THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 4 – Part 1, The Temptation of Jesus

 

THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 4, Part 1

The Temptation of Jesus

This book is described as being written as a narrative. We will change the use of this book from the narrative into the prophetic, creative, causative and instructional word of God; which, once absorbed into your mind, soul and spirit, will transform you in ways you cannot imagine; closer than ever, into the image and likeness of Christ Jesus.

WARNING: Enter at your own risk. If you will pray, read, and meditate the words of Jesus from the book of Matthew and absorb them into your mind, soul and spirit, you may begin to experience a transformation, which at times will be exhilarating and at other times may be some of the most bewildering and difficult days of your life.

This experience has been, inadequately called, by many theologians and Bible teachers, ‘the process of sanctification’. (The process of making or becoming holy, set apart, sanctification, holiness, consecration; the believer being progressively transformed by the Lord into His likeness, and the similarity of His nature.) And, indeed it is. But when you make this personal, it becomes much more. I will be calling this process, “The Journey to Perfection”.

Hebrews 10:14-18

“For by One Offering, He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”

Please let this be your guide into the mysterious wonders of becoming a disciple of Jesus, being inspired, taught, and at times, rebuked by God for your correction and for training in righteousness, so that you, the man or woman of God, may be entirely capable, and fully equipped for every good work!

Here is how it all began:

The Temptation of Jesus

Matthew 4:1, Then Jesus was led by the [Holy] Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Verse 2. After He had gone without food for forty days and forty nights, He became hungry.

(Commentary Break: Remember, if you desire to follow Jesus, you also, will encounter and have to endure these prophetic words found in Matthew Chapter 4. Endure to the end, and you will be ministered to by Angels, and you will see the Glory of the Lord in the land of the living. You will be one of His Disciples.

Be aware, that following Jesus is not just about attending church and saying you believe in Him. Following Him means you go where He goes, and you will do what He does.

WHEN was Jesus led up by the Spirit? Immediately after His baptism. Don’t be surprised or taken unaware that this testing begins so quickly. So will it be with you.

He was led up by the Spirit. WHO led Jesus?

The very Spirit of God. This is the Spirit of God, present at creation. The Spirit of God who comforts, guides, leads, empowers, convicts of sin, prays on your behalf with Words and Groanings, too deep for our understanding. Jesus is showing us, by His example, that this is the path we must walk to become His Disciple. This is one of the most powerful events in the life of a Believer and Follower of Jesus. It is not imaginary. This is deadly serious and gloriously real.

He was led into the wilderness, (the Judean desert ). WHERE was Jesus led?

The Judean wilderness was and is a dangerous, barren, dry, life-threatening environment. There were scarce resources of food and water, or no resources at all. The temperatures were extreme. Any wildlife that could survive in these areas were predatory. This is where the Spirit led Jesus, and likewise, where He will lead the willing Disciple. This is an apt description of what you may endure in your preparation to follow Jesus and become His Disciple. Be warned!

He was to be tempted by the devil. Tempted by WHOM? The Devil; and he is real. He is “the ruler of this world,” a spirit creature who became wicked and rebelled against God. (see John 14:30 and Ephesians 6 verses 11 and 12) The Bible reveals the Devil’s personality through these names and descriptions, and the methods and techniques he will use against you:

Satan, which means “Resister.”—Job 1:6.

Devil, which means “Slanderer.”—Revelation 12:9.

Serpent, which is used in the Bible to mean “Deceiver.”—2^nd  Corinthians 11:3.

Tempter.—Matthew 4:3.

Liar.—John 8:44.

Some view Satan, the Devil, as just a principle or quality of evil that exists inside our mind. The devil is not a principle or quality of evil. The Bible records a conversation between God and Satan and remember, God is perfect, so he could not have been talking to an evil part of himself. The devil is real, and you will be tested by this evil one, at some time. Be prepared.

Matthew 4:2 says, “And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.”

And after He had fasted… WHEN?

After He had fasted. Not before, not during. It was after He had fasted, He became “hungry”. The importance of this one verse take will take prayer, study to gain a proper understanding.

Fasted. Abstaining from food and nourishment. We have to put this fasting into the context of these verses. Jesus was led into the wilderness where He had no food, no water, no companionship, no resources, no help. He was isolated and alone, except for the Spirit of God. His physical Self was at great risk.

This fast began with no food, but continued with the lack of any sustenance for His physical, mental, or emotional well-being. This fast intensified as it affected every aspect of Jesus, yet Jesus obeyed and followed the Spirit.

And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights. HOW long? The significance of the “forty days and forty nights” cannot be ignored.

Before his temptation, Jesus fasted “forty days and forty nights” in the Judean desert. (see Matthew 4:2, Mark 1:13, and Luke 4:2).

Forty days was the period from the resurrection of Jesus to the ascension of Jesus. (see Acts 1:3).

Biblical verse Numbers 14:33-34 alludes to the same with ties to the prophecy in The Book of Daniel. “For forty years; one year for each of the forty days you explored the land; you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.'”

