Matthew (video)

Jasmine.

Friday, 20 September 2024

Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” Matthew 4:10

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Then Jesus, He says to him, ‘Withdraw, you, Satan! For it has been written, “The Lord your God you shall worship, and Him alone you shall serve”’” (CG).

The previous verse recorded the words of the Traducer saying that he would give Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their glory if He would fall down and worship him. With that said, Matthew continues with, “Then Jesus, He says to him, ‘Withdraw, you, Satan!’”

The words include a new verb, hupagó. It comes from hypó, under and ágō, lead away. Thus, it gives the sense of to retire or withdraw. HELPS Word Studies notes that it is “to lead away under someone’s authority.” It is clear, then, that Jesus has authority over Satan. He retained that authority and did not cede it to him.

Jesus has been tempted three times, the first was to His fleshly needs, making stone into bread. The second was the pride of life, casting Himself from the winglet of the temple, the third was the lust of the eyes, having seen and been offered every earthly desire that could be imagined.

However, He resisted the temptations, prevailing where Adam failed. Now, in His victory over these things, He instructs Satan to withdraw. This is also the first use of the word Satan in the New Testament. It is derived from the Hebrew word satan, an adversary or opponent. In the Hebrew Old Testament, when the word is preceded by a definite article, it would indicate the archenemy of God, Satan.

Along with His dismissal of Satan, He again cites Scripture, saying, “For it has been written.”

Jesus again relies on the words of Scripture to defend against the temptations levied against Him. This time, He will cite from the Greek translation of Deuteronomy 6:13, saying, “The Lord your God you shall worship, and Him alone you shall serve.”

The Hebrew reads, “You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.” Rather than “fear,” the Greek says “worship,” using the same word as Satan said to Jesus in verse 9. However, one Greek text also translates the word as fear.

The word of God clearly stated that obedience in spiritual matters belonged to the Lord God alone. Any worship of or serving another in such ways was to be rejected. In His actions, Jesus prevailed, not falling to the human temptations set before Him.

Life application: The things that Jesus was tempted with are not wrong in and of themselves. There is nothing wrong with bread. Rather, it was the way in which Jesus was tempted to make the bread that was inappropriate.

There is nothing wrong with bungee jumping off a high bridge (although that has led to disaster at times). In Jesus’ case, casting Himself from the highpoint of the temple would have tested God’s promise concerning the Messiah already recorded in Scripture.

And there is nothing wrong with having worldly goods or being a ruler in some capacity in the world. However, Jesus was tempted by those things in a way that would have violated His allegiance to His Father.

Unfortunately, there are people who take things to extremes unintended in Scripture, sequestering themselves away or refraining from particular things because they have misunderstood the context of what is being said in Scripture.

We live in this world, and we are to interact with it and with others in a manner that any human would as long as our devotion to God is maintained. As long as our faith is in Him and our lives are lived in accord with that faith, God will be pleased with how we conduct our affairs.

This is a beautiful world that has been created and structured for man to enjoy. God is glorified through our proper enjoyment of it, meaning when we thank Him for the blessings that come through our conduct as we interact with it.

Glorious God, it is a joy and a delight to live in this world and experience the innumerable things You have set here for us to experience. May we do so with the mind that You are God and that what we participate in is from Your open hand of grace. May we never let anything in creation take our eyes off of You. Instead, may we consider You as we enjoy what You have given us. Amen.

Seagrape bloom.

Friday, 13 September 2024

Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” Matthew 4:3

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And having come, the one tempting, he said to Him, ‘If Son – you are – of God, speak, that these stones – they might become bread’” (CG).

The previous verse noted that after forty days and forty nights of fasting, Jesus was hungry. Because of that weakened state, it next says, “And having come, the one tempting.”

The idea of “having come,” is one of nearness. The tempter came near to Jesus, but this does not mean he came physically. The Lord would speak to the prophets of old so that they audibly heard Him, but there was no physical presence. Likewise, Peter says this –

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” 1 Peter 5:8, 9

There is nothing to suggest that the tempter appears to people in a visible form. Rather, a spiritual battle is what believers are engaged in. As for the word “tempter,” it is the same word just used in verse 4:1, peirazó. At that time, it was translated as “test,” rather than tempt.

