First Temptation
Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
tempted - from the Greek word peirazo; to tempt, try, tempter, prove, assay, examine, Jesus was to be tempted or tested by the devil, to see if he would sin.
After so great a Spiritual Blessing, blessings of the Father, the receiving of the Holy Ghost without measure, and the confirmation that Jesus is greater then John the Baptist. Then the Spirit of God leads Jesus out into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
God's Spirit led Jesus out to where satan tempted him. If God allowed his son to be tempted. then he will allow us to be tempted as well. Note, that James says we are tempted, because of our own lusts. Jesus was never of sin, but the Bible said he was tempted in all ways as we were, but without sin.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus shared all things with our human condition. God cannot be tempted, nor does he tempt. Jesus was God, but he was also man, the son of man. The physical son of Mary, conceived by the overshadowing of God's Holy Spirit. He hungered, he grew tired, he had emotions, he was constantly battling satan, as some of us are, yet without sin.
Mat 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.
Jesus was without food for forty days, he was at the point of physical exhaustion, though he was strong in the Spirit. He had hunger, as a human he required food. The fast was now over. There is no evidence that satan came to Jesus during his spiritual fast. But after the high experience, then satan came. At the point of greatest physical exhaustion and after a great Spiritual experience. As we come down from these, satan uses the momentum to drive us into sin and despair. Beware, get sleep and eat well to avoid this.
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.
The same "if" that he used on Eve in the garden of Eden, the same attempt to cast doubt about the things of God.
Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Satan cast doubt on God's word, he lied, he is a liar. Then he offers them pride; "...your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Satan himself tried to be God, and was cast down from heaven. Pride, God hates. Whereas Adam and Eve only knew good, because of Satan they would know sin. Where they experienced love and fellowship with God, now they would see their nakedness and would feel shame and isolation. Isolation is not from God, he want's us to come to him. Welcome to Pro-choice; choosing sin, where there was life and all good things before. Yes, and they would die. First their Spirit died to it's connection to God, then physical death would follow. Satan is not your friend, he desires to kill you.
If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Satan wanted Jesus to obey him and act apart from God's will. If we act apart from God's will, it is sin. If Jesus had sinned in the smallest thing, he could not have been our substitute, paying for our sins by giving his perfect life for us on the cruel cross. A sinner cannot pay for the sins of another.
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.
He answered satan and overcame him using the word of God. This is for our example. God knew that we would be tempted, so he brought his son to a place where satan would tempt him. By seeing Jesus, we see God. By following the way of Jesus, we follow the way of God. Jesus is the way of God and the way to God. He passed satan's first temptation and we learn to use God's word against the lying devil.
Suicide thoughts
Mat 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
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.
Jesus taken to the highest part of the temple, where satan tempts him to kill himself, by jumping off. Again satan wants Jesus, who is Lord of the temple, to test his Godly powers by an act of suicide.
Suicide is one of the ways that satan will try to stop you from serving the true God. He is the god of death and destruction.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Our God is the God of life. Jesus himself is the origin of life. He was with God in the beginning creating the worlds and all that is in them. (Hebrews 1:1-3)
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.
Beware of satan using scriptures. When he uses them, they are used as the Scribes and Pharisees used them with Jesus, as a way to destroy another. We do not use the Bible to destroy another, satan will do this, so beware of the letter of the Law. Let the Holy Spirit of God apply the truth of God's word in your life.
2 Cor 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
This doesn't mean we do not heed the word of God, but instead "spiritualize"the meaning away. No, this may be just another subtle trick of the devil, as he spoke with Eve, "Yea, hath God said?" He will have us doubt what the word plainly says.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
John 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
The Spirit of God will show you God's word as it is correctly understood. He will speak the word of truth. Jesus answers the devil's scripture with another scripture. We DO NOT take one scripture out of context. We can claim it says what we desire it to say, twisting the meaning, to suit our will and desires. We must look at all scriptures concerning a subject to come to the truth, which is God's will and purpose.
Mat 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
The devil was tempting God to sin. Do we sin tempting God, because of His grace?
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Once we are forgiven of sins by Jesus, we must put to death the evil deeds of the flesh. Satan comes against us in our thoughts (suicide) and in the lusts of the flesh. We shall not give him a foothold in our life. He will put us behind a wall, separating us from God. If we continue in sin, we are behind four walls, deceived and prisoners of satan. Break through to God's perfect will for your life.
God of this world
Mat 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
Mat 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Satan had stolen dominion over the world from Adam. Now he offers the kingdoms of the world to the one who created the world with his father; Jesus the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Let's see what the Bible says about satan and his worldly authority.
2 Cor 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2 Cor 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
John 8:41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
John 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
John 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
John 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
John 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
John 8:47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
1 John 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.
1 John 2:16 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.
1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
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.
Again, Jesus quotes the word of God. We are to worship the LORD God, of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, not the god of this world. The gods and goddesses of this world are of satan; Allah, Buddha, Venus, Dianna, the pagan gods, whatever names you put with them, they are not of the Lord God, but of Satan.
Mat 4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Resist with the word of God, our sword and wear the shield of faith, satan will flee, but will return again, so hide the word in your heart and he will not gain control.
and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Jesus in the desert doing battle with the devil, now the angels come to minister as they would come later, when he suffered in agony of his soul, in the garden before the cross. The angels are sent to minister to the saints.
