1.
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Then. Immediately after His anointing as Messiah, "the second man" (1 Corinthians 15:47 ), "the last Adam" (1 Corinthians 15:45 ), must be tried like "the first man Adam" (1 Corinthians 15:45 , 1 Corinthians 15:47 ), and in the same three ways (1 John 2:16 . Compare with Genesis 3:6 ).
Jesus. See App-98 .
of = by. Greek. hupo. App-104 .
the Spirit. App-101 .
into. Greek. eis. App-104 .
wilderness. The first man was in the garden; Messiah's trial was in the wilderness, and His agony in a garden. Contrast Israel: fed with manna and disobedient, Christ hungered and obedient.
tempted = tried, or put to the test. Greek. peirazo; from peiro, to pierce through, so as to test.
2.
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
forty. The number of probation ( App-10 ).
nights. Joined thus with "days", are complete periods of twenty-four hours. See App-144 .
3.
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
when. . . came, &c.= having approached Him and said.
the tempter= he who was tempting Him. See App-116 .
came to Him : as to our first parents, Adam and Eve, App-119 .
he said. See App-116 for the two sets of three temptations, under different circumstances, with different words and expressions; and, in a different order in Matthew 4 from that in Luke 4 . It is nowhere said that there were "three" or only three; as it is nowhere said that there were "three" wise men in Matthew 2 .
If. Greek ei, with the indicative mood, assuming and taking it for granted as an actual fact.
" If Thou art ? " App-118 . Same as in Matthew 4:6 , but not the same as in Matthew 4:9 .
the Son of God. Compare this with Matthew 3:17 , on which the question is based. See App-98 .
command that = speak, in order that.
these stones: in this the fourth temptation; but in the first temptation = "this stone" (Luke 4:3 ).
be made = become.
bread = loaves.
4.
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.
It is written = It standeth written. This is the Lord's first ministerial utterance; three times. Compare the last three (John 17:8 , John 17:14 , John 17:17 ). The appeal is not to the spoken voice (Matthew 3:17 ) but to the written Word. Quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3 . See App-107 and App-117 .
Man. Greek. anthropos. App-123 .
by = upon. Greek. epi. App-104 .
alone = only.
word = utterance. out of = by means of, or through. Greek. dia. App-104 .Matthew 4:1 . Note the connection of the "hunger" and the "forty" days here, and the same in Deuteronomy 8:3 .
God. See App-98 .
5.
Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
Then. The fifth temptation. See App-116 .
taketh. Greek. paralambano. Compare ago, of Luke 4:9 . See the usage of paralambano, Matthew 17:1 , implying authority and constraint This is the third temptation in Luke (Luke 4:9 ), and the difference of the order is explained in App-116 . Both Gospels are correct and true.
the holy city. So called in Matthew 27:53 .Revelation 11:2 .Nehemiah 11:1 .Isaiah 48:2 ; Isaiah 52:1 . Dan 9:44 . The Arabs still call it El Kuds = the holy place. It was so called on account of the Sanctuary.
holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .
a pinnacle = the wing. Greek. to pterugion, used of that part of the Temple (or Holy Place) where "the abomination of desolation" is to stand, according to Theodotion (a fourth reviser of the Sept about the middle of cent. 2). See note on Daniel 9:27 ; and compare Luke 4:9 and Matthew 24:15 .
temple = the temple buildings; not naoa, the house itself or Sanctuary. See note on Matthew 23:16 .
6.
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.
cast Thyself down. An attempt upon His life. See App-23 , and note on Matthew 23:16 .
it is written. Satan can quote Scripture and garble it by omitting the essential words "to keep Thee in all Thy ways", and by adding "at any time". Quoted from Psalms 91:11 , Psalms 91:12 (not Matthew 4:13 ; see note there).
in = upon. Greek. epi, as "on" in Matthew 4:5 .
against. Greek. pros. App-104 .
7.
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Thou, &c. Quoted from Deuteronomy 6:16 ( App-107 . c).
not. Greek. ou. See App-105 .
tempt. Note the words which follow: "as ye tempted Him in Massah". A reference to Exodus 17:7 shows that there it was to doubt Jehovah's presence and care. It was the same here.
the LORD = Jehovah.
8.
Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
Again, &c This should be "The devil taketh Him again", implying that he had taken Him there before, as "It is written again" in Matthew 4:7 . See App-117 . This is the second temptation in Luke (Luke 4:5 ).
taketh. As in Matthew 4:5 ; not anago, "leadeth up", as in Luke 4:5 .
exceeding. Not so in Luke 4:5 ; because there it is only oikoumene, the inhabited world, or Roman empire ( App-129 .); here it is kosmos ( App-129 .)
kingdoms. See App-112 .
world. Greek. kosmos, the whole world as created. See App-129 .
9.
And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
All these. Compare Luke 4:6 and see App-116 .
if. See App-118 . Not the same as in Matthew 4:3 and Matthew 4:6 .
wilt fall down. Not in Luke.
worship = do homage. App-137 .
10.
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.
Get thee hence = Go! This is the end, and the Lord ends it. In Luke 4:13 , after the third temptation, Satan "departed" of his own accord and only "for a season". Here, after the last, Satan is summarily dismissed, not to return. See App-116 .
Satan = the Adversary. Septuagint for Hebrew. Satan.
Thou shalt, &c. Quoted from Deuteronomy 11:3 , Deuteronomy 11:4 . See App-107 , and App-117 .
only = alone, as in Matthew 4:4 . Quoted from Deuteronomy 6:13 ; where the possession of the earth (Matthew 4:10 ) depends on loyalty to God (Matthew 4:12 ), Who gives it (Matthew 4:10 ); and on obedience to Him (verses: Matthew 4:17 , Matthew 4:18 ).
11.
Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
behold. Figure of speech Asterismos ( App-6 ), for emphasis.
angels came, &c. Thus closing the whole of the Temptations. No such ministration at the end of the third temptation in Luke 4:13 .
12.
Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
cast into prison = delivered up. There is no Greek for "into" or "prison". No disciples had yet been called (verses: Matthew 4:18-22 ); therefore John could not yet have been in prison; for, after the calling of disciples (John 2:2 , John 2:11 ) John was "not yet cast into prison"(John 3:24 , eis ten phulaken). There is no "inaccuracy"or "confusion". Paradidomi is rendered "cast (or put) in prison" only here and Mark 1:14 , out of 122 occurrences. It means "to deliver up", and is so rendered ten times, and "deliver" fifty-three times. Compare Matthew 5:25 ; Matthew 10:17 , Matthew 10:19 , Matthew 10:21 ; Matthew 24:9 , &c. The "not yet" of John 3:24 (Greek. oupo. App-105 .) implies that previous attempts and perhaps official inquiries had been made, following probably on the unofficial inquiry of John 1:19-27 . John's being "delivered up" may have led to this departure of Jesus from Judea. Christ's ministry is commenced at Matthew 4:12 .Mark 1:14 .Luke 4:14; Luke 4:14 and John 1:35 , before the call of any disciples.
departed = withdrew.
13.
And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
in = at. Greek. eis App-104 .
Capernaum. Jewish authorities identify Kaphir Nakhum with Kaphir Temkhum, since corrupted into the modern Tell Hum. App-169 . A Synagogue has been discovered in the present ruins. For events at Capernaum, see Matthew 8 , Matthew 9 , Matthew 17 , Matthew 18 . Mark 1 .
upon the sea coast. Greek. parathalassios. Occurs only here.
14.
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
That = In order that.
spoken. As well as written.
by = by means of. Greek. dia.
Esaias = Isaiah.
15.
The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
The land, &c. Quoted from Isaiah 9:1 , Isaiah 9:2 . See App-107 . "Land" is nom., not vocative.
Galilee. See App-169 .
Gentiles = nations.
16.
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.
sat = was sitting.
saw. App-133 .:1.
light. App-130 .
the region and shadow, &c. Figure of speech Hendiadys ( App-6 ) = "darkness, [yea] the dark shadow of death", or death's darkness.
sprung up = risen for them.
17.
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
From. Gk. apo. App-104 .
From that time. Each portion of the Lord's fourfold ministry had a distinct beginning or ending. See the Structure (above).
preach = proclaim. See App-121 .
Repent. Greek. metanoeo. App-111 .
the kingdom of heaven. See App-114 .
heaven = the heavens. See notes on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .
is at hand = is drawn nigh.
18.
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.
by = beside. Greek. para. App-104 .
a net = a large net. Greek. amphiblestron. Not the same word as in Matthew 4:20 , or Matthew 13:47 .
19.
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
fishers of men. A Talmudic expression: "A fisher of the Law" (Maimonides, Torah, cap. I).
20.
And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
nets. Plural diktuon. Not the same word as in Matthew 4:18 , or Matthew 13:47 .
21.
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.
other. Greek. allos. App-124 .
James . . . John. See App-141 .
Zebedee. Aramaean. See App-94 .
a = the. These calls were to discipleship, not apostleship.
with. Greek. meta. App-104 .
mending = setting in order. See App-125 .
22.
And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
23.
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.
all = the whole. Put by Pig. Synecdoche (of the Whole) for all parts. App-6 .
synagogues. See App-120 .
the gospel = the glad tidings.
of = relating to.
all manner of = every. Put by Pig. Synecdoche (of the Whole), for some of all kinds.
disease. Greek. malakia. Occurs only in Matthew: here; Matthew 9:35 ; Matthew 10:1 .
24.
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 lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
fame = hearing. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Adjunct), App-6 , for what was heard.
throughout = unto. Greek. eis.
diseases. Greek. nosos, translated sickness in Matthew 4:23 .
devils = demons. Compare Matthew 12:26 , Matthew 12:27 . Mark 3:22 , Mark 3:26 .
were lunatick. Greek. seleniazomai. Occurs only here, and Matthew 17:15 . From selene = the moon.
25.
And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.
Galilee. App-169 .
and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton. App-6 .