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Matthew Chapter Four

 
The Temptation Of Jesus (4:1-11)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. One of the blessings of having Jesus as our Savior is His ability to
 comfort and aid those who are tempted...
 a. This is because He too was tempted - He 2:18
 b. He is sympathetic, and can provide mercy and grace to help in
 time of need - He 4:14-16
 
2. One of His greatest periods of temptation was at the beginning of
 His public ministry...
 a. Immediately following His baptism by John - Mt 3:13-17
 b. Just prior to starting His preaching ministry - Mt 4:12-17
 
3. Studying "The Temptation Of Jesus" can be fruitful for several
 reasons...
 a. It reminds us that Jesus can understand our own temptations
 b. It reveals how we can be more successful in overcoming temptation
 
[With that in mind and using Mt 4:1-11 as our basic text, let's begin
with...]
 
I. THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS REVIEWED
 
 A. THE SETTING OF THE TEMPTATIONS...
 1. Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness - Mt 4:1
 a. The same Spirit which descended upon Him in bodily form as
 dove - Mt 3:16; Lk 3:22
 b. It was likely the wilderness of Judea, a desolate place
 2. To be tempted by the devil - Mt 4:1
 a. It appears that this challenge was initiated by the Spirit
 b. For it was the Spirit who led Jesus to the wilderness for
 this purpose
 3. Where Jesus fasted and was tempted for forty days - Mt 4:2
 a. His fasting is reminiscent of Moses and Elijah - Exo 34:28;
 1 Ki 19:8
 b. Luke reveals that temptations occurred over the period of
 forty days - Lk 4:2
  c. Mark mentions wild beasts - Mk 1:13
 -- Thus it was after forty days of temptation that we find Satan
 approaching Jesus for a "climax" involving three particular
 temptations
 
 B. THE CLIMAX OF THE TEMPTATIONS...
 1. The first temptation - Mt 4:3-4
 a. Satan's appeal to the lust of the flesh
 1) Having fasted for forty days, Jesus was naturally hungry
 2) Challenging Jesus' identity, Satan appeals to His
 fleshly hunger: "command that these stones become bread"
 b. Jesus responds with Scripture
 1) Quoting Deu 8:3, "Man shall not live by bread alone..."
 2) There is more to life than just fulfilling physical 
 desires; man is dependent upon the Word of God to truly
 live!
 2. The second temptation - Mt 4:5-7
 a. Satan appeals to the pride of life
 1) Again challenging Jesus' identity, Satan sets Jesus on
 the pinnacle of the temple, tells Him to "throw Yourself
 down"
 2) Quoting scriptures himself, using Psa 91:11,12
 b. Jesus responds with Scripture
 1) Deu 6:16, "You shall not tempt the LORD your God"
 2) While the passage Satan quoted is true, it would be an
 abuse of it to purposely test God
 2. The third temptation - Mt 4:8-10
 a. Satan appeals to the lust of the eyes
 1) Taking Jesus to high mountain and showing Him the 
 kingdoms of the world
 2) Offering to give Jesus all the kingdoms if He will 
 worship Satan
 b. Jesus responds with Scripture
 1) Deu 6:13, "You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him
 only you shall serve"
 2) Though offered a shortcut to receiving power over the
 nations, Jesus does not take the easy path - cf. Re 2:
 26-27; 3:21
 
 C. AT THE END OF THE TEMPTATIONS...
 1. Angels came and ministered to Jesus - Mt 3:11
 a. Exactly what they did is not mentioned
 b. Perhaps they provided bodily nourishment (Hendricksen)
 2. This would not be the last time Satan would seek to tempt 
 Jesus - cf. Lk 4:13; Mt 16:21-23
 
[With forty days of overcoming temptation behind Him, especially the
temptation of taking a short cut to His rule as the Messiah, Jesus was
now prepared to begin His public ministry.
 
What observations might one make regarding "The Temptation Of Jesus"?
Here are a few...]
 
