Lesson # 4

Today’s Lesson is found in the Book of Matthew.

Please take out your Bible,.  and turn to the Book of Matthew.    Chapter #  4.    If you don’t have access to the Holy Bible in your language;.  you can access these passages on the website,. https://www.biblegateway.com.

In the King James Version of the Holy Bible,   Matthew Chapter 4,   verses 1-11,.   scripture tells us that immediately after Jesus was baptized,.  He was led by the spirit of God into the wilderness area of the Judean desert;.  where He fasted for forty days and forty nights.   During His fast,.  it is believed that He only consumed water.   Water does not affect insulin or blood sugar levels;.  so it does not break your fast.   Most people of that time lived on a diet of whole grains,. fruits,. vegetables,. beans,. herbs,. spices,. fish,. nuts, and olive oil.   The fact that Jesus fasted for exactly forty days is significant because it is the very same time period that elapsed between His resurrection from the dead;.  and His ascension into Heaven! (Diet Gurus are asking,.  what would Jesus eat? – Dr. Don Colbert – August 30,  2003 – L. A. Times Archives).

At the end of Jesus’ forty day fast,.  the devil knew that He was very hungry;.  so he tempted Him to turn stones into bread.   The devil was actually challenging Jesus Christ to disobey God;.  to use His Heavenly power as the Son of God to satisfy His hunger cravings.   But Jesus reminded the devil that man does not live by bread alone;.  but instead by God’s Holy word;.  as per the scriptures (Matthew Chapter 4,.  verses 1-11),.  (The Temptations of Jesus – Benedict Hegarty – goodnews.ie).

The devil then took Jesus to the highest point in the temple,.  and commanded Him to throw Himself down to the ground.   The devil assured Him that if He was indeed the Son of Man;.  that the angels of the Lord would break His fall;.  and keep Him safe from harm.   Jesus then rebuked the devil,.  and told him that one should not tempt the Lord thy God (Matthew Chapter 4,.  verses 1-11).

The devil then took Jesus to a high point near the top of the world,.  and told Him that he had been given the power and authority over all of the kingdoms of the Earth.   He tempted Jesus once again by offering Him all of these Earthly kingdoms for His glory and majesty;.  if He would only bow down and worship him.   But Jesus once again rejected the devil by telling him that one should worship,. honor,. serve,. and obey God;.  and Him only.   The devil then walked away from Jesus,.  unable to successfully tempt Him to disobey God.   And Jesus,.  now surrounded by the angels of the Lord;.  prepared to now start His ministry (Matthew Chapter 4,.  verses 1-11),.  (Lessons from the Temptation – Jesus Film Project,. a CRU ministry – Jesus film.org)

Jesus soon afterwards learned that his dear friend John the Baptist had been arrested and jailed on the order of Herod,.  the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea.   Herod had divorced his first wife,.  Phasaelis,.  of Nabatea;.  in order to marry Herodias;.  who had been formerly married to his half brother,.  Herod II.   Under Jewish law,.  this was considered to be incest.   So John the Baptist publicly rebuked Herod in front of his new wife,.  Herodias.   This angered her so much that she pressured Herod into putting John the Baptist in prison;.  in order to silence him.   So Jesus Christ left Nazareth,   the town where He grew up;  and headed for Capernaum,.  a small fishing village on the banks of the Sea of Galilee.   This remote area,.  known at the time as the Gennesarat area;.  would later become the headquarters of Jesus’ ministry.   This was foretold by the prophet Isaiah,.  who wrote in the Book of Isaiah,.  Chapter 9,.  verse 2:.  the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light:.  they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death,.  upon them hath the light shined (Matthew Chapter 4,.  verses 12-16),.  (Herodias – Wikipedia,.  en.m.wikipedia.org),.  (Capernaum – touristisrael.com).

Jesus Christ began His ministry along the banks of the Sea of Galilee,.  preaching a message of repentance.   Repentance is actually a self-cleansing  process by which we make things right with the Lord.     Once Almighty God makes us fully aware of what awful sins that we have committed;.  we need to be truly sorry for what we have done,.  turn away from repeating those very same sins;.  and do our best to try to make restitution to those whom we may have harmed through our past transgressions (Matthew Chapter 4.  verse 17),.  (4 Steps to Repentance – Dr. Laura Schlesinger and N.Y. Times Special Features – May 10,. 1998 – Chicago Tribune).