Jesus would indeed be King of all the world's kingdoms, but not by serving the devil. He would obey his Father God, and shed his blood on the cross of Calvary. Then one by one the world's people will come into the Kingdom of God, escaping the evil god of the world.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He must increase
Mat 4:12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
John the Baptist was in prison, now it is time for Jesus to begin his ministry. John came to bare witness to the true light of the world.
John 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
John 1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
John 1:8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
John spoke up that the kingdom of God was near and that all must repent. He told all who he saw without fear. I admire someone who speaks up for truth, correcting those who are in error, but sometimes it is not received. One day he spoke to King Herod who had recently married his brothers wife. This caused him to be imprisoned and his life was taken.
Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.
Mark 6:18 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.
Jesus begins his ministry
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:
Mat 4:14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
Mat 4:15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
Mat 4:16 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.
A prophecy again is fulfilled. John knew it was time for the Messiah to do his work. John had fulfilled his ministry, now it was time to bow to his earthly cousin, Jesus, the son of man and the son of God. John again testified of the one from above;
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
John 3:31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
John 3:32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
John 3:33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
John 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John testified of Jesus, giving the plan of salvation: believe on Jesus and have everlasting life. John's ministry was completed. He bridged the Old Testament law of repentance for sins and made the way for the New Covenant in the blood of Jesus. Believe in the Lamb of God, Jesus, who will take away the sins of the world. All who come to him in faith he will receive.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Will you receive Jesus and eternal life? He came to save you from sins punishment and He will remove your sins. Repent and seek his forgiveness.
Repent
Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Jesus continues where John left off, with the message of repentance, turning from sins and turning to God. Repentance is required to receive Jesus and a new life. If we hold on to the old, how can we receive the new way? There is no sincerity in seeking Jesus , if we wish to live in sin. Salvation starts with repentance and a humble heart, seeing the need for forgiveness of sins.
In our nation, a one time Christian country, many think they will go to heaven, because they are good people. No, only through trust in the Lord Jesus Christ may we enter the Kingdom of God. Others, say, I am too bad, I have done evil in my life. Paul wrote to the church of Corinth, regarding godly sorrow. Paul sent a letter to the Church telling them to repent and to put away evil from among them.
2 Cor 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Sorrow for sin, can lead us to Jesus and forgiveness. The sorrow of the world is to be sorry we were caught. Another sorrow, is from satan who accuses us and makes us unworthy in our own eyes for any good thing. No, he is a liar. God so loved you, that he sent his son to love you, and to cleanse you of the past. Come to the Lord who calls you to him and receive his forgiveness. Repent, turn to Jesus and be a member of God's family, in his Kingdom forever more. Jesus said to you;
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
(We were dead in sins)
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
John 2:20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
John 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
John 2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
John 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
Jesus will judge all sin in those who are not in him, he will judge according to his word in the Bible. If we repent from sins and trust in Jesus we shall not be judged for sins, but for rewards for the good we do after we are in Jesus, having been saved unto good works. (Eph 2:10)
Calling followers
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.
This was not the first meeting for Simon and Andrew to be with Jesus. They were first disciples of John the Baptist. John showed them the Lamb of God. Andrew followed Jesus first, then he told his brother Simon. Jesus would give Simon a new name; Peter.
John 1:35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
John 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
John 1:37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
John 1:38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
John 1:39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
John 1:40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
John 1:41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
John 1:42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
Mat 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Two brothers, fishermen, busy casting their nets in the sea. A day as any other, then Jesus comes. Jesus calls them unto himself, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Mat 4:20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
Jesus called them, and they responded at once, leaving behind their old way of life. Repentance is changing directions, they turned to Jesus and followed him. They already knew he was the Messiah from God, when God calls, his followers follow. Are you a follower of God? Then respond to Jesus.
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.
Mat 4:22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
James would be the first apostle to be martyred. John was the disciple whom Jesus loved, and on whom he laid his head as they reclined for supper; as he would write in his gospel account.
John 21:20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, ...
Mark 3:17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
Later we see why they may have been named the sons of thunder. They were angry at the Samaritans for not receiving Jesus.
Luke 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
Luke 9:52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
Luke 9:53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
Luke 9:54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
Luke 9:55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
Luke 9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
There we have the callings, to save lives, not to allow satan to destroy them. Jesus is the saviour, to save all who would come to him from sins punishment. Andrew, Peter, James and John were called to learn at the side of the Messiah, oh what a beautiful calling. There is nothing more important then serving our Lord. We continue to respond to his calling, have you responded to him? Leaving all behind?
Luke 14 (New Living Translation)
26"If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.
To be a disciple requires a commitment and discipline. If we have truly repented from the old ways, we willingly seek to learn of Jesus. His way is life and peace. He gives us all we need when we trust in him for our new life.
Healings
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.
Notice the order of Jesus' ministry. He went first to the synagogue, the Jewish meeting place; the house of worship and communal center of a Jewish congregation.
Mat 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
He taught them, and preached the gospel of the kingdom, followed by healings of all kinds.
Mat 4:24 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 lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
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.
No doubt people followed him for the most part, because of his miracles. There are many people with many needs to be met. I suppose the most immediate needs are of the flesh; healings, but he also came to heal their hearts and minds. The word would accomplish this and faith in Jesus and the one who sent him. Remember, in him dwells life for all time. He came down from the Father with good news of a new eternal kingdom, all who trust in Jesus come into his Kingdom.
John 10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
John 10:38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
Gary
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