Matthew 4

Matthew 4:1

Chapter 3 closed with the account of the water baptism of Jesus Christ. Indeed, this was when He was baptized in the Holy Spirit as well, for although Jesus had been conceived by the Spirit, and had the Spirit residing within Him, at the time of His water baptism, the Spirit came upon Him to empower Him for ministry. This was a crucial moment in the life of Jesus, and I believe we need to experience such a moment in our lives if we want to minister and serve effectively. How? Simply by saying, “I need to be filled with Your Spirit, Lord. I need Your Spirit to come upon me, to empower me.” And in faith we receive it at that time. Then we move on to minister effectively, for it is truly “not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zec_4:6). So here is Jesus. The Holy Spirit has come upon Him. He has heard a voice from heaven, and no doubt, He must have been on a real high. Then chapter 4 begins. It is often true that after the blessings come the battles. On the heels of His baptism, the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness, where He would encounter the enemy.

Matthew 4:2

Fasting for forty days was not unknown to those who studied the Scriptures and to the people of Israel familiar with their history. Exo_34:28 says when Moses was given the Law on Mount Horeb, he neither ate nor drank for forty days. In 1 Kings 19, we read Elijah also fasted for forty days after the Lord sent an angel who gave him a certain kind of food that was able to sustain him for that period of time. Moses and Elijah both fasted forty days. Jesus fasted forty days, and later in Matthew’s account, we will see how we are to act when we fast as well. We live in a society addicted not only to alcohol and lust, but to all sorts of things. I suggest to you the reason could be because, as a society, we have ignored the simple principle of fasting, of saying no to the appetites of our bodies on a regular basis. If you feel an addictive pull in some area of your life, try saying no to your stomach’s demands for a meal for a day or a week. When you deny the physical to concentrate on the spiritual, a dynamic occurs that I believe will very definitely help you overcome evil. After forty days in the wilderness seeking His Father and denying His flesh, Jesus was hungry. Physiologists tell us that when one fasts for that length of time, he loses his appetite completely. His hunger returns only when he is on the verge of death. Therefore, at this point, in His fortieth day, Jesus was literally starving to death. Physically, His body systems were crying out, and He was about to die if not nourished soon. It was at this point that Satan came to tempt Him. Now before we consider the temptation of Jesus, I want you to remember that it was the Spirit who led Him into the wilderness. Why would the Spirit lead Jesus into the place where temptation was certain? I believe there are two reasons, both important for us to understand. Jesus was led into the wilderness to reveal who He is. 1Co_15:45 declares that Jesus is the last Adam. I am reminded of the first Adam in the Garden of Eden who was also tempted directly by Satan. The first Adam was in a beautiful garden. The last Adam was in a barren, forsaken desert. The first Adam ate freely of things except one forbidden fruit. The last Adam ate nothing for forty days. The first Adam was physically strong. The last Adam was on the verge of death. The first Adam blew it. He was the ultimate “Adam Bomb.” He gave in to the temptation of Satan and thereby plunged all of humanity into a lost and hopeless situation. The last Adam, Jesus Christ, did not bomb out. He came through, and in so doing, He reveals to us who He is, the One who conquered sin. Jesus was led into the wilderness not only reveal to us who He is, but also to relate to us as we are. The Book of Hebrews puts it this way: Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. 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.Heb_2:17-18; Heb_4:15 No matter what sin you’re struggling with, no matter what temptation seems to attack you constantly, Jesus is a merciful High Priest who prays for you effectively because He feels with you sympathetically. He is not shocked by your sin, for according to Heb_4:15, He has been tempted in all points as we areand “all” in Greek means all. As our compassionate High Priest, Jesus says, “I understand why you are so critical or negative, lustful or cynical, hateful or vengeful, lazy or slothful.” He understands because He was tempted in all points as we areyet without sin. He became like us that He might relate to us, and be strength for us in time of temptation.