In modern Christian practice, Lent consists of the 40 days preceding Easter. In much of Western Christianity, Sundays are excluded from the count; in Eastern Christianity, Sundays are included.

Rain fell for “forty days and forty nights” during the Flood. (see Genesis 7:4).

The number forty symbolizes a period of testing, trial or probation. In fact, the word “tempted” in this verse “to be tempted by the devil” means to try, make trial of, test: for the purpose of ascertaining his quality, or what he thinks, or how he will behave himself. So it will be for you and me.

Remember, this is Jesus going before us, enduring the Trial, and showing us the way which we must go, also. But, He assures us that we, too, can endure, because He has gone before us.

Likewise, as a true Believer and Follower of Jesus there comes a time when we will find ourselves seemingly without help, without hope, without resources, at risk, isolated, with circumstance intensifying. Now the Great Work of God is beginning in our life. Endure this to the end, following the example of Jesus carefully.)

Matthew 4:2 says, “And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.”

He became WHAT? He became Hungry. No food or water for 40 days and 40 nights in a hot, dry, barren wasteland, He became hungry. This sounds logical. But, take a closer look at the word “hungry” as it appears in the language it was written:

The word “Hungry”, as translated from the Greek language is ‘Ptochos’, and means not only physical hunger, but it means “to become poor, needy, suffer want, earnestly crave, the pinching toil of poverty, to be crushed in spirit, to pine”.

This is of the same base word found in Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Poor: Ptochos (from the Greek word in Strong’s concordance),

1). reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms, destitute of wealth, influence, position, honor, lowly, afflicted, destitute of the Christian virtues and eternal riches. Helpless, powerless to accomplish an end; poor, needy, lacking in anything, respects their spirit. Destitute of the wealth of learning and intellectual culture which the schools afford. It is people of this class most readily give themselves up to Christ’s teaching and proved themselves fitted to lay hold of the heavenly treasure.

This is the state that allows us to turn to God, void of all our own resources, humbly crying out, “help me, Father, for I am needy”.

Remember, It is he or she who endures to the end, who will be His Disciple.

Hear the Words of Jesus in Matthew 19, verse 24 through 29:

“Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?”

And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?”

And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.

The testing is about to begin and The Greatest Work of God in your life is at hand. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 3. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” Verse 4. But Jesus replied, “It is written and forever remains written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT COMES OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’”

(Commentary Break:  In this case, when Jesus says, ”Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”, He uses the word ‘Rhema’ which is the spoken Word of God. Jesus speaks the known, written Word of God to counter and to negate the tests and temptations of the devil.

Can this be true for us? Likewise, you also are to speak the known Word of God, (the ‘Rhema-word)’, that is the known, written Word of God to counter and to negate the tests and temptations of the devil.

Why is this necessary? Because Jesus has told us, ‘this is the way’.

Is it possible for you to do this?

Being a Christian, a disciple of Jesus, is not a casual relationship nor is it a convenient pursuit. It is hard. It takes work, discipline, dedication and commitment. But It is the only way to life and true peace. (see Romans 8:6).

So, if you prefer a life with purpose and meaning, a life full and abundant, then don’t “live by bread alone, but live by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

If you prefer a life with peace in your heart in mind, at peace with people and with God, don’t “live by bread alone, but live by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (End Commentary Break)

Verse 5. Then the devil took Him into the holy city [Jerusalem] and placed Him on the pinnacle (highest point) of the temple. Verse 6. And he said [mockingly] to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written,

‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU [to serve, care for, protect and watch over You]’; and, ‘THEY WILL LIFT YOU UP ON their HANDS, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’”

Verse 7. Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written and forever remains written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT TEST THE LORD YOUR GOD.’”

Verse 8. Again, the devil took Him up on a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory [splendor, magnificence, and excellence] of them; verse 9, and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.”

Verse 10. Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written and forever remains written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’” Verse 11. Then the devil left Him; and angels came and ministered to Him [bringing Him food and serving Him].

(Commentary Break: Jesus was tested, (tempted), after He had weakened his flesh by fasting and had wandered a treacherous and dangerous landscape for 40 days. He was tested in His mind, in His body and in His soul. This is the testing we must endure as we follow Jesus.

Our testing however, will not suddenly end. Our testing is to be endured until we are safely with Him, one day, in glory. Our testing is our Journey to Perfection. Our lifelong process of being sanctified in preparation for our eternal home with Him and with one another. (End Commentary Break).

The Chapter ends with the testing and temptation of Jesus. The second half of Chapter 4, begins with Jesus entering Galilee, His earthly ministry, and the calling and teaching His disciples. We will see that Jesus leads and teaches by example. The model for future generations of Christians, which, sadly, is rarely followed any longer and the church suffers the conseqneces.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT: (coming soon), THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 4 – Part 2, Jesus Begins His Ministry, The First Disciples, Galilee.

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