesus paved the way.

Jesus calls disciples or followers. He asks them (us) to follow him. In other words, do what he does and says. Notice their eagerness to follow.

Jesus also heals. Healing is a sign to Matthew that Jesus has the power of God with him. Healing is a fruit of a faithful person. Demons could be all sorts of mental illnesses. Notice, Jesus starts out teaching in synagogues.