THE BOOK OF MATTHEW - CHAPTER # 4 - THE NEW TESTAMENT

MATTHEW 4:1__25 _Jesus the Messiah Begins to Advance the Messianic kingdom, Jesus triumphs over the devil in the wilderness (Verses 1:11), proclaims the kingdom of God (Verses 12__17), and calls disciples to follow him (Verses 18__22).

MATTHEW 4:1__11 _TEMPTATIONS OF THE MESSIAH. The temptations are a disabolical attempt to subvert God's plan for human redemption by causing Jesus to fall into sin and disobedience, thus disqualifying him as the sinless Savior.

MATTHEW 4:1 _JESUS WAS LED UP BY THE SPIRIT. The Holy Spirit guided Jesus in his earthly life, providing a pattern for Jesus followers to be empowered and led by the Holy Spirit (See GALATIANS 5:16; 5:17; 5:18). The Greek for TEMPTED (pelizazo) can also mean "test" While God clearly never tempts anyone to do evil (See JAMES 1:13), he does use circumstances to test a person's charater (HEBREW 11:17). BY THE DEVIL. Diabolos (Greek"slanderer, accuser") is here preceded by the definite article to indicate that this one who tempts Jesus is uniquely "the devil" (See MATTHEW 4:5; 8, 11; 13:29; 25:41). Although the devil intends to thwart God's plan and purposes, the Father uses his evil intention for the good purpose of strengthening Jesus in his messianic role.
MATTHEW 4:2 _FASTING FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS. Jesus experience of 40 days of fasting in the wilderness corresponds to Israel's experience of 40 years of testing in the wilderness (DEUTERONOMY 8:2__3). Jesus endured his testing victoriously and obediently. Moses also fasted and prayed for 40 days and nights on two occasions (EXODUS 24:18; 34:28; DEUTRONOMY 9:9, 11, 18, 25; 10:10; Elijah 1 KINGS 19:8). Fasting was a means of focusing intently on prayer. Forty days is about the longest a human can fast without permanent bodily harm.
4:3 _IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD. Jesus, of course, was (and is) the Son of God, but he refused to be tricked by the devil into using his divine prerogatives to make the trial any easier for himself. Jesus obeyed as a man, as the representative for all who believe, so as to "fulfill all righteousness" (3:15) on behalf of his people.
4:4 _IT IS WRITTEN. Jesus responds to each temptation by quoting from Deuteronomy, linking his experience to Israel's in the desert. In DEUTERONOMY 8:2 Moses reminds the Israelites of God's testing through hunger and his miraculous provision of manna.
4::5 _THE HOLY CITY is Jerusalem, and the PINNACLE OF THE TEMPLE is probably the southeast coner of the temple area, the top of which was some 300 feet above the floor the Kinron Valley (Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 15:4__11; 4:12).
4:6__7 _FOR IT IS WRITTEN. The devil's quotation of Psalm 91 is a blatant misuse of Scripture in an effort to manipulate Jesus. Such a spectaclar display as jumping from this great height unharmed would have gained him an enthusiatic following, but it would not have followed the Father's messianic and redemptive plan of suffering and proclaiming the kingdom of heaven.
4:9 _FALL DOWN AND WORSHIP ME. The devil offers a shortcut to Jesus future reign in God's kingdom__a shortcut that side-steps Jesus redemptive work on the cross and comes at the cost of exchanging the love of the Father for the worship of Satan. ALL THESE I WILL GIVE YOU was a lie (See LUKE 4:5__8; JOHN 8:44).