Matthew 4

Matthew 4:1-11

Chapter 7 The Temptation of Christ “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.” (Matthew 4:1-11) As soon as our Lord was baptized, as soon as he began to publicly identify himself in this world as the Son of God, he was tempted of the devil. While he stayed in the carpenter’s shop, chipping away at wood, the devil was undisturbed. But as soon as he began to lay the axe to the root of Satan’s kingdom, our Lord was tempted by the devil. The very first thing that is recorded concerning our Lord’s public ministry is his temptation. Notice the order of things. Our Lord was baptized. He was owned to be the Son of God. He was anointed by the Spirit of God. Then he was tempted. Here is a fact of life, from which there is no escape in this world – If you are a child of God, if the Spirit of God is in you, you will be tempted of the devil. The Temptation of Christ is a subject so deep and mysterious that no sensible man would imagine being able to understand, much less explain the facts that are clearly revealed concerning it. It is a subject shrouded in mystery. In fact, mystery is a vital aspect of all divine truth. Any doctrine that is not mysterious is not divine in its origin. That which God has revealed about himself in Holy Scripture is infinitely beyond human conception and comprehension. The infinite God cannot be comprehended by the puny mind of finite man. So, when we come to meditate upon, think about, and discuss the temptation of our Lord, we must begin with an acknowledged inability to comprehend the things we have before us. No man can understand what occurred in our Savior’s heart when he was tempted. But there is much revealed in the Book of God that we do not understand. Who can explain how sin originated in the sinless heart of Adam, how the eternal God can be one God in three distinct persons, or how our Savior can be both the omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent God and a man in a physical body that needed both rest and nourishment, and from whom some things are hidden? Yet these things are plainly revealed in the Sacred Volume. The basis of our faith is not our understanding of God’s Word, but the Word of God itself. Because the Bible is the Word of God, we recognize that it is infinitely superior to human reason. Therefore, we gladly submit our reason to God’s Revelation. This much we understand – Our Lord Jesus was tempted in all points like as we are, so that he might be touched with the feeling of our infinities; but he never succumbed to the temptation – He never sinned. There are five things that we need to learn from this passage of Holy Scripture. A Real Adversary First, learn this – Satan is a real adversary to our souls. — “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil” (Matthew 4:1). Matthew understood that the devil is real, a personal adversary, a mighty foe with whom we must do battle continually. The fiend of hell is not afraid to assault the very throne of God, or the Son of God! In these eleven verses we are told three times that Satan attacked the Lord of glory. Our Savior was “tempted of the devil.” It was the devil who brought sin into the world in the beginning. It was he who vexed Job, deceived David, and caused Peter to fall so miserably. The Word of God calls him a “murderer,” a “liar,” and a “roaring lion” (John 8:44; 1 Peter 5:8). The world is ruled by the wicked influence of Satan (Ephesians 2:1-3). Unbelieving men and women are taken captive by the devil at his will (2 Timothy 2:26). His goal is the everlasting destruction of our souls.