Scripture tells us that as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee,.  He met a fisherman named Simon Peter,.  and His brother Andrew.   After asking them to join His ministry,.  they both agreed to follow Him.   Then,.  as He continued to walk along the shoreline,.  He met two more brothers,   named James and John.   Both of them had been working as fishermen for their father,.  whose name was Zebedee.   Both brothers walked away from their fishing boats,.  and followed Jesus.   Simon Peter,. James,. and John were by far the closest disciples to Jesus Christ.   They were actually later chosen to be the inner three,.  whom Jesus found great favor with.   Jesus knew them well,.  and trusted them wholeheartedly.   Three three disciples were all present at the transfiguration of Jesus Christ up on Mount Tabor.   And when Jesus one day asked Simon Peter whom he thought that He was;.  Peter told Jesus that he believed that He was indeed the promised Messiah;.  the true Son of God! (Matthew Chapter 4,.  verses 18-22),.  (Mount Tabor – tourist Israel.com),.  (Unique Relationship With Jesus Christ,.  Jesus/Peter Relationship – Oct.11,. 2012 – News 24 Trusted News First – news24.com).

Scripture also tells us that Jesus,.  along with His four new disciples,.  went all throughout the towns and villages of Galilee;.  teaching in the synagogues,.  preaching about the Kingdom of Heaven,.  and healing the sick,. the blind,. the lame,. the demon possessed,. and many others who had various sicknesses and diseases.   And as Jesus,   with His four new disciples,  went about His ministry,.  His fame went out from Galilee to Syria,. Judea,. Jerusalem,. and all of the surrounding countryside;.  as news of His miraculous healing powers spread like wildfire throughout the entire region.   As a result,.  many people from far away places were now being brought into the area;.  in hopes of being healed by Jesus! (Matthew Chapter 4,   verses 23-25),.  (Teaching,. Preaching,. Healing,.  Church of Jesus Christ – Elder Jeffrey R. Holland – https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org),.  (Making Jesus Famous – The Relevant Gospel,.  March 5,. 2013,.  https://treclark.wordpress.com>ma).

          *******         Attention Students       *******

The multiple choice test for this chapter of the Bible,   and the answers to all of the questions;   are listed right below.   Feel free to take the test manually.   However,   if you would rather take it electronically,   simply click on the link below.  Then,  after you have completed the test;   hit the Submit button at the bottom,   and then click on the View Accuracy button;   to see how you did.  

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd4Mu4Z0PNbIHBlSsTYqKOsWNNg48PGwC1EeYmyCMsV6DUioA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Answers To Test Questions!

 1.   C.   2.   D.   3.   B.   4.   A.   5.   D.   6.   C.   7.   B   8.   D   9.   A   10.   B   11.   C   12.   A   13.   D    14.   C    15.   A   16.   C   17.   B   18.   B   19.   A   20.   D   21.   C   22.   A   23.   B   24.   D   25.   A   26.   C 

Test Questions!

1.     After Jesus was baptized,.   the Spirit of God led Him

A.   back to the temple

B.   back to Jerusalem

C.   to a wilderness area in the desert                                                                                                            

D.   to a friend’s house by the sea.

2.     After Jesus was baptized,.    He fasted for

A.   3 days

B.   7 days

C.   25 days

D.   40 days

3.    Most people of that time period lived on a diet of fruits,  vegetables,

A.   chicken,. meat,. and poultry

B.   whole grains,. beans,. and fish

C.   steak and lobster

D.   pork and beef

4.    When a person is fasting,.    the only thing that they can consume is

A.   water

B.   alcohol

C.   kosher food

D.   milk

5.    The devil first tempted Jesus to turn stones into

A.   weapons

B.   gem stones

C.   meat

D.   bread

6.    The devil then tempted Jesus to

A.   charm venumous snakes

B.   swim alongside alligators

C.   leap from the top of the temple

D.   sneak into a lion’s den

7.    The devil then offered Jesus power and authority over all of the kingdoms on Earth,    if He would just

A.   give him all of the tax money

B.   bow down and worship him

C.   build more temples

D.   provide more housing for the poor

8.     Jesus turned down all 3 temptations of the devil because 

A.   He needed more time to think it over

B.   He had been cheated before

C.   He was very tired,   and needed to rest

D.   All 3 offers went against God’s word

9.     After Jesus found out that John the Baptist had been put in jail,.    He went on to

A.   Capernaum

B.   Jerusalem

C.   Syria

D.   Egypt

10.     John the Baptist had been put in jail because he told Herod that it was unlawful for him to have            

A.   a mistress

B.   Herodias

C.   Phasaelis

D.   a hand maiden

11.     The Gennesarat area,.  on the banks of the Sea of Galilee,.    would eventually become

A.   deserted

B.   overrun with locusts

C.   the headquarters of Jesus’ministry

D.   the capital of Israel. 

12.     The prophet ________ predicted many years earlier,.    that this area;.  right beside the Sea of Galilee,.    and inhabited by people who dwell in the land of the shadow of death;.    would have a bright light shined upon them.   

