notes

Main point summary

After his Father testifies of Him, the Son is led by the Spirit to tempted by the devil in the wilderness, and unlike Israel, he triumphs.

Arc

editing

NT

Matthew 4:1-11

esv

net

s Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness 1 to be tempted by the devil.

t to be tempted by the devil.

actionpurpose

And after fasting u forty days and forty nights,

After he fasted forty days and forty nights he was famished. 2

he v was hungry.

actionresult

progression

And w the tempter came and said to him,

The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.” 3

“If you are x the Son of God,

command y these stones to become loaves of bread.”

inference

ideaexplanation

But he answered,

But he answered, 4 “It is written, ‘ Man 5 does not live 6 by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God .’” 7

z “It is written,

a “‘Man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word

that comes from the mouth of God.’”

negativepositive

situationresponse

b Then the devil took him to c the holy city

Then the devil took him to the holy city, 8 had him stand 9 on the highest point 10 of the temple,

and set him on the pinnacle of the temple

and said to him,

and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, ‘ He will command his angels concerning you ’ 11 and ‘ with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone .’” 12

“If you are the Son of God,

throw yourself down,

for it is written,

d “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’

and “‘On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

ground

Jesus said to him,

Jesus said to him, “Once again it is written: ‘ You are not to put the Lord your God to the test .’” 13

“Again e it is written,

f ‘You shall not g put the Lord your God to the test.’”

h Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur. 14

and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

locative

And he said to him,

And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you throw yourself to the ground and worship 15 me.”

“All these I will give you,

if you will fall down and worship me.”

conditional

Then Jesus said to him,

Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, 16 Satan! For it is written: ‘ You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him .’” 17

“Be gone, i Satan!

For j it is written,

k “‘You shall worship the Lord your God

and l him only shall you serve.’”

series

Then the devil left him,

Then the devil left him, and angels 18 came and began ministering to his needs.

and behold,

m angels came

and were ministering to him.

cf. 3:17

Isa 13:21; 34:14 Mt 12:43 Rev 18:2;

LXX 1Ch 21:1 Job 1:6–2:7 Zec 3:1–2 Compare Ge 3 2Sa 24:1 Jn 8:37–44 2Co 11:3; 12:7 Rev 12:3–9; 20:1–10

Who brought about the birth of Christ (1:20), witnessed the Father's acknowledgement (3:16) and led Jesus to be tempted? Where was Jesus led? Who all do you remember who were tested in the wilderness? Dt 8:2 What means does God use for testing? What means does God use here? Any other similar examples that you can think of in Scripture? Cf. 2Sa 24:1, 1Ch 21:1; Job 1:6-2:7 Why would the God do this? How would we resolve this and Jas 1:13? What does 3:16-4:2 tell us of God? God shows Jesus who he is. God shows Jesus whose he is. God leads Jesus.

Cf. Deut. 8:2 “Just as God led Israel out of Egypt and through the waters and into the desert (Num 20.5; 1 Bas 12.6; Ps 80.1 LXX; etc., all using anagein [‘to lead up’]), so does the Spirit of God lead Jesus into the desert after he is baptized.” W. D. Davies and D. C. Allison, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel according to Saint Matthew, 1:354.

See Hos 2:14-23 “According to Hosea 2:14-23, the wilderness was the place of Israel’s original sonship, where God had loved His people. Yet because they had forsaken Yahweh their Father, a ‘renewal’ of the exodus into the desert was necessary for the restoration of Israel’s status as the ‘son’ of God. In this new exodus, God’s power and help would be experienced again in a renewed trek into the wilderness.” Garlington, Don B. "Jesus, the Unique Son of God: Tested and Faithful." Bibliotheca Sacra 151:603 (July-September 1994):284-308.

The number 40 frequently has connections with sin and testing in the Old Testament (cf. Gen. 7:4, 12; Num. 14:33; 32:13; Deut. 9:25; 25:3; Ps. 95:10; Jon. 3:4). And Moses and Elijah fasted for that long as well (Exod. 34:28; Deut. 9:9; 1 Kings 19:8) Constables Notes on Matthew

The Greek word translated “tempted” (peirazo) means “to test” in either a good or bad sense. Here God’s objective was to demonstrate the character of His Son by exposing Him to Satan’s tests (cf. 2 Sam. 24:1; Job 1:6—2:7). Scripture consistently teaches that God does not test (Gr. peirazo) anyone (James 1:13). Nevertheless He does allow people to experience testing that comes from the world, the flesh, and the devil (1 John 2:15-17; Rom. 7:18-24; 1 Pet. 5:8). Constable's Notes

