Matthew 4:1-11

Matthew 4:1-11

[1] Then  was Jesus  led up  of  the Spirit  into  the wilderness  to be tempted  of  the devil.  [2] And  when he had fasted  forty  days  and  forty  nights,  he was afterward  an hungred.  [3] And  when the tempter  came  to him,  he said,  If  the Son  of God,  command  that  these  stones  be made  bread.  [4] But  he answered  and said,  It is written,  Man  not  live  by  bread  alone,  but  by  every  word  that proceedeth  out of  the mouth  of God.  [5] Then  the devil  him  up  into  the holy  city,  and  setteth  him  on  a pinnacle  of the temple,  [6] And  saith  unto him,  If  the Son  of God,  cast  thyself  down:  for  it is written,  his  angels  charge  concerning  and  in  their hands  up,  thou dash  foot  against  a stone.  [7] Jesus  said  unto him,  It is written  again,  not  tempt  the Lord  God.  [8] Again,  the devil  him  up  into  an exceeding  high  mountain,  and  sheweth  him  all  the kingdoms  of the world,  and  the glory  of them;  [9] And  unto him,  All  will I give  if  thou wilt fall down  and worship  [10] Then  saith  Jesus  unto him,  Get thee hence,  Satan:  for  it is written,  Thou shalt worship  the Lord  God,  and  him  only  shalt thou serve.  [11] Then  the devil  leaveth  him,  and,  behold,  angels  came  and  ministered  unto him. 

What is the context of Matthew 4:1-11?

What does Matthew 4:1-11 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

". . . Jesus" testing in the wilderness of Judea is one of the most significant indicators of His uniqueness. In fact it may not be stretching the point to say that the very purpose of the temptation narratives is to underscore His uniqueness." [1]
Jesus" genealogy and virgin birth prove His legal human qualification as Israel"s King. His baptism was the occasion of His divine approval. His temptation demonstrated His moral fitness to reign. The natural question a thoughtful reader of Matthew"s Gospel might ask after reading God"s attestation of His Son ( Matthew 3:17) Isaiah , Was He really that good? Jesus" three temptations prove that He was.
"By the end of the baptismal pericope, the Jesus of Matthew"s story stands before the reader preeminently as the Son of God who has been empowered with the Spirit of God. So identified, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the desert to engage the devil, or Satan, in conflict in the place of his abode ( Matthew 4:1-11).... Ultimately, the substance of each test has to do with Jesus" devotion, or obedience, to God. The intent of Satan in each test is to entice Jesus to break faith with God, his Father, and thus disavow his divine sonship. Should Satan succeed at this, he succeeds in effect in destroying Jesus. In testing Jesus, Satan cunningly adopts God"s evaluative point of view according to which Jesus is his Son ( Matthew 4:3; Matthew 4:6)." [2]