Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:
(Matthew 4:1) Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
At the end of the last chapter, Jesus had just been baptized by John the Baptist, and the Holy Spirit of God had descended upon Him like a dove. Now being full of the Holy Spirit, as Luke 4:1 described it, Jesus was led by that Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Jesus, the man, was about to endure strong temptation, just as we all do. This is exactly the way it most often is, when we have received the clearest light and message from the Holy Spirit, that is when Satan shows up strongest to tempt us away from that light.
(2) And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward hungry.
Jesus spent forty days and forty nights fasting in the wilderness, and was afterward obviously very hungry. Adam Clarke, in his Commentary on the Bible, pointed out that this was intended to show that God's kingdom on earth was to be spiritual and divine, that it should not consist in meat and drink, but in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). However, being fully human, Jesus was very hungry, and so prepared for the first temptation of the devil.
(3) And when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread."
The tempter is, of course, Satan; his main purpose is to tempt people into denying God and to sin. God had just declared that Jesus was His Son, and Satan came to make Him doubt that. After all, if He truly was the Son of God, He could command the stones around Him to become bread and He could satisfy His great hunger. Jesus was called the second or last Adam in scripture. Think of the parallels in their temptations. Adam was tempted by Eve, who had been tempted by the serpent, "Did God really say...?"
(4) But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’"
Jesus answered by relying on and quoting the settled word of God. He quoted Deuteronomy 8:3, "...man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD." Jesus WAS the word (John 1:1). He could have spoken the mind of God with authority of Himself, but He chose to quote the writings of Moses to give honor to and present as an example for us when dealing with temptation. The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) which is the only offensive weapon in the Christian armor as described in Ephesians 6:13-17. However, to use that weapon, we must know the Word of God! Satan knows the Word of God, and he will use it to tempt us. His temptations are always partly true and plausible, and our best defense is our offense of the knowledge of God's Word. We see here that Jesus did not deny that He had the power to turn those stones to bread, but demonstrated faith in God and His will, knowing that He was able to sustain Him, regardless of His present circumstances. Abraham showed that kind of faith in God's Word when he offered Isaac, his only son, upon the altar. God had told him He would make a great nation from his descendants, so he was confident that God would provide whatever was needed in his present circumstance.
(5) Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, (6) And said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, cast Yourself down, for it is written, 'He shall give His angels charge concerning You,' and 'In their hands they shall bear you up, lest at any time you dash your foot against a stone.'"
I don't believe the devil physically picked up Jesus and flew Him over to the temple as one commentator I read suggested. Nor did he do it against His will. Jesus had been led by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil. Therefore, the tempter could have just led Him willingly into the holy city of Jerusalem and onto the top of the temple. Satan once again quoted scripture. How important is it that we know the Word of God when Satan knows it so well and uses it diabolically against us. There is always a half or distorted truth to that which the devil uses as temptation. That is the way he gets away with it, quoting scripture and partial truths draws us in, so we'd better know the whole truth in God's Word so as not to be taken in. The devil partially quoted Psalm 91:11-12. The context of the psalmist was that because his refuge was in the Lord, "He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone." The devil conveniently left out the part about keeping one in all his ways, God's promise to protect and support His servants; God did not promise to always protect them when they walked outside their way, outside their duty within His will. With his distorted version of scripture, Satan said to Jesus if He were truly the Son of God, then He could throw Himself down and God's angels would lift Him up and protect Him.
(7) Jesus said to him, “It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'"
Jesus offered another scripture that supported the context of the one Satan misquoted, Deuteronomy 6:16, "You shall not tempt the Lord your God..." The rest of that original quotation was "...as you tempted Him in Massah." The context there was that the people kept requiring more and more evidence of what God had already made plain; when He had always been completely trustworthy and protected and provided for them, they continually had no faith that He would do it again. In this case against Satan, Jesus meant it would be tempting or testing God to require Him to prove His Word that He would protect and defend Him even if He were to go out of His way to do something dangerous.
(8) Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. (9) And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
It seems the devil thought he must go higher and offer more to make Jesus give into temptation. He took Him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms below, claiming he would give Him the world and all its glory if He would fall down and worship him. This was a very vain and silly attempt on the devil's part. This could only work as a temptation if Satan had proved by His first two temptations that Jesus was not truly the Son of God, which he hadn't. However, it serves as a valuable lesson to us in how to recognize Satan's lies and how to fight temptation. It does seem like he uses the same old tactics all the time. Did God really say that? (Doubt the Word.) You surely won't die. (Doubt judgment and consequences.) You can be as God. An entire society has fallen for those tactics. Did God really say that about homosexuality, etc.? God surely wouldn't send His beloved children to hell. Once you eliminate the idea of judgment as a consequence of our disobedience toward God’s
commands, then anything goes! People professing to be wise, having a form of religion, but denying the power and changing the glory of the incorruptible God into an image they have made (Romans 1:22-23, 2 Timothy 3:5).
(10) Then Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”
Jesus answered this temptation with decidedly more indignation and detestation, and commanded Satan to get away. He still used the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17), quoting Deuteronomy 6:13 and 10:20. From Jesus's temptation, we learn that no one, no matter how holy, is exempt from temptation when even God in the flesh was tempted. Temptation in itself, even to the greatest abomination, is not sin, for even Christ was tempted to fall down and worship the devil. The best way to fight the adversary is with that sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. We can fight just as Jesus did with knowing the Word, knowing the consequences of sin, and knowing there is only One God, and idolatry of self and the big EGO is still idolatry. Furthermore, we don't have to face temptation alone, for we have a Savior who has already fought the battle and defeated Satan, and we can call on Him.
