Matthew 4:11-15

Mat 4:11 (KJB)

Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

The Lord Jesus Christ had resisted all three attempts by Satan to cause Him to yield and because of this resistance, the devil had to flee. (James 4:7 KJV) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Jesus submitted to God and therefore He resisted the Devil and since it is written in Scripture, Satan had to flee. The Lord Jesus Christ gave this scenario to us so that when we are tempted by Satan with sin, we can submit ourselves to God who will give us the strength to resist Satan and then he will have to leave. Once Satan left, then angels from Heaven had come and ministered to Jesus. We do not know in what capacity they ministered to Him but it was also probably an affirmation by the Father for Jesus dealing with the devil and overcoming him and his forward temptations.

Mat 4:12 (KJB)

Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;

Departed - Withdrew or went back

Jesus had heard that John was taken to prison and to prevent Him being taken before His time, He had withdrawn to Galilee which would have placed Him outside of the jurisdiction of the Jewish authorities. The word “departed” also carried with it the meaning of “taking refuge.“ It was here in Galilee that Jesus began His public ministry.

Mat 4:13 (KJB)

And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

Jesus must have went back to Nazareth at this time, maybe to visit His mother and Joseph. It is not known how long He stayed there but when He left, he went to Capernaum. Capernaum was 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Nazareth on the Northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. This area had an interesting history concerning Zebulun and Naphtali. (Deu 27:13 KJV) And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. Zebulun and Naphtali were placed on Mount Ebal by God Himself. Mount Ebal was a very barren and rocky place. Four of these, Gad, Asher, Dan, and Naphtali were children of the handmaids. Dan and Naphtali were born of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid. Gad and Asher were of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid.

Mat 4:14 (KJB)

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

By Jesus going to this area of Galilee, this was also a fulfillment of prophecy of Isaiah which was penned some 750 years prior. The New Testament contains about 3,000 allusions to the Old Testament.

Mat 4:15 (KJB)

The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

(Isa 9:1 KJV) Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali had been afflicted many times by the invading armies of the past. They had suffered from the Assyrian invasion about 734-732 B.C. Then Tiglath-Pileser III had taken Gilead across Jordan and annexed part of the plain by the Mediterranean sea. (2 Ki 15:29 KJV) In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria. But Galilee, where God’s judgment had fallen would have an honor paid to them in the future. This was fulfilled when Jesus ministered and chose His first disciples there.