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BIBLE STUDY MATTHEW 4:1-25 REVIEW: Chapter 3 has two major themes: 1) the ministry of John the Baptist, and 2) the baptism of Jesus. Matthew, like the other gospel writers, portrays John’s preaching and baptizing as being oriented to the coming kingdom of heaven and to preparing the way of the Lord. Matthew and the other gospel writers also seek to make it clear that John’s ministry was in a subordinate role to that of Jesus (this was not a settled issue in the first century when the gospels were written). John’s baptism is NOT the same as Christian baptism. It was a “baptism of repentance” – meant to signify the baptized person’s desire to begin living a changed life in accordance with God’s purposes. John’s message was that repentance needed to be genuine – and contained both a threat and a promise. Many people (Matthew specifically refers to them as the Pharisees and Sadducees (foreshadowing their future opposition to Jesus’ ministry) apparently came for baptism only to receive extra “insurance”. John’s threat was that God will surely judge those who did not bear good “fruit” in their lives, no matter what genealogical heritage. His promise is that his successor will baptize those who repent in an even more powerful way – “with the Holy Spirit and fire” that will purify and refine. Finally, Jesus himself was baptized by John – even though Matthew has John protesting that it should be the other way around (thus reinforcing the understanding his ministry was subordinate to that of Jesus). Two main reasons have been for Jesus’ baptism:
MATTHEW 4:1-11 “The Testing of God’s Son” “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.” There are two major point that Matthew wants to convey to his readers.
After the Israelites passed through the Red Sea (certainly a “high point” experience for them in their relationship with God), they then had to spend forty years in the wilderness before being able to enter the Promised Land. This was a time of TESTING for them – as they learned the importance of trusting God and depending upon him, come what may. In the same way, after Jesus had the “high point” experience of his baptism, he then also had to spend forty days of being tested in the wilderness. As was true for the Israelites of old, Jesus likewise had to learn the importance of trusting and depending upon God, come what may. The difference, of course, was that Jesus – unlike Moses and the Israelites of the Exodus – PASSED every test!
“40” is a biblical number signifying a long time. Matthew’s readers would be reminded of the 40 years of the Israelites’ wandering in the wilderness, Moses being on Mount Sinai 40 days and nights before receiving the Law, Elijah fasting 40 days and nights before encountering God at Mount Horeb, Noah’s enduring 40 days and nights of rain while in the Ark, etc. “The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” In Greek, the word “tempter” literally means “TESTER”. Jesus is being tested as to what kind of Son of God he is. Is he more interested in earthly bread to satisfy his hunger (as the ancient Israelites of the Exodus were), or spiritual “bread” to feed his soul? Some commentators have speculated that this was also a temptation for Jesus to base his ministry upon offering people physical “bread” to get them to follow him. Jesus answers by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3. “Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Daniel J. Harrington in his commentary on Matthew notes that the word translated as “pinnacle” is actually the “wing” of the temple. This would then remind Matthew’s readers of Psalm 91:4 – “he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge.” As we note, the devil goes on to quote from Psalm 91:11-12. The temptation is for Jesus to misuse his powers – to get people to follow him by doing spectacular, death-defying feats. Jesus refuses to do that – people will later follow him because of his LOVE for them rather than because of his powers. This is also a caution to Matthew’s readers and us not to “put the Lord your God to the test” (as the ancient Israelites did again and again during their wilderness wanderings). “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the word and their splendor; and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him..’” Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.” The “testing” here was that Jesus should compromise and use the devil’s methods of power, pride, hatred, and fear in order to rule the world. Jesus, however, realizes that the end never justifies the means. No matter what, he will only conduct his ministry as GOD directs him – using God’s method’s of humility and love. The Scripture passage that Jesus quotes is Deuteronomy 6:13. In the end, after the devil leaves him, ANGELS come and wait on Jesus – thus fulfilling the prophecy of Psalm 91:11-12 mentioned in the second temptation. CHAPTER 4:12-17 “Jesus Begins his Ministry” “Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew sees John’s arrest by Herod Antipas as being the signal for Jesus to begin his ministry. Jesus will now continue and fulfill what John began in bringing the kingdom of heaven to people. In the Gospel of John, Jesus and John are shown as having simultaneous ministries for a considerable period of time – but Matthew seeks to show that there is absolutely no “overlap” between them, but rather that Jesus builds upon and deepens the ministry that John began. To deepen this sense of a new beginning, Matthew states that Jesus LEFT Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum. Nazareth represented Jesus’ old life – and people familiar with him there for many years probably would have a difficult time accepting his new ministry – so Jesus made a clean break with his past by moving to a new town. Since the people of Capernaum had not known him previously, they would be much more open to his ministry without being distracted by past preconceptions. Matthew again sees this move as being a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. As is often the case, the prophecy has been taken out of context. Isaiah 9:1-2 actually refers to the hope that the northern provinces of the kingdom of Israel would soon be delivered from being in bondage to the Assyrian Empire. Be that as it may, Matthew quotes this and other prophecies to show that the ministry of Jesus is intimately connected with and fulfills the traditions and hopes of the Old Testament – which would be very important to his Jewish Christian community. Finally, Jesus’ beginning message is EXACTLY the same as that of John the Baptist in Matthew 3:2 – “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” He is announcing that God’s new age is breaking into this world – and calling upon us change our lives, values, and priorities so that we can be part of it. CHAPTER 4:18-22 “Jesus Calls his First Disciples”“As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea – for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boast with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.” Here at the very beginning of his ministry, Jesus calls the disciples who would be the most important. Peter, James, and John came to form the “inner circle” of disciples who were with Jesus at his most special moments – such as his Transfiguration and in the Garden of Gethsemane. Andrew also figures prominently a number of times as well. The willingness of these four men to immediately respond to Jesus’ call illustrates what we should be like. Rather than just staying in the past, they were willing to take risks in order to have a new life with Jesus. It should be pointed out that Jesus’ calling of people to “follow him” as disciples was unlike most Jewish rabbis of his day. Rabbis generally did NOT recruit people to become disciples – would-be disciples were supposed to seek THEM out. Also, those who became disciples of a rabbi did so in order to LEARN from him – and nothing more. Jesus, however, called people to follow him – not just to learn his teachings – but so that he could then send them out to help others (“fish for people”). CHAPTER 4:23-25 “Summary of Jesus’ Beginning Ministry” “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.” Jesus’ ministry consisted of three basic aspects: 1) teaching, 2) proclaiming, and 3) healing. All three are important. Teaching helps people understand about God’s love. Proclaiming is exhortation – inviting people to real changes in their lives in response to God’s love. Healing is a literal manifestation of God’s love breaking into individual lives and into the world. These three ministries are a good summary of what WE as a church should be about in our world today! Matthew mentions that Jesus’ fame soon spread far and wide – setting the stage for his Sermon on the Mount in chapters 5-7. The geographic places he mentions would have been of great interest to his original readers. Syria, as I have previously mentioned in the Introduction to this study, was probably the home province of Matthew’s community. Galilee of course was Jesus’ home province. The Decapolis was a Gentile area, as was probably also the area “beyond the Jordan”, while Jerusalem and Judea were Jewish. The point is that even in the early part of his ministry, Jesus was bringing the good news of God’s kingdom to people of many places and backgrounds. -------------------- George R. Karres, Pella Lutheran Church 418 W. Main Street Sidney, MT 59270
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