MATTHEW 4

In today’s study we have a few titles. Verses 1-11 The temptation of Jesus. Verses 12-17 Jesus begins his ministry. Verse 18-22 Jesus calls four fishermen. Verses 23-25 The fame of Jesus spreads. Matthew 4 and verse 1 reads.

Mat.4:1] Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

It is the Holy Spirit that leads Jesus into the wilderness. Ezekiel learned just how strong this Spirit can be in Ezekiel 3 and verse 14 reads.

Eze.3:14] So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.

Philip also found how strong the Spirit can be in Acts 8. There he was sent by the Spirit to go and teach the eunuch in his chariot. Acts 8 and verse 39 reads.

Acts 8:39] And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

Back to Matthew 4 and verse 2 reads.

Mat.4:2] And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

Forty in biblical numerology is Probation. I don’t recommend anyone to fast for that many days, you are not the LORD or neither are you Elijah 1K.19:8.

Mat.4:3] And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

Jesus never said he was hungry to Satan. I want you to know that Satan, the tempter, will even use scripture to tempt God’s Elect in the end times. This is why this chapter is so important for us today. 1 Corinthians 10 and verse 11 reads.

1Cor.10:11] Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Never forget that verse. Back to Matthew 4 and verse 4 reads.

Mat.4:4] But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Written in Deuteronomy 8 and verse 3 reads.

Deu.8:3] And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

Jesus is teaching us that the devil will use scripture to deceive even God’s Elect. What is this Bread? Jesus is the Word of God, he is our Daily Bread. Let’s go to John 1 and verse 1 reads.

John 1:1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Back to Matthew 4 and verse 5 reads.

Mat.4:5] Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

We find in many places the holy city is Jerusalem. The pinnacle is the top of the temple which was at least 60 feet tall. Remember Satan loves to use scripture. The problem is he will change it slightly to make it a lie. Pay close attention as we go through this next verse.

Mat.4:6] And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Satan just lied, but notice he said it is written. We find this in Psalms 91, let’s go to Psalms 91 and verse 11 reads

Psa.91:11] For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
[12] They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Did you catch what part of the verse that Satan changed? Satan added lest “AT ANY TIME” this changes the Word of God. God does not play games such as this with casting yourself off a building. The law of gravity will win, and the LORD will feel like you are mocking him, be careful. Funny how Satan would bring up this verse, let’s see what is written right after it. Psalms 91 and verse 13 reads.

Psa.91:13] Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

I don’t think Satan wanted you to know that Jesus would trample him, he was hoping you did not check what the scripture actually said. This is why we always check our teachers. Back to Jesus in Matthew 4 and verse 7 reads.

Mat.4:7] Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Jesus, the Word, quoted Deuteronomy 6:16, but let’s go to verse 14 and get the whole meaning and it reads.

Deu.6:14] Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;
[15] (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.
[16] Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.
[17] Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.

This is a commandment of God. He lets us know that he is a jealous God, but more importantly to keep his Word, his laws. He also said; as ye tempted him in Massah. What happened in Massah? Moses struck the rock twice causing him to not go into the promised land. Exodus 17:6-7, God told Moses to speak to the rock, and Moses in his anger towards the children of God, struck the rock twice. That was like crucifying the LORD twice. Back to Matthew 4 and verse 8 reads.

Mat.4:8] Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

We have been studying that Jesus is the Word of God, and Satan misquoting the Word of God. Let’s go to John 17 where Jesus is praying to the Father for us here on earth. John 17 and verse 14 reads.

John 17:14] I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
[15] I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
[16] They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
[17] Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

This should explain why Satan does rule here on earth, though it be through wickedness. Let’s go to the epistle of John, 1John 2 and verse 15 reads.

1John 2:15] Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
[16] For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
[17] And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

This is why I say study the Word of God every day. Doing this opens your eyes to God’s will. Back to Matthew 4 and verse 9 reads.

Mat.4:9] And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

It is for Satan to give to any in the flesh and not in the Spirit. This is why this chapter is written for the Elect. What will Jesus do? He continues.