Matthew 4:3

In the wilderness, there are multiplied millions of round limestone rocks that look remarkably like little loaves of bread. No doubt, as Jesus fasted, those rocks must have taken on the appearance of bread. And now Satan comes to Him and says, “If You’re the Son of God, turn these stones into bread.” What is the Enemy doing here? He’s questioning the Father’s provision. During Jesus’ baptism, God identified Him as His beloved Son. Now Satan comes on the scene, challenging the very words God had spoken, saying, “If You really are the Son of God, why are You hungry? If You are the Son of God, why is this happening?” Satan does the same thing in your life and mine when he comes to us and says, “If you are a child of God, where’s the Father’s provision? Why are those bills piling up? Why is there a lack in your life physically or materially?” He comes to us and whispers in our ears, “Do something in your own power. Exercise your faith. Make it happen now.” But God would have us be patient. We are His children. And He promises He will meet our needs as we pray for our daily bread. Most of us want to reach the Promised Land without ever going through the wilderness. We want to get there immediately, but the Father says, “No. There’s a time of preparation. Wait. Don’t panic. I will provide.” Like the man who prayed, “Lord, is it true that to You a million years is like a second?” “Yes,” the Lord answered. “Wow. Is it also true that a million dollars is like a penny?” “Yes.” “Well, Father, could I have a penny?” “Sure. Just a second.” We need to realize the Lord’s timing is different from ours. Jesus knew this. He would not push or rush the Father by taking things into His own hands. He would wait. And soonperhaps only hours laterangels would come to Him. Instead of eating dry little loaves of bread, He would dine on angel food cake! How often I settle for bread because I try to do things in my own energy instead of waiting for the Father’s perfect timing and the angel food cake.

Matthew 4:4

“The issue,” Jesus said, “is not the material realm. More important than physical food is the spiritual food I find in God’s Word.” Jesus said that it’s not the material realm that is important. Man shall not live by bread alone. For you who are involved in the argument over inspiration of Scripture, please note that Jesus quoted Deuteronomy and said, “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Deu_8:3). It’s not just the thoughts that are inspired. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy and declared that every word proceeds out of the mouth of God and is inspired by God. Every word is God-breathed.

Matthew 4:5

Quoting Psalms 91, verses Psa_91:11 and Psa_91:12, Satan now questions the Father’s protection. “Do You believe Your Father will really protect You, Jesus? Prove it. Prove it to Yourself, prove it to me, and prove it to all of Israel. Go to the pinnacle of the temple and jump down. Doesn’t Psalms 91 declare that God will give His angels charge over You to keep You from even stubbing Your toe?” Satan quotes Scripture, but always omits a phrase or two in the process. Psalms 91, verse Psa_91:11 actually says, “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways"in all God’s ways. Jesus knew this and answered accordingly.

Matthew 4:7

“The Father will provide for Me, and the Father will protect Me, but I’m not going to test Him in order to satisfy you or anyone else. Scripture says, Satan, that I am not to test God.” Don’t take Scripture out of context. Don’t test God. If you lie on the freeway saying, “I’m going to prove right now that God is with me and that He will keep me,” He’ll keep you, all rightin heaven! Don’t tempt the Lord. Don’t say, “I wonder how far I can go and not get hurt. I wonder how much I can be like the world without really being in the world.” Don’t do it. Don’t jump off the temple to prove your spirituality, your liberty, or your maturity. Jesus said, “I’m not going to give in to this temptation. I know My Father is with Me. I know He will protect Me. I don’t have to prove it.”

Matthew 4:8

Lastly, Satan questions the Father’s promise. The Father had promised all things to His Son. But Satan came to Jesus saying, “The world is mine to give You if You worship me.” How did Satan gain control of the world? Originally, God gave man dominion over the earth, but when Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, he turned the title deed of planet earth over to Satan. Satan, therefore, had the right to say to Jesus, “I’ll give You the whole world right now. You don’t have to go the way of the Cross. It isn’t necessary for You to plunge into hell. I’ll give the world to You if You’ll simply fall down and worship me. Take a shortcut! The promise of the Father? Who knows when it will be fulfilled or even if it will be fulfilled. Fall down, and You can have it all now!” And God promises to you, single brother, that He is going to bless you. He whispers the promise in your heart that at the right time, He is going to send someone with whom you can walk in the way of the Lord. But Satan comes to you and says, “Are you sure that promise is going to come to pass? Let me give it to you now. Oh, I know she isn’t a Christian, but you can influence her in the right direction. She’ll go to church with you. No big deal. It’ll be fine.” Satan comes to us and begins to question whether we can trust the Father’s promise that if we delight ourselves in Him, He will give us the desires of our heart. “Why are you hungry? Where is your Father’s provision?” He says. “Jump! Or do you doubt your Father’s protection? Make it happen now! Don’t wait for your Father’s promise.” If you analyze the temptations that come your way, I think you will find every one will fall into one of these three categories: you will be tempted to deny the Father’s provision, to doubt the Father’s protection, or to despair of the Father’s promise.

