Matthew Chapter 4 {Verses 1-2 The prologue to the 40 days of temptations of Christ - 3 are unique and will be documented. A very important doctrine is covered in this chapter. After a great spiritual victory - in context, the baptism of Jesus - expect tests of your growth.} {First temptation - relationship with the Holy Spirit} 1~~Then {in chronological order} was Jesus led up under the authority of the Spirit into the desert to be tempted/tested from the source of the devil {diabolos}. {Note: The deity of Jesus was impeccable means 'unable to sin'. So this was not the temptation here. Instead, the humanity of Jesus was being tested. In His humanity, Jesus was 'able not to sin', but the temptations were real.} {Note: 'Led by the Spirit' is the issue in the first test. It was God's will and God's plan for Christ to come to the earth and be our prototype - to be filled with the Spirit and to follow the will of God. Jesus voluntarily agreed to not use His deity outside the will of God, but to rely on God's provisions for us under the filling of the Holy Spirit. Relying on the filling of the Holy Spirit was called the principal of kenosis. And, part of God's plan was for Christ to go to the cross and die as a substitute for us. It was Satan's plan to do all he could to stop Christ from making it to the cross as a lamb without spot.} {Note: diabolos means the devil . . . literally 'false accuser' or 'slanderer'. It refers to Satan who was the top cherub - the very top of the angelic class system. When he sinned, he was condemned to the lake of fire and he said 'God was unfair'. The human race was created to demonstrate to all the angels that God is perfect righteousness and justice.} 2~~And when He {Jesus} had fasted forty days and forty nights . . . and afterward He was hungry. {Note: The real meaning of 'fasting' means to forgo earthly things for bible study and prayer. In this case, Jesus has now been in intense study and prayer (good for the soul) but has not eaten any food for 40 days. His humanity is very hungry as the verse indicates. We should assume though He did have water. Hard to last longer then a few days in the desert without water - but all things are possible for God so is just a supposition.} 3~~ And when the tempter {Satan/Lucifer/the devil} came to Him, he said, "If You are always {in the absolute status of being} the Son of God - and you are - SPEAK that these stones may become bread." {Note: The Greek syntax of a 1st class conditional clause requires 'and you are'. This indicates that Satan recognized the deity of Christ even if we do not! Doesn't imply though Satan was saved by this belief, his salvation test was different and his judgement already declared.} {Note: This is a true and unique temptation for Christ - he could do it! You and I could not! Tempting the humanity of Christ to obtain a lawful thing (food) in an unlawful way (using a Miracle to relieve intense hunger - hunger peaks in a human body in the 40th day) instead of relying on his Unique Prototype Spiritual Life). This would be a sin -- Arrogance -- similar to Lucifer's first sin 'I will be like the most high'}. 4~~ But He {Jesus} answered and said {idiom for 'He told him off!}, "It was written in the past with results that stand forever . . . "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that keeps on coming out of the mouth of God - to our advantage." {Deuteronomy 8:3b} {Second recorded temptation - Relationship with the Word as Jesus' norm} 5~~ Then {next in chronological order} the devil took him up to the holy city {Jerusalem}, and placed/set Him on a pinnacle/porch {Herod's porch} of the temple {450 feet to the valley below}. 6~~ And said unto Him, "If you keep on being the Son of God - and you are - cast Yourself down {Satan says to Deity - jump - a distortion - only the humanity of Jesus can jump - an order!}. For it is written {Psalm 91:11-12}, 'He shall give His angels charge concerning You . . . and in their hands they shall bear You up, lest at any time You dash Your foot against a stone {idiom for falling}." {Note:   1) Violation of a divine law - gravity - Jesus not to use His   own deity in the incarnation. If you violate divine law you are   out from under the protection of God - i.e. like in suicide.   2) Satan added 'lest at any time'. This is not in Psalm 91:11-12.   This is a distortion of the truth. There are times when God's   protection is promised, but not at ALL times - suicide is an   example.   3) If Jesus had jumped, His humanity would have died.} 7~~ Jesus said unto him, "It is written again {Deuteronomy 6:16}, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God." {Third temptation -Jesus' relationship with the Father's plan} 8~~Again, the devil took Him up into an exceedingly high mountain {unknown which one}, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glamour of them. {Note: It is the plan of the Father that the cross must come before the crown. Satan is tempting Jesus to avoid the cross and accept the crown now. As the ruler of the world, this is a real temptation that only Satan could make.} 9~~ And said to Him, "All these things I will give You . . . but you won't . . . if You will fall down and worship me." {Note: 2nd class conditional clause - but you will not! Satan realized Jesus would refuse.} 10~~ Then said Jesus unto him, "GET OUT OF HERE {an order! very strong in the Greek}, Satan. For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.' " {Note: Satan of course is only a creature and NOT God! Jesus will not worship or serve him.} 11~~Then {chronologically} the devil departed from Him quickly {Jesus commanded him to do so}, and, behold, angels came and kept on ministering to Him {Jesus}. {Verses 12-25 the marvelous ministry of The King} 12~~Now when Jesus had heard that John {the Baptizer - the Royal Herald} was cast into prison . . . He departed into Galilee. {Note: When one messenger is removed from the scene, another steps forward. The message continues.} {Activity of our Lord} 13~~And leaving Nazareth, He came and lived in Capernaum {set up His command post here}, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim. 14-16~~That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet {Isaiah 9: 1-2}, saying, 15~~"The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles {where Jesus would locate}. . . 16~~ the people who sat in darkness {people of Northern Israel - under 4th cycle of discipline that started in 63 BC - Jews controlled by an outside military power} saw great light {Jesus} . . . and to them who sat in the shadow of death {unsaved} . . . light {the savior} is sprung up." 17~~ From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, "Change your mind/repent {toward Christ - believe for salvation} . . . for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." 18~~ And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, suddenly saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother . . . constantly casting a net into the sea . . . for they were professional fishermen. 19~~ And He {Jesus} said unto them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." {Note: Fishing is an analogy for witnessing.   1) To fish you must be enthusiastic about it.   2) You must know how to fish - know doctrine   3) Must go where the fish are   4) Must know how to bait a hook - personal evangelism.   Many ways to approach people.   5) Has to keep out of sight or will frighten the fish. Fish   are easily frightened away. 6) A good fisherman is   rewarded.} {Response} 20~~And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him. 21~~And going on from there, 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. 22~~And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed Him. {Note: Even Jesus Christ himself needs a team. This is the beginning of His staff.} 23~~ And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues {teaching first}, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. {Note: The purpose of healing was to focus attention on the Word and give the speaker a hearing. Not to alleviate the suffering of all the world. A calling card if you will for the Messiah.} {Amplification of His credentials.} 24~~ And His fame went throughout all Syria . . . and they brought unto Him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments {mental illness}, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatics {more mental illness}, and those that had the palsy . . . and He healed them. 25~~ And there followed Him great multitudes of people from Galilee {mostly gentiles}, and from Decapolis {Greeks}, and from Jerusalem {Jews}, and from Judaea {More Jews}, and from beyond Jordan {Arabs}. ************************************************ This page is sponsored by Kenneth Sidley, CPA, an Orange County California CPA (949) 706-3133. Please call Ken for high quality, low cost CPA services in Orange County California. This includes audit, review, compilation, tax returns, Quickbooks, and business consulting services. This page is sponsored by Moxxor For Pain Free Living. 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