II. OBSERVATIONS FROM THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS
 
 A. WE HAVE THE SAME ADVERSARY...
 1. Jesus was tempted by the devil, and so are we - 1 Pe 5:8-9
 2. The devil now directs his attention towards the disciples of
 Christ - Re 12:17
 -- We should not treat him lightly, for the conflict is real! 
 - Ep 6:12
 
 B. WE HAVE SIMILAR TEMPTATIONS...
 1. The lust of the flesh - e.g., immorality, especially when 
 young
 2. The lust of the eyes - e.g., materialism, especially when 
 middle-aged
 3. The pride of life - e.g., pride and arrogance, especially when
 elderly
 -- These we must overcome, if we wish to have the love of the 
 Father - 1 Jn 2:15-16
 
 C. WE HAVE THE SAME TOOLS TO OVERCOME...
 1. Jesus appealed to the Word of God, and so can we - cf. Ep 6:17
 2. Jesus had faith in the plan of God (victory through 
 suffering), we need a similar shield of faith - Ep 6:16; cf.
 He 10:35-39
 3. Jesus undoubtedly prayed, for He taught us to use prayer in
 overcoming temptation - Mt 26:41
 -- The Word of God, faith, and prayer...against these the devil
 has no chance!
 
 D. WE HAVE SIMILAR BLESSINGS WHEN WE OVERCOME...
 1. Jesus was administered to by angels, angels will carry us home
 - cf. Lk 16:22
 2. Jesus received wonderful blessings when He ultimately overcame
 and ascended to heaven; He has promised similar blessings for
 us - cf. Re 2:10,26-27; 3:21
 
 E. WE CAN LEARN SOME IMPORTANT LESSONS...
 1. Material sustenance alone cannot truly satisfy, we need the
 spiritual sustenance from God's Word
 2. While we are to trust in the Lord, we should not foolishly
 tempt Him
 3. Scripture can easily be abused, as well as used - 2 Pe 3:16
 4. The way to glory is not quick and easy, but long and hard 
 - Ac 14:22; Ro 2:7
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. But perhaps the greatest lesson to glean from "The Temptation Of
 Jesus" is that we have a Savior who in all things was made like
 us...
 a. That He might be our merciful and faithful High Priest - He 2:17
 b. That having suffered, being tempted, He can aid us who are
 tempted - He 2:18
 c. That He might be sympathetic, providing mercy and grace to help
 in time of need - He 4:15-16
 
2. Are you burdened with temptations?
 a. Look to Jesus as your example in learning how to overcome
 temptation in your life!
 b. Look to Jesus as your High Priest when you need to approach God
 in prayer and receive mercy and grace for those times when you
 succumbed to temptation!
 
As in all things, look to Jesus, as the writer to Hebrews exhorts us...
 
 "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who 
 for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising
 the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of
 God.
 
 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against
 Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."
 
 - He 12:2-3
 
The Preaching Ministry Of Jesus (4:12-17)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. In Mt 4:12-17, we read of Jesus' public ministry in Galilee...
 a. Which followed the imprisonment of John the Baptist - Mt 4:12
 b. Which began at Capernaum, on the edge of the Sea of Galilee 
 - Mt 4:13
 c. Which fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah - Mt 4:14-16; Isa 9:1,2
 
2. His public ministry involved "preaching"...
 a. "From that time Jesus began to preach..." - Mt 4:17
 b. Compare also Mt 4:23, "Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in
 their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom..."
 
3. The word "preach" (Gr., kerux) means "to herald, to proclaim"...
 a. But what was the message Jesus was proclaiming?
 b. Is it a message that should be proclaimed today?
 
[In this study our focus will be on Mt 4:17, as we seek to understand
the message proclaimed by Jesus during His public ministry. From this
verse we learn first that...]
 
I. JESUS PREACHED REPENTANCE
 
 A. HE CALLED UPON PEOPLE TO REPENT...
 1. Just as John the Baptist did - Mt 3:2
 2. As Jesus would say later: "For I did not come to call the 
 righteous, but sinners, to repentance." - Mt 9:13
 
 B. WHAT DOES "REPENT" MEAN?
 1. Many people have misconceptions concerning repentance
 a. E.g., that repentance is "sorrow"
 1) But repentance is an outcome of sorrow - cf. 2 Co 7:9-10
 2) Sorrow leads to repentance; sorrow itself is not
 repentance!
 b. E.g., that repentance is "a changed life"
 1) Thinking that repentance is a converted life
 2) But repentance and conversion are two separate things 
 - cf. Ac 3:19
  a) Peter says "Repent therefore and be converted"
 b) If repentance means the same as conversion, then 
 Peter was redundant
 2. W. E. Vine defines "repentance" as:
 a. A "change of mind"
 b. That which "involves both a turning from sin and a turning
 to God"
 3. Repentance is thus "a change of mind" in which we DECIDE to
 "turn from sin and turn to God"
 a. Which is preceded by sorrow
 b. And followed by a changed life
 -- Jesus was therefore calling upon people to change their minds
 regarding sin, because of what He taught about the kingdom
 (more on that shortly)
 
