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Luke's version of this story. Many of the comments there apply here, too.
lu04.
.1
¶ Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted
of the devil.
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The temptation is also
recorded in mr0112ff; lu0401ff.
1 - Led by the Spirit The Holy Spirit who had been represented by the dove at His baptism accompanied Him into the desert. It is important to remember that Jesus, although divine, was also human and that He faced temptation and won the victory for us. 2 - Fasted 40 days and nights It was a long time, probably largely in prayer. Jesus was physically weak and hungry. |
| .3
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command
that these stones be made bread.
.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. |
3 - If This was the key in Satan's strategy. Would Jesus try to defend Himself? Would He try to "prove" His divinity by a miracle. Of course He could make the bread He was Creator with His Father and the Spirit. See on jn0530. 4 - Not by bread alone Jesus relied on the Scriptures to guide His response, just as we must. He quoted from de0803. |
| .5
Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle
of the temple,
.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. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. |
6 - Cast thyself down A popular teaching said that the Messiah would do this. Jesus did not need to prove anything. Also Satan had already lost his place in heaven and was soon to be cast down more re1210a. Reference is to ps09111f. The f indicates "following verse." |
.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;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou
wilt fall down and worship me.
.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. .11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. |
8 -
High
mountain To show all kingdoms. This is
what we understand as a vision. Compare re2109.
9 - I will give thee if This is a common temptation – power over other people. The idea some miss is that with this source of power Satan has power over them. Jesus' answer in verse 10 should be our answer at any time we are tempted to use power in violation of God's ten rules for our happiness. It is also the power of Pokémon and related games involving power to hurt and destroy.  10
- It is written Our powerful defense.
"worship the Lord" de0613,
de1020. |
| .12
¶ Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed
into Galilee;
.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. .17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. |
12
- Prison ... departed jn1040.
This apparently strange decision had a purpose which John describes jn11.
13 - Capernaum See Galilee map , north edge. 14 - Spoken by Esaias is0901, is6001. 17 - Repent ... kingdom of heaven John the Baptist taught repentance and Jesus continued the call. Many parables, especially in Matthew's account tell people how to enter the kingdom of heaven. |
| .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. .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. 22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. |
19 - Follow me It is His call to us, too. Compare jn2115. Find a fuller account of the call beginning at lu0501. |
| .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. 25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan. |
 24
- Fame A popularity that was soon to change. |
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