πειράζω pi-rad'-zo /peirázō/ Verb strongs: G3985 source: from πεῖρα; I try, tempt, test Inflected: πειρασθῆναι aorist passive infinitive

The word peirasmos (“temptation,” GK 4280) and its cognate verb rarely if ever before the NT mean “temptation” in the sense of “enticement to sin” (whether from inward lust or outward circumstances) but rather “testing” (see comments at 4:1–12). But testing can have various purposes (e.g., refinement, ascertaining the strength of character, enticement to sin) and diverse results (greater purity, self-confidence, growth in faith, sin); as a result, the word can slide over into the entirely negative sense of “temptation.” Carson, D. A.. Matthew (The Expositor's Bible Commentary) (p. 353). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

Cf. Lk 4:1-2

What matters when it comes to testing and temptation? What is your response as you are led by God day by day? What role does the word of God play in your sustenance? How do you plan to depend on it all the more? In what/whom do you find security? Who/what do you see leading you? What do the temptations of Jesus tell you of Jesus as the faithful High Priest? What consequences does that mean for your daily living?

Mark is concise, while Luke and Matthew draw out 3 specific temptations in different orders. Matthew seems to chronologically record the three temptations, while Luke changes the order. Matthew and Mark tie the temptations to Jesus' baptism, while Luke ties it to Jesus' genealogy. This would probably indicate purpose —where Matthew shows Jesus the Son of God to be the better Israel, the son of God and Luke shows Jesus the Son of God to be a better Adam, the son of God.

The Gk form of the 'if' indicates that the devil is not contesting his Sonship, but basing his statements on it. " Since you are the Son of God..." might be an implied reading. The form of the “if” clause in Greek (ei + indicative) does not so much challenge his sonship as assume it to build a doubtful imperative. Satan is not inviting Jesus to doubt his sonship but to reflect on its meaning. Sonship of the living God, he suggests, surely means Jesus has the power and right to satisfy his own needs . Carson, D. A.. Matthew (The Expositor's Bible Commentary) (p. 266). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

What does the devil tell Jesus to do? Why? hunger + he is the Son of God What is Jesus' response? Where is it from? How does Jesus draw this principle from that passage? What does his application tell us about Jesus himself? Based on Satan's suggestion and Jesus' response, what was the point of this temptation? What consequences would we face if Jesus gave into the temptation? Why so?

Dt 8:2-3

Mt 26:53–54 Cf. Heb 3:5–6; Heb 2:10; Heb 5:7-8

Israel demanded its bread but died in the wilderness; Jesus denied himself bread, retained his righteousness, and lived by faithful submission to God’s word. Carson, D. A.. Matthew (The Expositor's Bible Commentary) (p. 267). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

cf. Ne 11:1; Isa 48:2; Da 9:24; Mt 27:53

Exod. 16; Num. 11 Cf. Ps 78:18

Where does the devil 'take him'? What does he tell Jesus to do? Why? Why does Satan use Scripture here? This Psalm is for the faithful. If you trust in God and his word, prove it. What does Satan's use of Scripture tell us about how not to use Scripture? What does Jesus say? Where does he take this from? What does the OT context of Dt 1-16 indicate? Why does Jesus say "again/also"? What principle does Jesus apply —what's wrong with 'testing' God? Based on Satan's suggestion and Jesus' response, what was the point of this temptation?

Psalm 91:11–12 refers to anyone who trusts God and thus preeminently to Jesus. The angels will lift such a person up in their hands like a nurse a baby (cf. Nu 11:12; Dt 1:31; Isa 49:22; Heb 1:14). At the temple, the place where God has particularly manifested himself, Jesus is tempted to test his sonship (“If you are the Son of God”) against God’s pledge to protect his own. Deuteronomy 6:16 was Jesus’ reply. Carson, D. A.. Matthew (The Expositor's Bible Commentary) (p. 267). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

Dt 6:16-17 Cf. Ex 17:2–7; Nu 20:1–13; Ps 95:7-9; Hb 3-4

For both Israel and Jesus, demanding miraculous protection as proof of God’s care was wrong ; the appropriate attitude is trust and obedience (Dt 6:17). Carson, D. A.. Matthew (The Expositor's Bible Commentary) (p. 267). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

Possibly part of the vision

Cf. Mt 28:16

Conveniently skipped the sin.

