MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 4:1 Jesus the Messiah Begins to Advance the Messianic Kingdom. Jesus triumphs over the devil in the wilderness (vv. Matthew 4:1), proclaims the kingdom of God (vv. Matthew 4:12), and calls disciples to follow him (vv. Matthew 4:18). ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 4:2 FASTING FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS. Jesus’ 40 days of fasting in the wilderness corresponds to Israel’s 40 years of testing in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:2). Moses also fasted and prayed for 40 days and nights on two occasions (Exodus 24:18; Exodus 34:28; see also Eli... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 4:3 IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD. Despite the devil’s tempting offer, Jesus refused to use his divine power to make the trial any easier for himself. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 4:4 IT IS WRITTEN. Jesus responds by quoting Deuteronomy 8:2. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 4:5 THE HOLY CITY is Jerusalem. The PINNACLE OF THE TEMPLE is probably the southeast corner of the temple area, the top of which was 300 feet (91 m) above the floor of the Kidron Valley (see Herod’s Temple Complex in the Time of Jesus). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElement... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 4:6 FOR IT IS WRITTEN. Such a spectacular display as jumping from this great height unharmed (compare Psalms 91:1) might have gained Jesus an enthusiastic following. But it would not have followed God’s plan for Jesus’ work as Messiah. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElements... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 4:9 FALL DOWN AND WORSHIP ME. The devil offers Jesus a way to rule the world that avoids the cross and exchanges worship of God for worship of Satan. ALL THESE I WILL GIVE YOU was a lie (see note on Luke 4:5–8). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (v... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 4:12 These verses mark the beginning of Jesus’ Galilean ministry. It is traditionally thought that Jesus’ ministry lasted three years: a year of obscurity, a year of popularity, and a year of increasing rejection. Matthew, Mark, and Luke do not say much about the first, obscu... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 4:13 CAPERNAUM was on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was Jesus’ base of operations for his ministry in Galilee. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 4:16 DARKNESS... LIGHT. See Isaiah 9:1. The region of Zebulun and Naphtali (Matthew 4:13) was devastated by Assyria in 732 B.C. (2 Kings 15:29). They are now the first to see the great light of God’s deliverance in Jesus. ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 4:17 FROM THAT TIME marks a significant turning point in Matthew’s Gospel (compare Matthew 16:21). It indicates that the preparations for Jesus’ messianic ministry are complete. REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND. Jesus’ message builds on John the Baptist’s (see not... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 4:18 PETER, JAMES 1:1, and JOHN 1:1 become the inner circle among Jesus’ 12 disciples. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 4:21 A BOAT, dated from the first century A.D. or earlier, was found in the Sea of Galilee in 1986. Approximately 26.5 feet long and 7.5 feet wide (8 m by 2.3 m), it could hold about 15 people. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 4:23 The GALILEE region had 200 or more villages and towns, but no major cities. Healing of EVERY DISEASE AND EVERY AFFLICTION gives a preview of the age to come (Philippians 3:21; Revelation 21:4). On SYNAGOGUES, see note on Luke 4:16 and The Synagogue and Jewish Worship. ⇐... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 4:24 SYRIA. A Gentile region north of Galilee. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 4:25 GREAT CROWDS FOLLOWED Jesus, but they had not yet become his disciples (compare Matthew 5:1). DECAPOLIS (Greek “ten cities”) is the predominantly Gentile district to the south and east of the Sea of Galilee. BEYOND THE JORDAN commonly referred to the region of Perea, or... [ Continue Reading ]