TO BE TEMPTED OF THE DEVIL (πειρασθηνα υπο του διαβολου). Matthew locates the temptation at a definite time, "then" (τοτε) and place, "into the wilderness" (εις την ερημον), the same general region where John was preaching. It is not surprising that Jesus was tempted by the devil immediately after... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD FASTED (νηστευσας). No perfunctory ceremonial fast, but of communion with the Father in complete abstention from food as in the case of Moses during forty days and forty nights (Exodus 34:28). "The period of the fast, as in the case of Moses was spent in a spiritual ecstasy, during which the... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THOU ART THE SON OF GOD (ε υιος ε του θεου). More exactly, "If thou art Son of God," for there is no article with "Son." The devil is alluding to the words of the Father to Jesus at the baptism: "This is my Son the Beloved." He challenges this address by a condition of the first class which as... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE DEVIL TAKETH HIM (τοτε παραλαμβανε αυτον ο διαβολος). Matthew is very fond of this temporal adverb (τοτε). See already Matthew 2:7; Matthew 3:13; Matthew 4:1; Matthew 4:5. Note historic present with vivid picturesqueness. Luke puts this temptation third, the geographical order. But was t... [ Continue Reading ]
CAST THYSELF DOWN (βαλε σεαυτον κατω). The appeal to hurl himself down into the abyss below would intensify the nervous dread that most people feel at such a height. The devil urged presumptuous reliance on God and quotes Scripture to support his view (Psalms 91:11). So the devil quotes the Word... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALL NOT TEMPT (ουκ εκπειρασεις). Jesus quotes Deuteronomy again (Deuteronomy 6:16) and shows that the devil has wholly misapplied God's promise of protection.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHOWETH HIM (κα δεικνυσιν αυτω). This wonderful panorama had to be partially mental and imaginative, since the devil caused to pass in review "all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them." But this fact does not prove that all phases of the temptations were subjective without any obje... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THESE THINGS WILL I GIVE THEE (ταυτα σο παντα δωσω). The devil claims the rule of the world, not merely of Palestine or of the Roman Empire. "The kingdoms of the cosmos" (Matthew 4:8) were under his sway. This word for world brings out the orderly arrangement of the universe while η οικουμενη... [ Continue Reading ]
GET THEE HENCE, SATAN (Hυπαγε, Σατανα). The words "behind me" (οπισω μου) belong to Matthew 16:23, not here. "Begone" Christ says to Satan. This temptation is the limit of diabolical suggestion and argues for the logical order in Matthew. "Satan" means the adversary and Christ so terms the devil h... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE DEVIL LEAVETH HIM (τοτε αφιησιν αυτον ο διαβολος). Note the use of "then" (τοτε) again and the historical present. The movement is swift. "And behold" (κα ιδου) as so often in Matthew carries on the life-like picture. " ANGELS CAME (aorist tense προσηλθον punctiliar action) AND WERE MINI... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WHEN HE HEARD (ακουσας δε). The reason for Christ's return to Galilee is given here to be that John had been delivered up into prison. The Synoptic Gospels skip from the temptation of Jesus to the Galilean ministry, a whole year. But for John 1:19-3 we should know nothing of the "year of obsc... [ Continue Reading ]
DWELT IN CAPERNAUM (Κατωικησεν εις Καφαρναουμ). He went first to Nazareth, his old home, but was rejected there (Luke 4:16-31). In Capernaum (probably the modern Τελλ Hυμ) Jesus was in a large town, one of the centres of Galilean political and commercial life, a fishing mart, where many Gentiles... [ Continue Reading ]
SAW A GREAT LIGHT (φως ειδεν μεγα). Matthew quotes Isaiah 9:1, and applies the words about the deliverer from Assyria to the Messiah. "The same district lay in spiritual darkness and death and the new era dawned when Christ went thither" (McNeile). Light sprang up from those who were sitting in t... [ Continue Reading ]
BEGAN JESUS TO PREACH (ηρξατο ο Ιησους κηρυσσειν). In Galilee. He had been preaching for over a year already elsewhere. His message carries on the words of the Baptist about "repentance" and the "kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 3:2) being at hand. The same word for "preaching" (κηρυσσειν) from κηρυξ,... [ Continue Reading ]
CASTING A NET INTO THE SEA (βαλλαντας αμφιβληστρον εις την θαλασσαν). The word here for net is a casting-net (compare αμφιβαλλω in Mark 1:16, casting on both sides). The net was thrown over the shoulder and spread into a circle (αμφ). In Matthew 4:20 and Matthew 4:21 another word occurs for nets... [ Continue Reading ]
FISHERS OF MEN (αλεεις ανθρωπων). Andrew and Simon were fishers by trade. They had already become disciples of Jesus (John 1:35-42), but now they are called upon to leave their business and to follow Jesus in his travels and work. These two brothers promptly (ευθεως) accepted the call and challen... [ Continue Reading ]
MENDING THEIR NETS (καταρτιζοντας τα δικτυα αυτων). These two brothers, James and John, were getting their nets ready for use. The verb (καταρτιζω) means to adjust, to articulate, to mend if needed (Luke 6:40; Romans 9:22; Galatians 6:1). So they promptly left their boat and father and followed J... [ Continue Reading ]
WENT ABOUT IN ALL GALILEE (περιηγεν εν ολη τη Γαλιλαια). Literally Jesus "was going around (imperfect) in all Galilee." This is the first of the three tours of Galilee made by Jesus. This time he took the four fishermen whom he had just called to personal service. The second time he took the twel... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REPORT OF HIM WENT FORTH INTO ALL SYRIA (απηλθεν η ακοη αυτου εις ολην την Σψριαν). Rumour (ακοη) carries things almost like the wireless or radio. The Gentiles all over Syria to the north heard of what was going on in Galilee. The result was inevitable. Jesus had a moving hospital of patients... [ Continue Reading ]
GREAT MULTITUDES (οχλο πολλο). Note the plural, not just one crowd, but crowds and crowds. And from all parts of Palestine including Decapolis, the region of the Ten Greek Cities east of the Jordan. No political campaign was equal to this outpouring of the people to hear Jesus and to be healed by... [ Continue Reading ]