May 19, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Matthew? Here’s today’s reading:
Matthew 4 (NIV)
Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”……Continue Reading
Matthew 4
Then Jesus was led by the spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.. Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights he was hungry. The devil tempted Jesus by saying you are the Son of God. You can turn these stones into bread. IN RED ” It is written man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of god.
The devil takes Jesus to the highest point of the temple saying he wanted him to throw himself down. The devill even quoted from the bible ” He will command his angels concerning you.,and they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone” Jesus replied “It is also written.Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”
From there they went to a very high mountain and offered him all the Kingdoms of the world in there splendor. The devil said bow down and worship me and you can have them all. ” Away from me, satan for it is written worship. The Lord and serve him only” then the devil left him. And angels came and attended Jesus.
I notice that in 4:10 that the word satan has a capital Satan. Is this to acknowledge that it’s recognition of him and his power in the world and how we need to be very aware of him. satan with him even going after God’s son. We need to be strong in God’s word to keep satan away from us on a daily basis.
Jesus Preached ” repent for the Kingdom of heaven is near.
The 1st disciples Jesus made were fishermen. Jesus said “come follow me and I will make you a fishers of men!” This was Simon, Peter,and Andrew. Next 2 were James and John! Jesus called them and they immediately followed them leaving their father and the boat.
Jesus went Galilee preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. Demon-possessed ,seizures and paralyzed and he healed them. Large crowds followed him. So many witnesses yet still many doubt ers. I will never get that! Even today!
4:19&20 “Jesus sees something in you!”
Jesus observed Peter, Andrew, and spoke a simple invitation. Both men dropped the nets and followed Jesus.
I tell people about Christ, minutes, hours, and get no response. Pastors have preached millinium of sermons without response.
I think they were already looking for something deeper about God. They may have already heard about, and recognized Jesus, my conjecture only. When he invited them, they allowed themselves to be “interrupted,” and chose a new path. And so, here I am today, because Peter and Andrew immediately dropped their nets! Be interrupted.
Matthew 4
Matthew 3
Amazed that Jesus quoted scripture when he had the power to rebuke and cast satan away with a thought alone
Sets an example for us to learn and have God’s words at ready.
Jesus was led by the Spirit up into the wilderness for 40 days and nights. Satan waited for Jesus to become very tired and hungry before coming to Him to tempt Him. Jesus was weak but when Satan misquoted scripture to Him; Jesus quoted scripture back to him. This is our answer when Satan tries to tempt us. We are to quote scripture and rebuke Satan in the name of Christ. Also when we aren`t sure about a certain scripture; we should always check it with other scripture. We could also bring it before Pastor or one of our elders or deacons to understand a scripture better. But I have found that the best thing to do is be like the Bereans as they did with Paul when they searched the scriptures to see if what Paul said was true. This doesn`t disregard any of our spiritual leaders. When ever I had a question about anything, I always searched to find the answer and then if I couldn`t find it, I would bring it before someone who knew the scriptures. Melodye and I have always been critical thinkers. In other words, not just believe something because someone said it. What is the source, etc. Jesus calls four of His disciples and they follow Him. Matthew gives only a little detail about these four disciples. They are two sets of brothers and they are fishermen. Peter and Andrew and then James and John, sons of Zebedee. Other detail is left out that they already met Jesus and at least one of these four was a follower of John the baptizer. That would be Andrew who went and told his brother [ Peter] that they have found the Christ. There is probably other details that I am forgetting but these are the ones I remember right out. But please look up the other details. Always compare scripture with other scripture. Remember again when Satan attacks to be ready. Here are a couple of scriptures to remember. Eph. 6:11. { Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.} 1 Peter 5:8. { Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.} May we ever look to Jesus.
This chapter is one where we can truly see that Jesus understands human life. This is a chapter when He shows us “been there, done that”! He is going from this public baptism where He is declaring that God is ruler of His life, like many of us have, and right into the realities of day-to-day life where the temptation comes in. We are on fire for Christ when we first become saved and then it is a daily struggle to resist all that this world offers our fleshly desires. Satan tempts Him with all the “classics” as well! Food when He is hungry, the chance to make God “prove” Himself, and then of course money & power. Each time Jesus resists and quotes scripture, reminding us how important it is to have the Word written on our hearts in these times of temptation!
16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,
And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death
Light has dawned.”
”From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”“
Matthew 4:17 NKJV
Jesus is tempted by the devil and at this point preaches the Kingdom of HEAVEN….what could have been His kingdom on earth, a physical kingdom. After John the Baptist is killed, Jesus and the disciples preach the Kingdom of GOD, which is a spiritual kingdom, within you.
Matthew 4
Matthew 4
Jesus answers Satan with a scripture verse that negates his temptation even when Satan uses a scripture verse to back it up. It’s important for us to memorize verses so we can recollect them quickly when we are harassed by him, and to understand them so that we don’t use them inappropriately (like Satan does). And James and John were able to discern the importance of Jesus’ call to leave everything and follow him. It’s the Holy Spirit within us that helps us do this. Let us not grieve Him so that we can live our lives with the trust, faith and wisdom that only comes through the Spirit.
How significant that Jesus is led by the Spirit to go into the desert to be tempted. This would show that His perfection did not come because He was never challenged or tempted, but even in the presence of it, He was without sin. And we are challenged to be comforted by that, as we face our temptations, with the power, influence and word of Christ within us. One wonders if He fasted in preparation for His temptation, and 40 days was the mark that made it the right time. And Jesus does well to use the word of God to remind Him of the realities of God’s truth so as not to fall into satan’s corruption of the truth. And as important as it was for things to happen to Jesus out of His control that twins with prophecy, it is also important to show that He understood who He was and therefore did things to jive with prophecy. Where He chose to live is one of those instances. And once He is baptized and tempted, He is ready to take to the streets and speak the message that He would speak and do the things that He would do, which was mainly healing people of everything they brought to Him. When you can do that, news travels fast and far…..
Matthew 4