What does Satan do and show Jesus next? What does he not show? How does that contrast the way Jesus saw the world? He came to save people from their sins, not ignore it. When we look at a world of humanity, what two aspects should we keep in mind, as Jesus did? What does the devil tell Jesus to do? Why? All authority was to be given to Jesus. The devil was offering a shortcut apart from the cross and through idolatry What is Jesus' response? Who really had authority? Where did Jesus paraphrase from? Do we know what happens to Satan's kingdoms later? Based on Satan's suggestions and Jesus' response, what is the point of this temptation? Putting all three temptations together, in light of Mt 3, what is the point of Matthew's recording these? What do they tell us about the Son of God? Kingly authority+submission=suffering servant, Son of God, tied back to his mission What does the devil do next? Who is seen to come after? What is Matthew indicating with all of this? God's path leads to his faithfulness being seen Jesus was tempted, not just here, but constantly after (cf. 16:23, Jn 12:20-33) What do these temptations tell us about our own temptations? Our temptations may objectively seem dumb (anyone reading can see how silly this is), but the are dangerous and real. Who should be at the forefront as we are tested? How? Who is Jesus, the Son of God, based on this passage? What emphases stand out? Here is the better Israel Meditate on Heb 2:10; 3:5-6 and 5:7-8

Ex 23:20–33; Dt 6:13

The time would come when Jesus’ expanding kingdom would progressively destroy the kingdom Satan had to offer (12:25–28; cf. Lk 10:18). The day still lies ahead when King Messiah’s last enemy is destroyed (1Co 15:25–26). But Jesus achieves it all without compromising his filial submission to the Father. Carson, D. A.. Matthew (The Expositor's Bible Commentary) (p. 268). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

Jesus lived by God's word. God's word informed him of his mission as king and suffering servant who needed to 'learn obedience by what he suffered'. God's word informed him of his identity as God's beloved Son in whom he found pleasure and so he was never insecure about provision or protection. And thus did Jesus live.

Jesus had refused to relieve his hunger by miraculously turning stones to bread; now he is fed supernaturally. He had refused to throw himself off the temple heights in the hope of angelic help; now angels feed him. He had refused to take a shortcut to inherit the kingdom of the world; now he fulfills Scripture by beginning his ministry and announcing the kingdom in Galilee of the Gentiles (ver 12–17). Carson, D. A.. Matthew (The Expositor's Bible Commentary) (p. 268). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

