Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Luke 4:1 - 4:1
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Full of the Holy Spirit (plērēs pneumatos hagiou). An evident allusion to the descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus at his baptism (Luk 3:21.). The distinctness of the Persons in the Trinity is shown there, but with evident unity. One recalls also Luke’s account of the overshadowing of Mary by the Holy Spirit (Luk 1:35). Mat 4:1 says that “Jesus was led of the Spirit” while Mar 1:12 states that “the Spirit driveth him forth” which see note for discussion. “Jesus had been endowed with supernatural power; and He was tempted to make use of it in furthering his own interests without regard to the Father’s will” (Plummer).
Was led by the Spirit (ēgeto en toi pneumati). Imperfect passive, continuously led. En may be the instrumental use as often, for Mat 4:1 has here hupo of direct agency. But Matthew has the aorist passive anēchthē which may be ingressive as he has eis tēn erēmon (into the wilderness) while Luke has en tōi erēmōi (in the wilderness). At any rate Luke affirms that Jesus was now continuously under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Hence in this same sentence he mentions the Spirit twice.
During the forty days (hēmerās tesserakonta). Accusative of duration of time, to be connected with “led” not with “tempted.” He was led in the Spirit during these forty days (cf. Deu 8:2, forty years). The words are amphibolous also in Mar 1:13. Mat 4:2 seems to imply that the three recorded temptations came at the close of the fasting for forty days. That can be true and yet what Luke states be true also. These three may be merely specimens and so “representative of the struggle which continued throughout the whole period” (Plummer).