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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Matthew 4:8 - 4:11
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_4:8-11
8Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9and he said to Him, "All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me." 10Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.'" 11Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.
Mat_4:8-9 This temptation implies a vision instead of an actual event. Compare Luk_4:5 which said "in a moment of time." In either case, it was a real and personal temptation confronting Jesus.
There has been much discussion as to what Satan meant by his claim in Mat_4:9 : (1) does it imply that he owned all of the kingdoms of the earth? or (2) does it imply that he was simply trivializing the world's sin by showing Jesus its splendor? Satan is called the "god of this world" (cf. Joh_12:31; 2Co_4:4) and ruler of this world (cf. Eph_2:2; 1Jn_5:19) and yet this world is owned by God who created and sustains it! The exact extent of Satan's influence, ownership (cf Luk_4:6), and free will (cf. Job 1-2; Zechariah 3) is uncertain, but his power and evil are pervasive (cf. 1Pe_5:8).
Mat_4:9 "if" This is a third class conditional sentence which implied probable future action. This verse shows Satan's true desire to replace YHWH!
Mat_4:10 "Then Jesus said to him" This loosely quotes Deu_6:13. It does not appear in this form in either the Masoretic Text (MT) or the Septuagint (LXX). Jesus added the word "only." This verse and Deu_6:5 affirm the needed commitment to God in heart, mind, and life.
The fact that Jesus loosely quotes a Scripture text ought to encourage us to memorize Scripture (i.e., Psa_119:11; Psa_37:31; Psa_40:8), the purpose is to know its main point and live it out daily, not necessarily to quote it perfectly especially in times of temptation and trials (cf. Eph_6:17).
▣ "Go, Satan" This is similar but not identical to Mat_16:23. Some early Greek manuscripts, C2, D, L, and Z, add "get behind me Satan." Apparently early scribes added this phrase which is from Mat_16:23. The UBS4 gives the shorter text a "B" rating (almost certain).
Mat_4:11 "Then the devil left Him" Luk_4:13 adds the phrase "until an opportune time." Temptation is not once-and-for-all, but ongoing. Jesus would experience temptation again. Peter's words at Caesarea Philippi were as tempting and cutting as Satan's words in the wilderness (cf. Mat_16:21-23).
▣ "angels came and began to minister to Him" The Greek word "minister" is often associated with physical food (cf. Mat_8:15; Mat_25:44; Mat_27:55; Act_2:6). This recalls 1Ki_19:6-7, where God miraculously provided food for Elijah. God's angels ministered to His unique Son. God provided all that Satan said he could provide.
Why the incarnate son of God would need the ministry of angels is a mystery. Angels are ministering spirits to the redeemed (cf. Heb_2:14). Twice in Jesus' life angels helped Him in times of His physical weakness, here and in Gethsemane (cf. Luk_22:43 in MSS à *, D and L and the Vulgate).