A.   Isaiah

B.   Ezekiel

C.   Samuel

D.   Malachi

13.     Jesus Christ began His ministry along the banks of the Sea of Galilee,.    preaching a message of 

A.   retribution

B.   reincarnation

C.   mental alertness

D.   repentance

14.     Jesus told His followers that they need to be made fully aware of their sins,.    to be truly sorry that they have sinned,.  to turn away from repeating those same sins,.    and to reach out to all those whom they have harmed,    by

A.   inviting them to dinner

B.   worshipping with them

C.   making restitution to them

D.   helping them to raise their children as Christians

15.      Repentance is a  __________  process,    by which we make things right with the Lord

A.   self cleansing

B.   ritualistic

C.   long,. drawn out

D.   financially exhausting

16.     Jesus met Simon Peter and Andrew while walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee.     When He asked them to follow Him,.    they both told Him that

A.   they were just visiting relatives in the area,.    and they had to get back home

B.   they were too busy

C.   they would follow Him

D.   they were both retired

17.     Jesus then met James and John as He continued to walk along the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee.    James and John were

A.   from a very wealthy family

B.   brothers

C.   friends of John the Baptist

D.   teachers of the law

18.     James and John both walked away from their fishing boats because

A.   they wanted more money

B.   they wanted to follow Jesus

C.   they weren’t catching any fish

D.   they didn’t want to have to work on the Sabbath day.

19.     Zebedee was

A.   the Father of James and John

B.   a nephew of Jesus

C.   an itinerant preacher

D.   a prophet

20.     The 3 disciples who later became the inner three,   whom Jesus found great favor with;.    were James,.   John,.    and

A.   Matthew

B.   Phillip

C.   Judas

D.   Simon Peter

21.      These same 3 disciples were all present on Mount Tabor,.    at the   ________   of Jesus Christ    

                    A.   Birth

                    B.   Crucifixion

                    C.   Transfiguration

                    D.   Temptation

22.      Simon Peter told Jesus that he thought that He was

A.   the true Son of God

B.   a priest

C.   a prophet

D.   the King of Israel

23.      Jesus and His new disciples went all throughout the towns and villages of Galilee

A.   raising money to buy food

B.   preaching about the Kingdom of Heaven

C.   baptizing their followers

D.   looking for new disciples

24.      Jesus healed the sick,. the blind,. the lame,. the demon possessed,.   and many others who had various sicknesses and diseases

A.   in a doctor’s office

B.   in a local hospital

C.   in a sacred area of the temple

D.   as He came upon them

25.      As Jesus continued to perform miraculous healing upon those who were suffering,.    His fame spread like wildfire from Galilee to

A.   Syria,. Judea,. and Jerusalem

B.   All of Eastern Europe

C.   Greece,.   Rome,.   and parts of Africa

D.   The United States of America

26.      Many people from far away places were now being brought into the area to see Jesus,.    and to

A.   get His autograph

B.   interview Him for a local talk show

C.   be healed

D.   try to steal some of His secrets

Jesus,.   I come to you today with a heavy and troubled heart.    My life right now is a total mess.   So many things in my life have gone wrong.    So many of my plans and projects have resulted in failure.    At one time in my life,.   I had high hopes for the future;.   but now I am very hurt and very upset about how things actually turned out.  Jesus……Jesus…….,.  I need you right now.    I am disgusted with my life the way it is.   I have no real friends that I can count on,.   and I am depressed,.  disappointed,  dejected,.  and sorrowful.    But I do believe with all my heart that you can help me.  Jesus,.   I know that you love me so much that you willingly died on a wooden cross at Calvary for the full remission of all my sins.   I know that I am a sinner,.   and that the punishment for sin is death;.   but that you took my place on that cross at Calvary,.   so that just by my believing in you,.   and that you died for me;.   that I can have new life now,.   and one day go to be with you in Heaven for all eternity.   Jesus,.   I love you.    I need you.    Please come into my heart,.   right here,.   right now.   and wash away all my sins;    with the very same blood that you shed for me;.   on that old wooden cross at Calvary.   Jesus Christ of Nazareth,.   I accept you today as my Lord and Savior,.   and I will profess and proclaim your mighty name to everyone whom I meet.    Please fill me with your Holy Spirit,.   and help me to turn my life around.    I am so happy that you came into my life today……..  and thank you so very much for saving me from my sins!  Amen. 

References        (How to Seek the Presence of Jesus Christ in your Life – Religion,.  Christianity – April 27,  2022 – wikihow.com),.   (32 Inspirational Bible Verses About God’s Unconditional Love – What the Bible says about  God’s love for you prove that His love never wavers – Christy Pina and Corinne Sullivan – Dec. 7,.  2021- womansday.com),.  (What Happened at Calvary? – Like 23:.  39-49. – Pastor Bill Parker – rofgrace.com),.   (4 Bible Promises For When You Just Need To Cry:.   Jesus Help Me! – Janet Thompson – Jun. 25,   2020 – crosswalk.com),.  (What Does It Mean To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior? – Your Questions,.  Biblical Answers – gotquestions.org).

©  2022  Charles Spratt