He ever seeks whom he may devour. His malice is unrelenting. His hatred against us never abates. For nearly 6000 years he has been trying to destroy and draw into hell those men and women he was created to serve. As it was with our glorious Head, so is it with his members. No sooner is the work of grace wrought in the hearts of God’s elect than all hell is up in arms. We must constantly watch and pray that we be not taken by his devices. His cunning and subtlety are greater than we can imagine. The prince of darkness often transforms himself into an “angel of light” and his ministers into “preachers of righteousness” (1 Corinthians 11:13-14). Satan is with us wherever we live. He goes wherever we go. He never tires. He never sleeps. He never quits. If he can, he will destroy our souls! If we would be saved, we must crucify the flesh and overcome the world; but we must also “resist the devil.” God Rules Second, we see in this passage the fact that the Lord our God rules all things absolutely. We know that God cannot be tempted to do evil and that he will never tempt any man to do evil (James 1:13-15). But everyone who reads the Bible with understanding knows that God rules even in the temptations of his people (Psalms 76:10). Neither the fall of Satan nor the temptation and sin of our father Adam took God by surprise. Notice the language of Mat 4:1. Our Lord Jesus was led (Mark says “driven” - Matthew 1:12) into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit “to be tempted of the devil.” Why? Because we need a tempted Savior, one who can be and is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He was tempted of the devil because, as a man, he needed to be tempted, that he might perform the work of perfect righteousness for us, faithfully doing the will of God in the face of temptation, thereby fulfilling all righteousness as our Representative and Mediator. And he needed to be tempted, as he entered his public ministry, that he might learn obedience by the temptations he endured. Martin Luther wrote, “Three things make a preacher: meditation, prayer, and temptation.” Therefore, our Redeemer was led into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Our Savior’s temptations were also necessary on our account. “For in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted” (Hebrews 2:18). This account of our Redeemer’s temptations in the wilderness is specifically recorded for our comfort. Not only does our blessed Savior know what our temptations are, his personal knowledge of them by experience was such that he now knows both what we feel when we are tempted and how to minister to us the very help that will exactly suit our case and circumstances. As his temptations were in complete accordance with the will and purpose of our God, so are ours. The Lord our God is in control of our temptations just as fully as he is in control of everything else in this world (1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24). Robert Hawker made the following observation in commenting on our Lord’s temptation. — “What a sweet thought is it, that the Lord Jesus was in all points tempted as his people are, yet without sin!

Precious Lord! Was it not intended to prompt thy redeemed to come to thee with more confidence from fellow feeling?” Our Defense Third, our Lord’s example in this passage teaches us that the best defense we have in times of temptation is the Word of God. Three times Satan tempted our Lord with great offers that strongly appealed to his human nature. But three times our Lord foiled Satan’s temptations by asserting some portion of Holy Scripture as his reason for not doing as the devil suggested. This is just one of many reasons why we ought to make ourselves intimately and constantly familiar with Holy Scripture. It is not enough to have a Bible. Read it! It is not enough to carry a Bible to church. Make yourself familiar with its contents. Seek to understand its doctrine (2 Timothy 1:15; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). J. C. Ryle wrote, “Knowledge of the Bible never comes by intuition. It can only be got by hard, regular, daily, attentive, wakeful reading.” You cannot fight the good fight of faith if you cannot use the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). You cannot walk in the King’s highway if you do not walk by the light of His Word, which is “a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our pathway” (Psalms 119:105). If we would know the way of salvation, let us seek to know the Word of God. If we would live in this world for the glory of God, let us seek to know his Word. If we would escape the temptations of Satan, let us bury ourselves in the Word of God and the worship of God. Our High Priest Above all else these eleven verses are written to teach and assure us that we have a great High Priest in heaven who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities (Hebrews 2:17-18; Hebrews 4:14-16). The sympathy of the Lord Jesus with us is a truth which ought to be peculiarly precious to every believer. Here is a treasury of consolation for tempted souls! We have a great, almighty Friend and Advocate in heaven, who intercedes for us in all our temptations, is touched with our infirmities, and enters into all our spiritual troubles and fears. Are you ever tempted by Satan to distrust God’s providence? So was Christ! Are you ever tempted by Satan to presume upon God’s promises? So was Christ! Are you ever tempted by Satan to some act of evil for worldly gain? So was Christ! The Lord Jesus Christ is just the Savior that tempted people need! Let us flee to him for help and spread our troubles before him. You will always find that his ear is ready to hear, his heart is ready to feel, and his arm is ready to help. He understands our sorrows, temptations, and troubles! Though he is exalted to heaven, this Man, who is God our Savior, still possesses “the tongue of the learned” and knows how “to speak a word in season to him that is weary” (Isaiah 50:4). For this purpose he is wakened every morning throughout the ages of time with the ear of the learned. Yes, our dear Redeemer is a Son who has learned obedience by the things he suffered. He has learned what it is to wrestle with Satan’s temptations and assaults. He has learned what it is to endure malicious slander. He has learned what it is to be bereaved of a loved one.

He has learned what it is to be betrayed by a friend. He has learned what it is to be made sin! He has learned what it is to have a broken heart. He has learned what it is to be forsaken of God! He has learned what it is to die! And he has learned what it is to be raised from the dead!