Jesus went through an extended period of testing which now culminates in being tempted by the tempter. As noted, HELPS Word Studies says, “Context alone determines which sense is intended, or if both apply simultaneously.”

Jesus will be tempted in three ways that practically mirror what happened with Adam in the Garden of Eden. That begins with the words, “he said to Him, ‘If Son – you are – of God.’”

The word Son is in the emphatic position, and thus, the temptation is based on that premise. As for the word “if,” the Greek word is ei. It does not suggest any doubt. Rather, the words presume that Jesus is the Son of God. It would be like someone saying to a very strong person, “If you are so strong, why don’t you use your strength in this case?”

The tempter fully realizes that Jesus is the Son of God and is working out his temptation based on that premise. And so, he continues with the words, “speak, that these stones – they might become bread.”

Here, the word stones is plural. In Luke 4, it is singular – this stone. It may be that the words were first stated in general. Look around you at all these stones (the area is a very rocky place). With that, the tempter may have focused on a single stone that looked exceedingly like a loaf of bread, highlighting the temptation and tempting Jesus even further, “This one! Look at how tasty it could be… go ahead and command it!”

As for the temptation, in the garden, the devil said to the woman, “For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). The tempter knows that Jesus is like God because He is the Son of God, and so instead of tempting Him with becoming like God, He tempts Him with what God can do.

However, this is testing of Jesus’ humanity, not His deity. In other words, it says in Hebrews –

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

The devil gained possession of the rights to mankind by causing man to sin. If Jesus the Man were to prevail over the tempter and to also fulfill God’s law as a Man, that right would be restored to Him. If Jesus, however, were to rely on His deity to overcome the works of the devil, there would be no transfer of rights.

The story of Ruth gives detailed insights into this transfer of rights between people. Sin is what necessitated Jesus’ incarnation. His state as a Man who can regain the right to humanity is what is under consideration.

The age-old question of “Could Jesus sin?” is what is brought into focus here. This is known as the doctrine of impeccability. The tempter obviously felt He could. The account of Jesus’ life, however, bears out that He did not.

Going back to Matthew 3:17, the voice from the heavens audibly proclaimed that Jesus is God’s Son of whom God had approved. Looking around at all of the stones in His extreme hunger, it would have been an enormous temptation to appease Himself by using His divine power to satisfy His human needs. But it would have marred the entire purpose of His incarnation.

Therefore, He resisted the temptation, as will be seen in the coming verse.

Life application: Jesus prevailed over the temptation before Him. In our faith in Jesus, we are brought into a state of salvation because we transfer our headship from Adam to Him. The authority the devil possesses over humanity is broken through our faith. However, our trials do not end. In fact, they often become more pronounced –

“For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. ⁵ For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.” 1 Thessalonians 3:4, 5

The devil understands our new position in Christ, and he wants nothing more than to disarm our power in Him. The power we are given is our faith. And our faith leads us to share with others the faith we possess. Paul continues –

“But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you— ⁷ therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. ⁸ For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 3:6-8

If our faith is weakened, then our testimony is weakened. When that happens, we are no longer telling others about Jesus, and souls that could be transferred from Adam to Jesus will never hear the gospel. The devil did not want Jesus to prevail because he hates humanity and wants nothing more than for it to be eternally condemned. However, Jesus prevailed, and His offer stands for all people to receive. But this is only going to come about by people of faith telling others the good news.

Let us hold fast, remain strong in the faith, and rely wholly on the strength of the good news of Jesus Christ to carry us through our lives as we continue to boldly proclaim what we know – for the salvation of others and to the glory of God.

Lord God Almighty, give us the strength, wisdom, and endurance to continue in our faith all of our days so that we will boldly and effectively tell others about the goodness of God in Christ. May it be so, to Your glory. Amen.

Golden Pheasant.

Monday, 2 September 2024

and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.  Matthew 3:9

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“and think not to say in yourselves, ‘A father, we have – Abraham.’ For I say to you that God can from these stones rouse children to Abraham” (CG).

In the previous verse, John warned the Pharisees and Sadducees to produce fruits worthy of reconsideration. Now, he continues his thought, saying, “and think not to say in yourselves.”

By saying this, he knows this is exactly what they say to themselves. What they were thinking was probably one of the most common thoughts in Israel at the time, which is “A father, we have – Abraham.”