Matthew 4:11

How did Jesus overcome Satan? First, He quoted Scripture. Whether He was dealing with questions of provision, protection, or promise, in all three cases, Jesus quoted Scripture. This encourages me because I can do the same thing. When the Enemy attacks, I can quote Scripture. So can you! You can do exactly what Jesus did. If you don’t have one, I recommend The Jesus Person Pocket Promise Book, which contains eight hundred promises from the Word, written in categories to fit every situation. Eight hundred promises for you to utilize when the Enemy says, “The Father is not providing for you. He’s not really going to protect you. That promise is not meant for you.” Quote Scripture. But notice when Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone,” He was saying, “I am not going to live by bread alone. The material realm is not going to have priority for Me.” When He said, “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God,” He was saying, “I am not going to do it because the Word forbids it.” When He said, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve,” He was saying, “I will serve My Father and Him alone.” Many Christians are under the mistaken impression that by simply quoting Scripture, Satan is going to run away. But Satan himself can quote Scripture. So can the demons. The power lies in submission to the Word, not in recitation of it. Satan flees when he hears us say, “I will do it,” not, “I can quote it.” Notice the three Scriptures quoted are all from Deuteronomy 6 and 8a relatively small portion of Scripture. Personally, I believe Jesus was having His devotions in that particular passage when the temptations came His way. Meditating upon the Word of God is crucial because Satan comes to me when I least expect him. He doesn’t say, “Jon, I’m going to meet you in three days. Get ready.” No, he watches and waits until he sees I am in a place of weakness, frustration, tension, fatigue, or transition, andboom!he’ll strike. Ephesians 6 says the Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit. Learn the Word. Meditate upon the Word. Stay in the Word. And like Jesus, in submission to the Word, you’ll beat back the Enemy.

Matthew 4:12

Galilee, located in northern Israel, was a province comprised of two hundred four villages and over fifteen thousand people. It was called “Region of Death” by the Jews in Jerusalem because, throughout Israel"s history, the Gentiles would constantly wage war in this area. Consequently, there were many mixed marriages and a great deal of Gentile influence within Galilee. The “cool” Jews went to Jerusalem. Jesus said, “I’m going to Galilee where all the outcasts arethe people who are looked down on, the people who have funny accentsthat’s where I’ll be.”

Matthew 4:13

I don’t blame the Lord for making His headquarters in Capernaum! Nestled on the edge of the Sea of Galilee, it’s a beautiful beach town.

Matthew 4:14

Jesus set up His headquarters among those who were sitting in a darkened region, in the midst of the ones who were looked down upon by their countrymen. The same is still true today. Jesus looks for those who feel unworthy, on the periphery, in the dark. The person who feels most out of it is the one within whom Jesus is most ready to set up His headquarters.

Matthew 4:17

The phrase “the kingdom of heaven” appears thirty-two times in Matthew’s Gospel, while “the kingdom of God” is used only five times. Since the two phrases are basically interchangeable, why would Matthew be the only one to use “the kingdom of heaven,” while Mark, Luke, and John refer to the “kingdom of God”? The reason is because the Jewish people were looking for a literal, physical, temporal, material kingdom based in Israel. In writing about “the kingdom of heaven,” Matthew is saying, “Jesus talked not about a physical kingdom, but a spiritual kingdomthe kingdom of heaven. It’s bigger than just you Jews. It’s larger in scope and entirely different in substance.”

Matthew 4:18

Here we see the call of James, John, Peter, and Andrew. We know from John’s Gospel that at this point, these men already knew Jesus. Here, however, He is calling them into ministry. “Follow Me,” Jesus said. He didn’t say, “Take a course in evangelism.” He didn’t say, “Study this book, go to this seminar, or practice this technique.” He said, “If you hang out with Me, I’m going to be changing you, and inevitably you’ll become like Mea fisher of men.” Notice what Peter was doing when he was called. He was casting his net into the sea because Peter was bold and evangelistic in orientation. On the Day of Pentecost, it was Peter who preached. As a result, three thousand were saved"caught up” in his glorious net of the gospel. John, on the other hand, wasn’t casting nets, but mending them when Jesus called him. John, who would later become known as the “apostle of love,” would go on to write epistles that would mend the church and mend people. I believe the Holy Spirit inspired these vignettes to illustrate how the disciples’ eventual ministries were already seen in what they were doing naturally. God has a way of turning the natural into the supernatural through His grace and for His glory.

Matthew 4:23

Note the order: teaching first, then preaching, and finally healing. Teaching consists of laying down principles and precepts. Preaching is for the purpose of stimulating and proclaiming. Healing is the manifestation, the outworking of teaching and preaching. I believe the reason so many healing ministries are unbalanced and harmful is because they lack foundational teaching. If Jesus is our example, teaching and preaching must precede healing.

Matthew 4:24

Those who were demonized, those who were paralyzed, those who were hurtingJesus healed them all.

Matthew 4:25

The towns named here cover a one hundred-mile radius. People would literally walk hundreds of miles to see Jesus. Next time you are tempted to complain about your long trip to church, remember this verse!