He is able to comfort and help his tempted people, because God has given him “the tongue of the learned…“to speak a word in season to him that is weary.” He can speak a word in season to our weary souls, because he is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. How thankful we ought to be to know that he who is God our Savior was once “led of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.” Questions Certain questions are constantly asked by men when discussing the temptation of Christ, which I suppose I should answer. Some ask, “Was it possible for our Savior to have sinned?” The answer is “No. Absolutely, No!” He was without sin and without the ability to sin (Isaiah 53:9; John 8:46; John 14:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21 : Hebrews 7:26). When that is stated, the question is raised, “If it was not possible for the Lord Jesus to sin, was the temptations real?” The answer is “Yes. Absolutely, Yes!” (Hebrews 4:15). He heard Satan’s voice. The things Satan tempted him with were things he desired: food, divine protection, and dominion over the world. But there was no inward urge or desire to disobedience and sin! The Temptations Satan tempted our Lord to four things. He tempted him (1.) to an act of unbelief, to distrust God (Matthew 4:3-4). C. H. Spurgeon wrote, “A true son will not doubt his father, and undertake to provide his own bread. He will wait to be fed by his father’s hand.” And our Savior, as a true Son, trusted his Father. May he give us grace to do the same. Then the devil tempted him to (2.) an act of presumption and to (3.) suicide (Matthew 4:5-8). The devil even sought to justify the temptations from scripture and talked freely about angels, about God, and about grace. Then the prince of darkness tempted our blessed Savior to (4.) an act of idolatry (Matthew 4:8-10). Imagine that ¾ Christ at the devil’s feet. That is like the church and gospel of God being supported and promoted by theatrical performances and bingo games rather than the naked truth of God preached in the power of the Holy Spirit. Should we ever hunger and be in poverty, as our Lord was, we must never yield to the temptation to do wrong to gain wealth, honor, or even a pressing need! Though we may have to endure seasons of apparent barrenness, the church of God must never seek to advance Christ’s kingdom by any means other than simple gospel preaching after the pattern of the New Testament! As our Lord Jesus was tempted so we shall be. Satan will not treat us better than he treated our Master. Believers often find evil thoughts rising in their minds, which they truly hate, doubts and sinful imaginations against which we honestly revolt, and there is in us an ungodly nature that yearns for the very things we hate and revolt against. Our greatest temptations will usually come after times of greatest privilege, communion, and usefulness. So it was with our Lord. Ever be aware of your weakness in the flesh and your tendency to evil. Ever keep in mind that our peace and comfort is in Christ our Substitute, not in some imaginary, inward, personal goodness. He who was tempted and triumphant for us will also cause us to be triumphant over the tempter and his temptations (John 10:27-30; John 17:15; Romans 8:35-39; Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; 1 Corinthians 10:13).

Matthew 4:12-25

Chapter 8 “Jesus Began to Preach” “Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;) And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.” (Matthew 4:12-25) When we read the four gospels, we must not imagine that each of the evangelists recorded things in the same chronological order. They did not. Each one wrote out the history of our Lord’s earthly life and ministry, as he was led by the Holy Spirit, to best serve the purpose of his own gospel narrative. So the fact that Matthew’s history is not consecutive is of no concern to us. It was not his design to make it so. Several things happened between our Lord’s temptation in the wilderness and his appearance on the shores of Galilee preaching the gospel. His Appearance to John (John 1:29). The Calling of His First Disciples (John 1:39-51). The Marriage Feast at Cana (John 2:1-11). The Passover at Jerusalem (John 2:13-22) – “The Scourge!” The Discourse with Nicodemus (John 3). The Samaritan Woman (John 4). Many months had passed, probably more than a year, since our Lord’s temptation and the calling of his first disciples. At any rate, Matthew begins his account of our Lord’s public ministry in Galilee. In these verses we see the Lord Jesus preaching in the synagogues and along the streets of Galilee after the imprisonment of John the Baptist. “These are sweet views, wrote Robert Hawker, “of Jesus in his humbleness of character. And what a blessed proof they become in proof of his mission (Isaiah 9:1-2).” Our Lord Jesus was the first Preacher of that great salvation which he accomplished (Hebrews 1:3); and as such he is held before us as the great Pattern and Example all true gospel preacher must follow. A Singular Message Unlike