This is just what the Pharisees later said to Jesus in John 8 –

“I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. ³⁸ I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.”
³⁹ They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” John 8: 37-39

In John 7:36, the Pharisees were told by Jesus that “if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” He was making a point about their state before God because of sin. Despite being Abraham’s descendants, he was not really their father. But they didn’t understand His logic. Their default setting was, “If we descended from Abraham, then Abraham is our father.” It is exactly what John is warning against now.

Jesus, however, next directly tells them their state –

“Jesus said to them, ‘If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. ⁴⁰ But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. ⁴¹ You do the deeds of your father.’
Then they said to Him, ‘We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.’” John 8:39-41

These people claimed to be children of Abraham, but they did not do what Abraham did. Rather, they were children of Satan, doing what their father, the devil, did (John 8:44). When confronted with the fact that they did not act as Abraham, they then defaulted to being sons of God. That is when Jesus corrected them about their true father.

In this case, the argument of sonship is one based not on natural genealogies, but characteristic. To be a “son” of something in the Bible often signifies a descriptor, meaning a trait or characteristic. For example, to be a “son of death” means to be someone worthy of being put to death.

John knew the thinking of these people because it permeated their culture and society. However, he attempted to correct their thoughts even before the revealing of the Messiah by saying, “For I say to you that God can from these stones rouse children to Abraham.”

Here, he uses the word egeiró. It has already been seen five times in relation to Joseph arising and doing as he was instructed. Strong’s defines it as “to waken (transitively or intransitively), i.e. Rouse (literally, from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively, from obscurity, inactivity, ruins, nonexistence).”

The idea of John’s words here is one of making a complete change in someone as if he were a stone that could be raised to life, arousing him to life. What seems impossible is something that God can, in fact, do. But what is John referring to? The symbolism goes back to Joshua 4 where stones are set up in memorial to the cutting off of the Jordan for the sons of Israel to pass through on dry ground.

Not one (as some translations imply) but two sets of stones were set up. And those events occurred at the same location that John the Baptist is now immersing people. The significance of the stone memorials is exactly what John is now speaking of in the coming of the Messiah.

Jesus, the Descender, like the Jordan, would be cut off. In His being cut off, life would be given to any who passed through His death. To fully understand the symbolism (and it would be a sad loss for you if you don’t), going to the Superior Word sermons on Joshua 3 and 4 is a must. Everything is pointing to the coming of Christ and what He was to do for His people.

Note: As Joshua 3 and 4 are right at the beginning of the book of Joshua, wouldn’t it be better to start with the first sermons of the book and go through them? That way, when you come to Joshua 3 and 4, you will have the appropriate background information to more fully understand what is being seen. The Bible is revealing an amazing journey through redemptive history in types and pictures. You may be amazed.

Life application: As previously noted, to be a son of someone or something means to bear the characteristics or traits of that person or thing. The main theme of the book of Galatians is that of law versus grace. The Galatians had started well. They had believed the gospel of Jesus and they had been saved and given God’s Spirit.

But then, along came Judaizers who attempted to put these believers back under the law of Moses, a time before the coming of Christ and His fulfillment of the law. If they did this, they would be sons of Moses, not Jesus. And because by the law is the knowledge of sin, they would not be free from sin. Rather, they would be bound by it.

In being bound to sin, they would be sons of the devil. But in coming to Christ, one is freed from sin. He is not under law but under grace. In this state, sin is no longer imputed (2 Corinthians 5:19). Law, by its very nature, causes the imputation of sin. It is a trap that too many have fallen into in the church today.

Modern Judaizers are everywhere, reinserting precepts of the law into their theology and bringing people back into bondage. Where they once stood free in Christ, they now stand at enmity to Him. There will be no salvation for those who never came to Christ and who believe this nonsense, and there will be no rewards for those who were once saved but have placed themselves back under the law.

Be free in Christ by living in faith that He has accomplished all things necessary for salvation. This is what grace means. It tells us that what we have gotten is what we do not deserve. We must simply accept it and forever rejoice in it.

“Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— ⁶ just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” ⁷ Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. ⁸ And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’ ⁹ So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.” Galatians 3:5-9

O God, thank You for the freedom from sin and bondage that we have received through the coming of Jesus Christ. Yes, thank You for the grace You have lavished upon us! Hallelujah and Amen.