(11) Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
The devil indeed left Jesus, and then angels came and ministered to Him, most likely in visible, and possibly even human form, giving Him food and whatever else His human body needed. What a comfort this can be for us when we resist and conquer temptation! James 4:7 tells us we can make the devil flee from us, as well, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." When he does leave us, just as there is a world of wicked and malicious spirits that fight against Christ, His church, and all believers, so there is a world of holy, blessed spirits engaged and employed for them. Consider the following verses:
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. - Ephesians 6:12
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from
the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. - 1 Timothy 4:1
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. - Hebrews 13:2
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? - Hebrews 1:14
...For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father. - Matthew 18:10b
(12) Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee.
According to the other Gospels, this was not immediately after Christ was tempted, but regardless, the fact is that when He heard John the Baptist had been put in prison, He went to Galilee.
(13) And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is on the sea coast, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali.
According to other Gospel accounts, Jesus had gone to Nazareth some time after His temptations. Now He left Nazareth and went first to Capernaum by the sea on His way to Galilee. Capernaum was within the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali, two tribes of the children of Israel which were located in that part of the land of Canaan.
(14) That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, (15) "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; (16) The people who sat in darkness saw great light; and to them who sat in the region and shadow of death, light has dawned."
Jesus going to Capernaum fulfilled a prophecy by Isaiah, who said in Isaiah 9:1-2, "...the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali...by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; they who dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined." Galilee was divided into upper and lower Galilee. Upper Galilee was called Galilee of the Gentiles, because it was occupied mainly by Gentiles. The word “Gentiles” included all who were not Jews; it meant the same as the pagan nations. The prophecy spoke of Upper Galilee where the people walked in spiritual darkness and ignorance, and then they saw the great light of Christ.
(17) From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
"From that time" refers to from the time Jesus was tempted by the devil. It can't be said of from the time he was in Capernaum, because according to accounts in Luke 4, He had preached in Nazareth before He went to Capernaum. It can't mean from the time that John was cast into prison, because according to John 3 and 4, He had preached and made and baptized disciples before John's imprisonment. As soon as His combat with Satan was over, He immediately went to Galilee (Luke 4:14), and began preaching and calling disciples. The words Jesus used are the same ones with which John the Baptist began his ministry (Matthew 3:2) which shows the complete agreement between them.
(18) And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
Capernaum was on the sea coast, and while Jesus was walking there, he saw two fishermen casting a net into the sea. They were brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew. The name "Peter" means a rock or stone, and is the same as "Cephas," seen elsewhere. According to John 1:40-42, the brothers had had an acquaintance with Jesus before.
(19) And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Peter and Andrew were poor fishermen, probably unlearned men, in that part of Galilee. Jesus didn't walk through the city looking for more cultivated and refined men of knowledge and means. The Lord does not see men as men see men, and often chooses the foolish and base things of this world to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27-28). He told the brothers to follow Him and He would make them fishers of men, obviously an allusion to their former calling. Matthew Henry suggested it was to let them not be too prideful of the new honor bestowed on them, as they were still fishers; likewise not to be afraid of the new work to which they had been called, as they were still fishers, a job with which they were very familiar. Likewise, David was called from shepherding sheep to shepherding Israel. In order to take on this new work, the brothers had to follow Jesus, a complete diligent attendance with Him. To preach Christ and be fishers of souls, they had to know Christ; to be able to continue His work after Him, they needed an intimate relationship with Him.
(20) And they immediately left their nets and followed Him.
According to John 1:37, they had followed Jesus before, but it had been as ordinary disciples, following His preaching, but still employed in their trade or calling. Jesus was now calling them to a close and constant attendance, and they would have to leave their trade. They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Because the brothers had been disciples of John the Baptist, and had met Jesus, they were probably more receptive to following Him. That is symbolic of how Christ often calls us, by degrees. He often softens and prepares our hearts before we ultimately embrace Him.
(21) And going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and He called them.
Going on from where He called Peter and Andrew, He saw two other brothers, James and John, in a boat with their father, Zebedee. They were also fishermen, mending their nets, getting them ready to use. Jesus called them to follow Him.
(22) And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed Him.
James and John also immediately left all behind, including their father, and followed Jesus. Every Christian must love Christ more than he or she loves anything or anyone. James and John may have also followed Jesus before as ordinary disciples, but were now being called to follow Him wholeheartedly, devoted to the ministry of Christ.
(23) And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Jesus went about through all of Galilee. He didn't summon and wait for people to come to Him, but went to the people in their synagogues, to teach them and preach about the good news for lost sinners that grace and glory were available to them through the Messiah who had come. He healed all manner of sickness and disease, serving to confirm His doctrine, to demonstrate that the Son of Man came to save people and not destroy them, and to strengthen faith in their heavenly Father's love for them.
(24) And His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were possessed with devils, those who were lunatic, and those who had palsy, and He healed them.
Evidently, the exact boundaries of Syria during the time of Christ is not exactly known, but I believe the sense here is that the fame of Jesus went far and wide beyond the Holy Land and the Jews. The people both near and from these far away places brought all sorts of diseased people, and those with torments, like demon-possession, insanity, and paralysis, and Jesus healed them.
(25) And great multitudes of people followed Him, from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
Great multitudes of people followed Jesus who had heard Him and seen His miracles, or had heard of Him and His message and miracles. People from Galilee followed Him, as well as from other regions. Decapolis was a region east of the Jordan River named for ten cities within it. People from there, Jerusalem, Judea, and even beyond the Jordan River followed Him.
In summary, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the last chapter, and God's Spirit descended on Him and He proclaimed Him His son. Immediately afterward, He was tempted by the devil, and conquering him, He began His ministry. He gathered four disciples and went all about Galilee, teaching, preaching, and healing the sick and tormented. His fame went far and wide.
