The Overture/Matthew 4.23-5.1

This text is a prelude to the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 4 begins with Jesus being led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. After thwarting Satan, Jesus emerges from the wilderness only to learn His cousin, John the Baptizing Prophet, has been arrested. He withdraws to Galilee. Eventually, He leaves Nazareth, and goes to live in Capernaum where He begins His public ministry; a ministry which is the fulfillment of what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah; a ministry which begins with the now familiar words, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”