 C. DOES REPENTANCE NEED TO BE PROCLAIMED TODAY?
 1. Most certainly!
 a. Repentance is to be preached in Jesus' name to all nations
 - Lk 24:46-47
 b. God now calls men everywhere to repent - Ac 17:30
 c. Thus Paul preached to both Jews and Gentiles that they 
 should repent - Ac 26:20
 2. Wherever there is sin, the message of repentance needs to be
 proclaimed!
 a. People need to be told to "change their minds" (repent)
 b. They need "turn to God, and do works befitting repentance"
 - cf. Ac 26:20; Mt 3:8
 -- Any gospel preaching that does not include a clarion call to
 repent is not the true gospel!
 
[In calling people to repent, Jesus proclaimed why they needed to 
change their minds and turn from sin to God: "for the kingdom of heaven
is at hand". This leads to our next point...]
 
II. JESUS PREACHED THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
 
 A. THIS WAS A MAJOR THEME OF HIS PREACHING...
 1. Just as it was with John the Baptist - Mt 3:2
 2. It was the focus of His itinerant ministry - Mt 4:23
 a. The theme of His Sermon on the Mount - Mt 5:3,10,19-20; 
 6:33; 7:21
 b. The theme of many of His parables - e.g., Mt 13:24,31,33,
 44,45,47
 3. It was the theme of the Limited Commission - Mt 10:7
 -- During this time, the kingdom of heaven was "at hand" (drawing
 near)
 
 B. WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN?
 1. It is the same thing as "the kingdom of God"
 a. Some try to make a distinction (e.g., Scofield Reference 
  Bible)
 b. But a quick comparison of the gospels indicate the terms
 refer to the same thing
 1) Cf. Mt 4:17 with Mk 1:14-15
 2) Cf. Mt 5:3 with Lk 6:20
 3) Cf. Mt 13:31 with Mk 4:30-31
 c. Matthew used the expression "kingdom of heaven" almost 
 exclusively, while the other gospel writers used the phrase
 "kingdom of God"
 d. It may be that since Matthew wrote his gospel to the Jews,
 he chose to use the phrase "kingdom of heaven"...
 1) Because of the Jews' reluctance to use the name of God
 (out of reverence)
 2) Because of the Jews' misconception of the coming kingdom
 a) Many anticipated a physical kingdom
 b) The expression "heaven" (literally, "heavens") would
 emphasize a spiritual kingdom
 2. The "kingdom of heaven" involves four inter-related concepts
 a. God's kingship, rule, or recognized sovereignty
 1) The term "kingdom" as used by the Jews often stressed
 the abstract idea of rule or dominion, not a 
 geographical area surrounded by physical boundaries
 2) It is used this way by Jesus in Mt 6:10 - "Your KINGDOM
 come; Your WILL be done..." (note the connection 
 between kingdom and will)
 -- Thus, the "kingdom of heaven" would involve the rule
 of heaven in the hearts of men
 b. This rule of heaven is spiritual in nature
 1) It is not a physical kingdom - cf. Jn 18:36
 2) But one that is spiritual - cf. Ro 14:17
 c. Its visible manifestation today is in the form of the
 Lord's church
  1) For the church is that community of souls in whose
 hearts God is recognized as Sovereign
 2) That the church constitutes the kingdom of God on earth,
 consider:
 a) How the term "church" and "kingdom" were used
 interchangeably - Mt 16:18
 b) Comments made to those who were in the church - Co 1:
 13; 1 Th 2:12
 c) The description of those in the churches of Asia
 - Re 1:4,6,9
 d. It has a future element as well as a present one
 1) Its future aspect is spoken of by Jesus, Paul, Peter 
 - Mt 25:34; 1 Co 15:50; 2 Ti 4:18; 2 Pe 1:10-11
 2) Peter described the coming of its future state in 2 Pe
 3:10-13
 3. Thus the "kingdom of heaven" today is both present and future
 a. In the present sense...
 1) It is found wherever the sovereignty of God is accepted
 in the hearts of men
  2) It is a spiritual kingdom, for God rules in the hearts
 of men
 3) Its outward manifestation today is the Lord's church
 4) This rule or kingdom of God was "inaugurated" on the Day
 of Pentecost (Ac 2)
 b. In the future sense...
 1) The rule or kingdom of God will be "culminated" with the
 coming of the Lord
 2) It will involve that "news heaven and a new earth in 
 which righteousness dwells", described by Peter and John
 - 2 Pe 3; Re 21-22
 3) It will be experienced only by those in the church who
 are submitting to God's will today! - cf. Mt 7:21-23;
 2 Pe 3:13-14
 