the religious world in his own day and more especially in this day, the Lord Jesus began his public ministry with the utmost simplicity: without pomp and pageantry, without press conferences, advance men, and announcements, he just began to preach. Without calling attention to himself at all, he just began to preach! The time when he began to preach was “when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison” (Matthew 4:12). When John the Baptist had done his work, he was laid aside. Like the two witnesses in Revelation 11:7, when he had born his testimony, John was slain, and not a moment before. “Mortals are immortal here Until their work is done!” God never leaves himself without a witness. He never leaves his church in the wilderness without guides. When John’s work was finished, the Lord God raised up other faithful witnesses to proclaim the gospel of his grace and glory. He who raised up Moses can raise up Joshua. There is no lack with our God. The place where our Lord began his ministry was in Capernaum, in Galilee of the Gentiles. (Matthew 4:13-16). He left Nazareth because the people there rejected his message and had rejected him (Luke 4:29). He came to Galilee because some of God’s elect were to be found there. He came to Capernaum because the Scriptures had to be fulfilled (Isaiah 9:1-2). Like the inhabitants of Capernaum, like the Gentiles of Galilee long ago, you and I were in gross darkness. We sat in darkness because we loved it. We did not seek the light, but upon us great light has come. The light of Christ and the grace and glory of God in him has shined into our hearts, creating in us life and faith in Christ (John 1:1-14; 2 Corinthians 4:4-6). When the gospel comes, light comes (Luke 1:78-79; John 3:19). When the gospel comes into the heart in the grace and power of God the Holy Spirit, we are made new creatures in Christ (Genesis 1:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:17). He came to Capernaum because Capernaum in Galilee, the place of Gentile “nothings” and “nobodies”, was the place from which he would fetch trophies of his grace (1 Corinthians 1:26-31). Galilean speech was crude. Galilean people were poor, illiterate, and uncouth. Galileans were the rough-necks on the other side of the tracks. These are the people from whom our Lord would call out a people to serve him, by whom he would build his church and kingdom. The message our Lord preached was the same as that of John the Baptist. ¯ “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). Our Lord Jesus could have dazzled the brains of men with deep, profound theology, or by unraveling the hidden mysteries of prophecy, or by opening up the intricate complexities of the law. But he chose not to do so. He preached one message. He preached the necessity of repentance, the necessity of trusting him alone for acceptance with God (Acts 20:21). He preached that message constantly (Luke 13:1-5). And he preached that message urgently, – “For the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” The Lord of Glory was a preacher. Let all who claim to be preachers follow his example and reiterate his message. “There is no office so honorable as that of the preacher. There is no work so important to the souls of men. It is our office, which the Son of God was not ashamed to take up. It is an office to which he appointed his twelve apostles. It is an office to which Paul in his old age specially directs Timothy’s attention. He charges him with almost his last breath to ‘preach the Word’ (2 Timothy 4:2). It is the principle means which God has always been pleased to use for the conversion and edification of souls. The brightest days of the church have been those when preaching has been honored. The darkest days of the church have been those when it has been lightly esteemed.” (J.C. Ryle) His Chose Messengers “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him” (Matthew 4:18-22). When our Lord began to preach, he began to gather disciples. In these verses we see our Lord’s calling of two sets of brothers to himself. Here we have an example of the effectual call. Do not overlook the sovereignty of our Lord’s call. What marvellous light and omnipotent grace must have accompanied his words! The effectual, or irresistible call of God the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 1:9; 2 Peter 1:10) is that which he performs by the preaching of the gospel (Romans 10:13; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23-25). It is this gracious call of omnipotent mercy by which sinners who are dead in trespasses and sins are born of God and given faith in Christ. We also have in these verses an example of the call to the gospel ministry. Peter and Andrew, and probably James and John, had been called to Christ earlier (John 1:40-41). They were now called to be preachers of the gospel. They were called by the Lord Jesus Christ himself, not by mere men, but by the Son of God, to be “fishers of men.” What a great privilege this is! These rough, unlearned, Galilean fishermen were chosen and gifted