Bible Commentaries
Matthew 4

Verse 1

Then was Jesus

The temptation of Christ, the "last Adam" 1 Corinthians 15:45 is best understood when contrasted with that of the "first man Adam." Adam was tempted in his place of lord of creation, a lordship with but one reservation, the knowledge of good and evil ; Genesis 1:26; Genesis 2:16; Genesis 2:17. Through the woman he was tempted to add that also to his dominion. Falling, he lost all. But Christ had taken the place of a lowly Servant, acting only from and in obedience to the Father. ; Philippians 2:5-8; John 5:19; John 6:57; John 8:28; John 8:54 (See Scofield "John 8:54- :") that He might redeem a fallen race and a creation under the curse ; Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 8:19-23. Satan's one object in the threefold temptation was to induce Christ to act from Himself, in independency of His Father. The first two temptations were a challenge to Christ from the god of this world to prove Himself indeed the Son of God (Matthew 4:3; Matthew 4:6). The third was the offer of the usurping prince of this world to divest himself of that which rightfully belonged to Christ as Son of man and Son of David, on the condition that He accept the sceptre on Satan's world-principles (cf. John 18:36). See Scofield "John 18:36- :". Christ defeated Satan by a means open to His humblest follower, the intelligent use of the word of God (Matthew 4:4; Matthew 4:7). In his second temptation Satan also used Scripture, but a promise available only to one in the path of obedience. The scene give emphasis to the vital importance of "rightly dividing the word of truth" 2 Timothy 2:15.

Verse 5

holy city

In the N.T. one Greek word, hagios, in its various forms, is rendered, "holy," "holiness," "sanctify," "sanctified," "sanctification." Like the heb. qodesh, it signifies "set apart for God." The important references follow Matthew 4:5; Matthew 4:5 marg.

(See Scofield "Matthew 4:5- :")

Verse 6

angels

(See Scofield " :-") .

Verse 8

world

The Greek word kosmos means "order," "arrangement," and so, with the Greeks, "beauty"; for order and arrangement in the sense of system are at the bottom of the Greek conception of beauty.

When used in the N.T. of humanity, the "world" of men, it is organized humanity-- humanity in families, tribes, nations--which is meant. The word for chaotic, unorganized humanity--the mere mass of man is thalassa, the "sea" of men (e.g.) Revelation 13:1 (See Scofield "Revelation 13:1- :") . For "world" (kosmos) in the bad ethical sense, "world system" John 7:7.

Verse 11

angels (See Scofield " :-")

Verse 17

at hand

"At hand" is never a positive affirmation that the person or thing said to be "at hand" will immediately appear, but only that no known or predicted event must intervene. When Christ appeared to the Jewish people, the next thing in the order of revelation as it then stood, should have been the setting up of the Davidic kingdom. In the knowledge of God, not yet disclosed, lay the rejection of the kingdom (and King), the long period of the mystery-form of the kingdom, the world-wide preaching of the cross, and the out-calling of the Church. But this was as yet locked up in the secret counsels of God. Matthew 13:11; Matthew 13:17; Ephesians 3:3-10.

kingdom See note 2, (See Scofield "Ephesians 3:3-49.3.10- :") .

is at hand (See Scofield "Ephesians 3:3-49.3.10- :") . For Another Point of View: See Topic 301207

Verse 18

two brethren

Peter and John were already disciples, John 1:35-42. This is a call to service.

Verse 21

James

Two persons are called by this name in the N.T.

(1) James the son of Zebedee, an apostle Matthew 10:2 and the brother of the apostle John, apart from whom he is never mentioned, and with whom, together with Peter, he was admitted to the especial intimacy of our Lord. ; Matthew 17:1; Mark 5:37; Mark 9:2; Mark 14:33 He was martyred by Herod. Acts 12:2

(2) A son of Alphaeus (or Cleopas) and Mary the sister of Mary the mother of Jesus. (See Scofield "Acts 12:2- :") and brother of Joses. Mark 15:40. He was, therefore, a cousin of the Lord Jesus. He is called James "the less" Mark 15:40 lit. little, i.e. of shorter stature than James the son of Zebedee). He was an apostle. Matthew 10:3 It has been conjectured that "Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus" Matthew 10:3 was identical with the Juda of Luke 6:16 who is there called "of i.e. 'son' or 'brother' as is has been variously translated] James." A Juda is mentioned with a James and Joses and Simon in Mark 6:3 as "brother" of our Lord (See Scofield "Mark 6:3- : marg.). Matthew 13:55. The Gospels mention no other James who could be called the brother of the Lord Jesus, but James the less was certainly the son of Alphaeus and Mary the sister of our Lord's mother. The conclusion seems, therefore most probable that ; Matthew 10:3; Matthew 13:55; Mark 3:18; Mark 6:3; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13; Acts 12:17; Mark 15:13; Mark 21:18; Galatians 1:19; Galatians 2:9; Galatians 2:12; James 1:1 refer to James the less, son of Alphaeus and Mary, and cousin, or, according to Jewish usage, "brother" of the Lord Jesus. He was the author of the Epistle of James.

Verse 23

kingdom

(See Scofield " :-") .

Verse 24

possessed

(Greek - δαιμονίζομαι ," demonized; (See Scofield " :-") .