 C. DOES THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN NEED TO BE PROCLAIMED TODAY?
 1. Most certainly!
 a. Philip "preached the things concerning the kingdom of God"
 - Ac 8:12
 b. The apostle Paul in his preaching and teaching:
 1) Spoke of the challenges in entering the kingdom in the
 future sense - Ac 14:22
 2) Reasoned and persuaded with people concerning the 
 kingdom - Ac 19:8
 3) Had gone among the Ephesians, "preaching the kingdom of
 God" - Ac 20:25
 4) Solemnly testified of the kingdom of God to the Jews in
 Rome - Ac 28:23
 c. In his epistles, Paul wrote of:
 1) The nature of the kingdom - Ro 14:17
 2) Those who will not inherit the kingdom - 1 Co 6:9-10;
 Ga 5:21; Ep 5:5
 3) Jesus giving the kingdom to God when He returns - 1 Co
 15:24-26
 4) How flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom - 1 Co
 15:50
 5) How we are now in the kingdom - Co 1:13
 6) His companions as fellow workers for the kingdom - Co 4:
 11
 7) How we might be counted worthy of the kingdom - 2 Th 1:5
 8) God calling us into His kingdom and glory - 2 Th 2:12
 9) Jesus judging us at His appearing and His kingdom - 2 Ti
 4:1
 10) The Lord preserving him for His heavenly kingdom - 2 Ti
 4:18
 d. The Hebrew writer referred to our receiving a kingdom which
 can't be shaken - He 12:28
 e. James described the faithful poor as "heirs of the kingdom"
 - Ja 2:5
 f. Peter wrote of how we might have an abundant entrance into
 the everlasting kingdom of our Lord - 2 Pe 1:10-11
 g. John described himself as a brother and companion in the
 kingdom of Jesus Christ - Re 1:9
 2. There is a slight difference in our message, however...
 a. John the Baptist, Jesus, His disciples in the Limited 
 Commission...all proclaimed the kingdom "at hand" (drawing
 near)
 1) For the rule of God as foretold by the prophets was 
 about to be manifested - cf. Mk 1:14-15
 2) During Jesus' earthly ministry that kingdom (reign) was
 yet future
 -- That was the "good news" (gospel) of the kingdom then:
 it was near!
 b. However, after the ascension of Christ, the preaching of
 the kingdom proclaimed it both present and future
 1) The rule of God is now being fully manifested in the
 person of Jesus Christ - cf. Mt 28:18; Ep 1:20-22; 1 Pe
 3:22
 2) Those who "gladly receive" the message can be added by
 the Lord Himself to His church or kingdom (i.e., the 
 community of believers who submit to His authority) 
 - cf. Ac 2:36-41,47; Co 1:13; Re 1:9
 3) Those who persevere to the end can inherit the heavenly
 and everlasting kingdom of our Lord - Ac 14:22; 2 Pe 1:
 10-11
 -- This is the "good news" (gospel) of the kingdom now: it
 is both now and coming!
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. In "The Preaching Ministry Of Jesus", two themes permeated His
 message...
 a. The need to repent
 b. For the kingdom of heaven was at hand
 
2. As we fulfill the Great Commission today (Mt 28:18-20), our themes
 should be similar...
 a. The kingdom of heaven has come and is coming (implied in "All
 authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.")
 b. The need to repent (implied in "Make disciples of all the
 nations")
 
If you desire to experience the bliss of the everlasting kingdom of our
Lord and Savior, you must do the Father's Will (cf. Mt 7:21-23) and be
in the kingdom of His dear Son today (cf. Co 1:13).
 
Have you submitted to the gospel of the kingdom as proclaimed by our
Lord's apostles?

The Discipling Ministry Of Jesus (4:18-22)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. We saw where the public ministry of Jesus involved "preaching"...
 a. Proclaiming the need to repent, for the kingdom of heaven was at
 hand - Mt 4:17
 b. Taking this message to synagogues throughout the land - Mt 4:23
 
2. His ministry was not limited to preaching; it also involved
 "discipling"...
 a. In which He called select individuals to follow Him
 b. Creating His own group of "disciples"
 1) Just as John had his disciples - Mt 9:14
 2) Even the Pharisees had their disciples - Mt 22:15-16
 
3. We read of Jesus calling His first disciples in our text...
 a. The call of Peter and Andrew - Mt 4:18-20
 b. The call of James and John - Mt 4:21-22
 
4. Throughout His public ministry...
 a. Jesus would call others to become His disciples - cf. Mt 9:9
 b. Jesus would spend much time with His disciples
 c. Jesus would end His time on earth with a command for them to make
 more disciples - Mt 28:19-20
 
[Such an important subject to our Lord naturally raises some questions.
For example...]
 
I. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BECOME JESUS' DISCIPLE?
 
 A. THE WORD "DISCIPLE"...
 1. The word "disciple" literally means a learner
 2. According to Vine's Expository Dictionary Of New Testament
 Words, it denotes "one who follows another's teaching"
 3. But a disciple was not only a learner, he was also an adherent
 4. For this reason disciples were spoken of as imitators of their
 teachers
 -- When Jesus told Peter, Andrew, James, and John to "Follow Me"
 (Mt 4:19), it meant more than to just physically follow Him!
 
 B. THE GOAL IN BECOMING HIS DISCIPLE...
 1. Stated by Jesus on this occasion: "I will make you fishers of
 men"
 a. Just as they had worked in going after fish, now they would
 be going after men!
 b. As indicated in the Great Commission, they would be making
 more disciples - Mt 28:19
 2. Stated by Jesus on another occasion: to be like their teacher
 a. Those perfectly trained will be like their teacher - Lk 6:
 40
 b. Just as Christ sought to save men and make them disciples,
 so His disciples were to seek and save the lost
 
[A disciple of Jesus, then, is one who desires to imitate Jesus. Since
He was concerned for the lost, His disciples would be also! Another
question...]
 
II. HOW DOES ONE BECOME JESUS' DISCIPLE?
 
 A. JESUS SAID "FOLLOW ME"...
 1. This command He gave to His future disciples - Mt 4:19; 9:9
 a. They would spend three years following Jesus around 
 Palestine
 b. During that time they would listen to what He said, observe
 what He did
 c. Eventually they would be told to carry on His work - Mt 28:
 19-20
 d. Their success was related to this time spent with Jesus 
 - cf. Ac 4:13
 2. To be a disciple of Jesus, then, requires that one:
 a. Follow Him
 b. Spend time with Him
 c. Carry on His work
 -- But how can we do this when He is no longer with us on earth?
 
 B. JESUS SAID "ABIDE IN MY WORD"...
 1. This He said to those who believed in Him - Jn 8:31
 a. By learning and observing what He taught, they would truly
 be His disciples
 b. As Jesus would say later, future disciples would be made as
 they were taught "to observe all things that I have
 commanded you" - Mt 28:20
 c. It would begin with baptism, for He had just commanded His
  disciples to make disciples by baptizing them - Mt 28:19;
 cf. Mk 16:16; Ac 2:38
 2. To be a disciple of Jesus, then, requires that one:
 a. Be baptized (having repented and confessed one's faith in
 Jesus)
  b. Follow Jesus by doing what He taught His first disciples
 (the apostles)
 -- By continuing steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine (i.e., 
 their gospels and epistles), we can be Jesus' disciples today!
 - cf. Ac 2:41-42
 
[To follow Jesus by abiding in His word implies some degree of effort
and cost. This leads to our next question...]
 
III. WHAT DOES IT COST TO BECOME JESUS' DISCIPLE?
 
 A. HIS FIRST DISCIPLES LEFT "ALL" TO FOLLOW JESUS...
 1. They left their business and family - Mt 4:20-22
 2. As Peter would say later: "we have left all and followed You"
 - Mt 19:27
 
 B. JESUS EXPECTED THE SAME OF OTHER DISCIPLES...
 1. That He must come before family - Mt 10:37; Lk 9:59-62; 14:
 25-26
 2. That one must be willing to suffer hardship - Mt 10:38; Lk 9:
 57-58; 14:27
 3. Simply put, to forsake all to follow Him - Lk 14:33
 
 C. JESUS EXPECTS THE SAME OF HIS DISCIPLES TODAY...
 1. To seek first the kingdom of God - Mt 6:33
 2. As illustrated in The Parable Of The Great Supper, family and
 business cannot come before accepting the call of the gospel!
 - Lk 14:15-24
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. In calling people to repent, Jesus was also calling people to become
 His disciples...
 a. But like John the Baptist before Him, Jesus expected that people
 "bear fruits worthy of repentance" - cf. Mt 3:8
 b. As He would say later, "By this My Father is glorified, that you
 bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." - Jn 15:8
 
