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A Year Held in His Hands| A New Year Sermon

By Ekombe Hau -
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A Year Held in His Hands| A New Year Sermon Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash Every time a new year comes close, something in me start feeling that weird mix of excitement and heaviness. Maybe you know the feeling too—like you’re standing at this invisible doorway. One foot in the old year (the stuff you want to forget but somehow still sticks to you like stubborn glue), and the other foot stepping into something you still can’t see clearly. And sometimes you’re hopeful, sometimes you’re scared, sometimes you’re… well, both at the same time. I was thinking about all that while reading some Scriptures again, and honestly, it hit me harder this year. Maybe because life been kinda loud lately, or maybe because I’m tired of pretending everything always makes sense. But the Bible does this thing, right? It sneaks into the parts of your heart you thought you cleaned up, and suddenly you realize God is trying to talk to you again. Even if it feels like you weren’t exactly listening. S...
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Matthew Chapter 4 – Commentary and Explanation

By Ekombe Hau -

 

Matthew Chapter 4 – Commentary and Explanation

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash



Matthew Chapter 4 is a fascinating and powerful part of the Gospel story. It’s like we get a front row seat to the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. There’s temptation in the wilderness, calling of disciples, prophecy being fulfilled, light breaking into darkness, and a powerful beginning of His preaching and healing ministry. If Matthew Chapter 3 was the preparation (John the Baptist preaching repentance and Jesus’ baptism), then Matthew 4 is where the mission really takes off.

But here’s something interesting – this chapter starts in the desert, not in a crowd. It starts with hunger, not applause. It starts with confrontation with the enemy, not celebration from the people. That tells us something right away: sometimes God’s greatest works in and through us begin in the quiet, dry, and testing places before the public breakthrough.

Let’s take this journey verse by verse and section by section, but in a natural conversation style, not just a dry theological breakdown. I want you to picture the scenes, feel the tension, and hear the message for us today.

Verses 1–11 – The Temptation of Jesus

"Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil." (Matthew 4:1)

We start with something that might surprise us. Right after His baptism, right after the heavens opened and God said, “This is My beloved Son,” the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness… to be tempted. Wait a second. That’s not how we usually think it works. We think, “If God is pleased with me, He will keep me away from trials.” But here, God’s approval is exactly what sends Jesus into a spiritual test.

And notice – He’s led by the Spirit. This wasn’t an accident. This wasn’t the devil dragging Him somewhere without permission. This was God’s plan for preparation. Wilderness seasons are often the training ground for the assignment ahead. Before the miracles, before the crowds, before the cross, Jesus faced the devil head-on.

The Setting

The wilderness here is not a beautiful pine forest. It’s a dry, barren, rocky desert region in Judea. No food. No water sources nearby. Lonely. Isolated. And He was there for forty days and forty nights fasting. That’s intense. The number 40 in Scripture often points to testing and preparation – think Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness, Moses fasting 40 days on Mount Sinai, Elijah’s 40-day journey to Mount Horeb.

When it says “afterward He was hungry” (v. 2) – that’s almost humorous in its understatement. Of course He was hungry! But it’s more than physical hunger. This is the moment of physical weakness, and that’s when the tempter comes.

Temptation #1 – Stones to Bread

The devil comes with his first challenge: “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” (v. 3)

It’s subtle. Satan isn’t just tempting Jesus to eat – he’s trying to get Him to use His power outside of the Father’s will. It’s about self-gratification over obedience. And the opening “If you are the Son of God” is a seed of doubt – the same tactic he used in the Garden of Eden: “Did God really say…?”

Jesus replies with Scripture, quoting Deuteronomy 8:3: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

That’s powerful. He doesn’t argue. He doesn’t philosophize. He simply stands on God’s Word. Notice the lesson – spiritual victory is not about clever arguments; it’s about knowing and standing on truth.

Temptation #2 – Jump from the Temple

The devil takes Him to the pinnacle of the Temple in Jerusalem and says, “If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down: for it is written…” (v. 6)

This is sneaky. Satan quotes Psalm 91, twisting Scripture to justify reckless behavior. He basically says, “You trust God, right? Then prove it dramatically.” This is the temptation to test God’s protection and to seek spectacular proof.

Jesus answers with Deuteronomy 6:16: “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” In other words, faith is not about forcing God to prove Himself through stunts. True faith trusts without demanding signs.

Temptation #3 – Worship for Power

Finally, the devil shows Him all the kingdoms of the world and says, “All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” (v. 9)

Here’s the heart of it: Satan offers the crown without the cross. Glory without suffering. Instant authority without obedience to the Father’s plan. But Jesus will not take shortcuts in God’s mission.

He commands: “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (v. 10)

And with that, the devil leaves, and angels come to minister to Him. The wilderness test is over – for now.

Personal Reflection

This scene shows us how temptation works:

  • It often comes in moments of weakness.

  • It uses subtle twists of truth.

  • It appeals to natural desires (hunger, security, ambition).

  • The way to victory is standing firm on God’s Word.

It also shows us that temptation itself is not sin – Jesus was tempted yet without sin. Victory is possible when we respond God’s way.

Verses 12–17 – Jesus Begins His Ministry

After John the Baptist is arrested, Jesus moves to Galilee. He leaves Nazareth and makes His home in Capernaum by the sea. Matthew sees this as fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 9:1–2): “The people which sat in darkness saw great light.”

This is beautiful – the light of Christ shining in a spiritually dark region. Galilee was considered “less pure” by Jerusalem’s religious elite because it had more Gentile influence. But this is exactly where Jesus begins – not with the “perfect” religious people, but among the overlooked and underestimated.

And His message? “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (v. 17) Same as John the Baptist’s – but with even greater authority. Repentance isn’t just feeling sorry; it’s turning around, changing direction, embracing God’s rule.

Verses 18–22 – The Calling of the First Disciples

Walking by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus sees Simon Peter and Andrew casting nets. He says, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they leave their nets and follow Him.

Then He calls James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who are mending their nets with their father. They also leave immediately and follow Him.

I love the simplicity – no long theological lecture, no signed contract. Just a call: Follow Me. And they do. It’s a reminder that discipleship begins with simple obedience, not full understanding.

Verses 23–25 – Jesus Ministers to the Crowds

The chapter ends with a summary of His ministry: teaching in synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, healing every disease and sickness. Word spreads across Syria. People bring the sick, the demon-possessed, the paralyzed – and He heals them all.

Crowds from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan follow Him. The light has truly begun to shine.

Lessons from Matthew Chapter 4

  1. Preparation comes before mission – The wilderness test prepared Jesus for public ministry. Our private victories matter before public ministry can flourish.

  2. Temptation targets our identity and trust in God – Satan’s main attack was on “If you are the Son of God…” Our enemy often questions who we are in Christ.

  3. God’s Word is the sword of the Spirit – Jesus responded to every temptation with Scripture. We can’t fight spiritual battles unarmed.

  4. The call to follow is urgent and life-changing – The disciples left their nets immediately. Delayed obedience is often disobedience.

  5. The Kingdom starts with light in dark places – Jesus intentionally began in Galilee, showing God’s heart for the outsider and marginalized.

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