Mat.4:10] Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

First, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:13 when he says it is written. Again, all of this is about the Word of God. Then Jesus commands him to get behind him, get thee hence. This means that Jesus sent him back to heaven and is behind the throne even until this day. His spirit can still be with us on the earth, but he is de facto behind the throne. We find this in Revelation 12:7-9, Michael is holding him until the sixth trump, and then he will kick him and his angels out of heaven onto the earth. Remember Jesus teaches his Elect in Matthew 24 and verse 3 reads.

Mat.24:3] And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Watchmen wake up, this is written for you in these end times. Listen to the first warning from Jesus.

Mat.24:4] And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
[5] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

The first warning he gives is, don’t be deceived. Many shall come in his name means not only the antichrist, but false teachers as well. Remember this study is all about the Word of God, and for his Elect in these end times. back to Matthew 4 and verse 11 reads.

Mat.4:11] Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

This verse can help us understand why Jesus seemed so mad at Peter after he cut the ear off of Malchus. Matthew 26 and verse 53 reads.

Mat.26:53] Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
[54] But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

This is all about the Word of God as it is written coming to pass. Jesus is the Living Word. Now we come to Jesus beginning his ministry. Matthew 4 and verse 12 reads.

Mat.4:12] Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;

Cast is delivered up. This should bring to mind to God’s Elect that we too will be delivered up to Satan at the sixth trump.

Mat.4:13] And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
[14] That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
[15] The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
[16] The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

Jesus is the Light. Gen.1:3-5, but that Isaiah prophesied this, let’s go to Isaiah 9 and verse 1 reads.

Isa.9:1] Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
[2] The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
[3] Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
[4] For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
[5] For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.
[6] For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Verse 6 is another prophecy of Isaiah akin to Isaiah 7:14, Emmanuel meaning God with us, so many verses in the Old Testament pertaining to Jesus Christ.

Isa.9:7] Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
[8] The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.
[9] And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,

We see here again the LORD sent his Word in the flesh. Let’s go to John 1 and verse 1 reads.

John 1:1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
[2] The same was in the beginning with God.
[3] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Jesus and God are One. Jesus is the Living Word.

John 1:4] In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
[5] And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Jesus is that Light, Satan is that darkness. Now let’s drop down to verse 14 and it reads.

John 1:14] And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

And they saw the Son of God, his glory, his only begotten Son. The Father and the Son are One, and where they are so is the Holy Spirit. This is the Trinity, the full Godhead. Back to Matthew 4 and verse 17 reads.

Mat.4″17] From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

What is this kingdom? It is the King and his dominion. Preaching Repentance. Let’s look at this word Repent. It is G3340 metanoeō pronounced met-an-o-eh’-o, and means; To think differently or afterwards that is reconsider (morally to feel compunction). 1. to change one’s mind, i.e. to repent. 2. to change one’s mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins. Now Jesus calls four fishermen.

Mat.4:18] And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
[19] And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
[20] And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

Simon means; hearing. Peter means; rock. Andrew means; Manly. We see here these are examples for God’s Elect in these end times by the words follow me.

Mat.4:21] And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

Something interesting here. We find in John 19:25 that mother Mary is sister to John and James’ mother Mary, wife of Cleophas. Zebedee means; thunder, because he was of the priest line he was probably a priest is why they say he thundered, Cleophas being his real name. This would be why Jesus told John to take his mother into his house after he was crucified.

Mat.4:22] And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

Again, we have an example for God’s Elect to follow him. Notice that none of them hesitated, they dropped their nets and followed Jesus as if they have been waiting for this moment all their lives.

Mat.4:23] And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
[24] And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

Notice here we have those that are ill, and those that are possessed. Many false teachers say that one that is ill is possessed. There is a difference, do not be deceived. Look at this word Lunatic, it is the very spirit of Satan. Though there are many evil spirits in this world, this one is specific to Satan, his spirit can still be here, though he is behind the throne defacto.

Mat.4:25] And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

And why wouldn’t they, they had the Word of God with them. Jesus healed them, he loved them, what a time that must have been. Let’s go to his throne.

Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.

KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible