Matthew 4

The third temptation was the temptation to pride. This is the temptation to boasting (in some translations called the “pride of life”) mentioned in 1 John 2:16. This corresponds to the desire to be like God (Genesis 3:5) and to gain wisdom (Genesis 3:6). Without any effort, without any suffering, Christ could have had all the wisdom and power and authority in the world. All men would have bowed at His feet. Yet Jesus rejected Satan’s offer.

10 For the third time Christ overcame Satan by quoting God’s word, this time from Deuteronomy 6:13. This verse refers to the time when the Jews made a golden calf to worship in place of God (Exodus 32:1-6). Men must worship God alone and nothing else (Exodus 20:3-6).

In these temptations Jesus demonstrated how the word of God can be used as a weapon to overcome Satan and to resist temptation. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17); it is part of the armor of a Christian. If we resist Satan, he will flee from us (see James 4:7 and comment). When the tempter comes, let us say, as Jesus did, “Away from me, Satan!”

11 Then the devil left him. But not forever. According to Luke 4:13, Satan left Jesus until an opportune time. We know that Satan tempted Christ again in the garden of Gethsemane and on the cross (Mark 14:32-35; 15:30-32). Satan even spoke through Jesus’ chief disciple Peter in order to tempt Jesus to avoid the cross (Mark 8:31-33).

(Mark 1:14-15)

12 See Mark 1:14 and comment.

13-16 Jesus began His public ministry in Capernaum, a town on the north side of the lake, that is, the Sea of Galilee. The home of Jesus’ first two disciples, Simon and Andrew, was in Capernaum (Mark 1:21,29).

Matthew quotes from Isaiah 9:1-2 to show that the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah were fulfilled by Christ. In Isaiah’s time, the area of Zebulum and Naphtali in the northern part of Israel was under the control of the kingdom of Assyria.¹⁸ Isaiah prophesied about the deliverance of the people of that area from bondage: the people living in darkness have seen a great light … a light has dawned (verse 16). That light was Christ. Christ’s ministry began in Galilee in the north of Israel, just as Isaiah’s prophecy had foretold (verse 15).

17 See Mark 1:15 and comment.

(Mark 1:16-20)

18-22 See Mark 1:16-20 and comment.

23-25 Jesus carried out a complete ministry, teaching … preaching … and healing (verse 23). He taught in the Jewish synagogues.¹⁹ Christ preached the good news of the kingdom (see Mark 1:14-15 and comment). He healed every disease and sickness; there was no disease He could not cure. He healed not only people’s bodies, but He also healed their souls. Sin is the sickness of the soul. Jesus came to free men and women from bondage to sin. He came to forgive sins. He came to give us abundant life, both physically and spiritually (John 10:10).

Crowds came to Jesus from all over Israel, even from the Decapolis²⁰ and from the region across the Jordan.²¹