2. For those willing to accept His call, along with the cost, there is
 promise of great blessings...
 a. As Jesus told Peter - Mk 10:28-30
 b. As Paul would encourage the Christians at Corinth - 1 Co 15:58
 
3. Have we accepted the call and responsibility of discipleship, or do
 we just "go to church"?
 a. Which comes first, our families, our businesses, or Jesus Christ
 and His kingdom?
 b. Are we busy building our lives, enjoying our retirement, while
 the Lord's church suffers?
 c. Do we spend more time on fishing and other forms of recreation,
 than we do on fishing for men?
 -- How we answer such questions reveals much as to whether we are
 truly the disciples of Jesus!
 
May we all be open to the call of Jesus:
 
 "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

The Itinerant Ministry Of Jesus (4:23-25)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. Jesus started His public ministry by moving to Capernaum - Mt 4:
 12-17
 a. A city on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee
 b. A fulfillment of the prophecy in Isa 9:1-2
 c. From which He began to preach His message of the kingdom
 
2. But Jesus' work was not what you might call a "located ministry"...
 a. He did not stay in one place
 b. Where people might easily come to see and hear Him
 
3. His ministry was an "itinerant ministry"...
 a. He traveled from place to place
 b. If people wanted to hear Him more than once, they had to follow
 Him
 
[In our text, Mt 4:23-25, we find a summary of "The Itinerant Ministry
Of Jesus." In this study, let's begin by taking a look at...]
 
I. THE NATURE OF JESUS' ITINERANT MINISTRY
 
 A. HE DID NOT STAY IN ONE PLACE LONG...
 1. He "went about all Galilee" - Mt 4:23
 2. He went about "teaching in their synagogues" - Mt 4:23
 3. Luke records an example: in the synagogue at Nazareth - Lk 4:
 14-30
 4. But as mentioned by both Mark and Luke, Jesus felt compelled
 to keep moving - Mk 1:35-39; Lk 4:42-44
 
 B. HE PROCLAIMED THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM...
 1. His preaching involved "good news" about the kingdom - Mt 4:
 23; cf. Mk 1:14
 2. As recorded by Mark, this "good news" included the following:
 a. "The time is fulfilled" - the time foretold by the
 prophets, cf. Dan 2:44
 b. "The kingdom of God is at hand" - the kingdom foretold by
 the prophets, cf. Dan 2:44; Lk 1:32-33
 
 C. HE HEALED ALL KINDS OF SICKNESS AND DISEASE...
 1. He healed people afflicted with various diseases and torments
 - Mt 4:23-24
 2. Including the demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics 
 - Mt 4:24
 3. Both Mark and Luke provide more detail at this point in their
 gospels
 a. Casting out an unclean spirit - Mk 1:21-28; Lk 4:31-37
 b. Healing Peter's mother-in-law - Mk 1:29-30; Lk 4:38-39
 c. Healing many after a Sabbath sunset - Mk 1:32-34; Lk 4:
 40-41
 -- Matthew records these events after The Sermon On The Mount
 in his gospel
 
 D. HIS FAME SPREAD...
 1. Throughout all Syria, the region to the north of Galilee 
 - Mt 4:24
 2. Evidently throughout Decapolis, Judea, and beyond the Jordan,
 regions to the south and east - Mt 4:25
 3. The healing of a leper forced him to stay in deserted places 
 - Mk 1:45
 
 E. GREAT MULTITUDES FOLLOWED HIM...
 1. From Galilee and regions all around - Mt 4:25
 2. Mark says they came to Him from every direction - Mk 1:45
 3. They came to hear Him, and to be healed by Him - Lk 5:15
 
II. OBSERVATIONS REGARDING JESUS' ITINERANT MINISTRY
 
 A. EVERYONE NEEDS TO HEAR THE GOSPEL...
 1. Jesus' concern was not just for those in his town of Capernaum
 a. Compelled to preach the gospel in other cities, He went
 about "all Galilee"
 b. He later sent His disciples to preach throughout all the
 cities of Israel
 c. He finally commissioned to them to preach to every person,
  making disciples "of all the nations" - Mk 16:16; Mt 28:19
 2. It has been said, "No one has the right to hear the gospel
 twice, before everyone has heard it once"
 a. This statement reflects a sentiment worth remembering
  b. Once the gospel has been shared, we are not under 
 obligation to repeat it again and again to one not 
 interested
 c. If those who hear are not interested, they have judged