of God to preach the gospel. What were they doing when the Lord Jesus called them? They were taking care of business in their given sphere of life and responsibility. They were fishing. They were mending their nets. “They were busy in a lawful occupation when he called them to be ministers. Our Lord does not call idlers, but fishers!” (C. H. Spurgeon)What did the Master call these men to do? – “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). As ordinary disciples they had been following the Lord, as such it was proper for them to continue in the pursuit of their careers. But now the Lord calls them to the work of the gospel ministry. He separates them to the work of the gospel. God’s preachers are fishers of men. And Christ alone can make men fishers of men. In order for a man to be a fisher of men, in order for a man to be a gospel preacher he must be separated unto the gospel (Romans 1:1). That means that he must follow Christ. His life must be ruled by the Word of God and the direction of God the Holy Spirit. He must drop all earthly interest and concerns. These men left their boats and their nets. Like Peter and Andrew, and these sons of Zebedee, all who are called of God to the great work of preaching the gospel must separate themselves from all earthly concerns, being entirely devoted to the work of the gospel. As James and John left their father Zebedee sitting in the boat, bewildered I imagine, so God’s servants must not allow their dearest relations to keep them from obeying him. Yes, that means that a man who is called of God to preach the gospel is to abandon other occupations, living upon the generosity of those whose souls they serve. God’s preachers are to be supported by the free gifts of God’s people. The Word of God is crystal clear in teaching this (2 Corinthians 8:9; Galatians 6:1-6). The Master’s Miracles “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.” (Matthew 4:23-25). Concerning the miraculous cures the Lord Jesus wrought among men, let me simply point out four things about them. First, they were many. Our Savior was no religious charlatan. He cured every disease known to men. He cured men of the palsy, the greatest weakness of the body. He healed lunatics of their great mental disorders. He cast out devils. And this man, who is God, even raised people from the dead by the mere word of his power. Second, they were miraculous. All were wrought in such an open and public manner that no one questioned their supernatural power. Third, they were merciful. The cures of Christ’s hand were all acts of mercy, free and gratuitous. And, fourth, they were mysterious. Our Lord’s miraculous healings of bodily disease were meant to teach us his power, to typify his great and miraculous works of grace, to show us the tenderness of his heart, and to give indisputable evidence that he is the Christ (Luke 4:17-22). What a delightful, comforting picture the Holy Spirit has here drawn of our blessed Savior. Remember, this is the same Savior who now intercedes for us in heaven and rules all the universe for our everlasting good. Though our Lord Jesus is now exalted, he is “yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). He is yet able and willing to heal. He is yet able and willing to save (Hebrews 7:25). He is yet moved by the needs of his people. Remember what was written of him in Isaiah 63:7-9. ¯ “I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses. For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.” While he walked on this earth in all the days of his humiliation, we are told, “having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” And nothing has changed. Follow the Lord Jesus up to heaven itself and behold “the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne” feeding his own and drying all tears from their eyes forever (Revelation 7:17). Let every believing soul be assured that this Savior will never forget you and will never leave you. It behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest for us; and that is what he is. ¯ “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16). I insert Robert Hawker’s reflections on this chapter, hoping that his prayer may be yours and mine each time we read these verses. “Behold on the close of this chapter, how he, who in the opening of it, is said to have been assaulted by hell, is here manifesting forth his sovereignty as God. Oh! that that dear Lord, who thus in the days of his flesh, went about preaching his gospel, and healing the bodies of the diseased, would now, in the day of his Almighty power, come forth in a preached gospel, and heal the souls of his redeemed. Precious Lord Jesus, behold the diseased state of thy church, and in compassion to Zion take the glorious cause into thine own almighty hand. And as then, so now, Lord, cause the multitudes of thy people to come to thy standard, until thou shalt have brought all thy blood-bought children home to thy church, and all the blessed purposes of thy temptations and ministry be abundantly answered in the salvation of thy chosen. Amen.”