discourse

Notes

In the light of Mt 3:17, this passage showcases Jesus' perceptions of his own identity and also his relationship to Israel, based on the Scriptures he quotes to the tempter. Here then is not merely a better Adam (Lk 2-4:13 inserts the genealogy before the temptation narrative), but the true and better Israel, who triumphs in the wilderness —not avoiding the road of human suffering that leads to the cross. 4:1-2 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 'Then', soon after his baptism, the same Spirit who brings Jesus into the world and bears witness to his Father's approval of him, leads Jesus into the wilderness with an explicit purpose —to be tested by the devil. The wilderness has strong links to Dt 8:2, which Jesus quotes. And this parallel of Israel and Jesus is emphatic: Israel wandered 40 years in the wilderness. Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness Both Israel and Jesus hungered, and their hunger had lessons to learn (see Dt 8:2-3) Both were tested by God —Israel was tested after the Egyptian redemption. Jesus was tested after his baptism Both had an appointed mission, and this testing was preparation for that. Both were 'sons of God'. But Israel demanded bread in their hunger, while Jesus refused to compromise his mission over bread. One died in the wilderness, the other triumphed through it. One son failed, yet pointed to the real Son who would never fail. 4:3-4 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Since Jesus is the Son of God, the devil asks Jesus to use his power to satisfy his hunger (the 'if' is not questioning, but is easier read as 'since you are the Son...'). Jesus, however, quotes the word of God from Dt 8:3 to show that the most important thing for a man (Jesus being a man) is dependence on God's word, as opposed to, in this case, independent, self-serving bread-making. Jesus lived by God's word. God's word informed him of his mission not just as king, but suffering servant (Is 50-53). So he 'learned obedience by what he suffered' (Heb 2:10; Heb 5:8). God's most recent word (Mt 3:16-17) informed him of his identity as God's beloved Son (incorporating Isaiah’s ‘servant’ language) in whom he found pleasure. So he was never insecure about the Father's provision or protection, for it was the word of God that drove him. And thus did Jesus, the true Israel, live (see Jn 4:34 and Mt 26:53-54). 4:5-6 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” Perhaps in a vision, the devil then takes Jesus to Jerusalem (the holy city) and stands him on the highest point of the temple. He then tells Jesus to throw himself down, because "it is written" in Ps 91:11-12 that angels would carry the faithful person to safety, as a nurse carrying a baby (cf. Nu 11:12; Dt 1:31; Isa 49:22; Heb 1:14). Since Jesus is such a faithful man and since his dependence is on the word of God, Satan asks him then, to live by the word of God (Mt 4:4). 4:7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Jesus responds by clarifying that Scripture doesn't stop at Dt 8:3, but also (‘again’) expects the faithful to not put God to the test, as he quotes the first part of Dt 6:16-19. Jesus knew full well that God would protect him. But dependence on God and his word is not demanding proof of God's care. Instead faith is diligent obedience from humble trust that God will in fact protect and provide, just as he has done and is already doing. Dt 6:1-15 shows the repeated faithfulness of YHWH. The right response is loving him with all one's being and trusting his continued faithfulness, instead of testing him as Israel did earlier (Ex 17:2–7; Nu 20:1–13; Ps 95:7-9). So again, in the wilderness, we see the better Son triumph in his trusting God, where Israel failed in their testing God. 4:8-10 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” Satan then takes Jesus to a tall mountain, perhaps within the vision, and shows Jesus all the 'kingdoms' of the world with their splendour (while conveniently avoiding their fallenness). Satan, in one sense, could offer Jesus these (cf. 12:25-28; Luke 10:18; Eph. 2:2) and if Jesus worshiped Satan, he would have 'sovereignty' over all the kingdoms —which was his calling as Messiah, the King (Ps 2). While Satan offers to sidestep the cross (the same cross which would actually remove the sin from these splendid kingdoms) through idolatry, Jesus recognised the heinousness of it and banishes Satan with Dt 6:13, which is sandwiched between Israel's forgetfulness of God at Sinai and the command to follow God instead of Caanan's gods. As Israel, the son of God was called to unswerving allegiance to sovereign YHWH, so also Jesus, the Son of God, was called (Mt 3:17). His path was clear —for all authority to be given to him, he needed to endure the cross (Note the 'therefore' of Phil 2:8-11). He was Messiah the King and he was Messiah the Suffering-Servant. His mission was clear (Mt 3:16-17). 4:11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. The devil leaves him 'until an opportune time' (Lk 4:13), but Jesus' habit of trust and obedience to the will of his Father is established as well as his clarity of mission —in submission and authority, in his twin role of Messiah-Servant and Messiah-King, commissioned by his Father in Mt 3:17. And while Jesus had refused to relieve his hunger by miraculously turning stones to bread; now he is fed supernaturally. He had refused to throw himself off the temple heights in the hope of angelic help; now angels feed him. He had refused to take a shortcut to inherit the kingdom of the world; now he fulfills Scripture by beginning his ministry and announcing the kingdom in Galilee of the Gentiles (ver 12–17). — Carson, D. A.. Matthew (The Expositor's Bible Commentary) (p. 268). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

Application

Based on this passage, what matters when it comes to testing and temptation? What is your response as you are led by God day by day? What role does the word of God play in your daily sustenance? How do you plan to depend on it all the more? In what/whom do you find security? Who/what do you see leading you? What do the temptations of Jesus tell you of Jesus as the faithful High Priest? What consequences does that mean for your daily living? How does this help you worship God?

Look-up

Luke 4:1-13

The Temptation of Jesus 4 1 Then 1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River 2 and was led by the Spirit 3 in 4 the wilderness, 5 2 where for forty days he endured temptations 6 from the devil. He 7 ate nothing 8 during those days, and when they were completed, 9 he was famished. 3 The devil said to him, “If 10 you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 11 4 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘ Man 12 does not live by bread alone .’” 13 5 Then 14 the devil 15 led him up 16 to a high place 17 and showed him in a flash all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he 18 said to him, “To you 19 I will grant this whole realm 20 - and the glory that goes along with it, 21 for it has been relinquished 22 to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish. 7 So then, if 23 you will worship 24 me, all this will be 25 yours.” 8 Jesus 26 answered him, 27 “It is written, ‘ You are to worship 28 the Lord 29 your God and serve only him .’” 30 9 Then 31 the devil 32 brought him to Jerusalem, 33 had him stand 34 on the highest point of the temple, 35 and said to him, “If 36 you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written, ‘ He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you ,’ 37 11 and ‘ with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone .’” 38 12 Jesus 39 answered him, 40 “It is said, ‘ You are not to put the Lord your God to the test .’” 41 13 So 42 when the devil 43 had completed every temptation, he departed from him until a more opportune time. 44

Mark 1:12-13

12 The Spirit immediately drove him into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, 26 enduring temptations from Satan. He 27 was with wild animals, and angels were ministering to his needs. 28

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