Life Application
Bible Commentary
MATTHEW 3 & 4

By

Bruce B. Barton, D. Min.
Mark Fackler, Ph.D.
Linda K. Taylor
David R. Veerman, M. Div.

Series Editor
Grant Osborne, Ph.D.
Editor
Philip Comfort, Ph.D.

MATTHEW 3

John the Baptist Prepares the Way for Jesus—Matthew
3:1-12 / 16

When John “came preaching” (3:1), the people were excited. They considered
John to be a great prophet, and they were sure that the eagerly awaited age of the
Messiah had come. Indeed, it had, and God was ushering in a brand-new
covenant and a new era in his dealings with humanity. John spoke like the
prophets of old, saying that the people must turn from their sin to avoid
punishment and turn to God to experience his mercy and approval. This is a
message for all times and places, but John spoke it with particular urgency—he
was preparing the people for the coming Messiah and for his kingdom. Our
calling is similar to John’s, for we, too, can prepare the way for others to come to
Jesus. How much urgency do you feel for those who still need to hear the
message?

MATTHEW 3:1

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea.
(NKJV) “In those days” is an Old Testament phrase that points to a critical period
of time. It relates to 2:23, loosely referring to the days when Jesus lived in
Nazareth. However, twenty-eight to thirty years have elapsed since Joseph
returned with the young Jesus and Mary from Egypt back to Israel. He did not
settle in Judea but moved north instead to Galilee and the city of Nazareth.

But in the wilderness of Judea (the rugged land west of the Dead Sea), a
significant event began to occur: John the Baptist came preaching. In these five
words, Matthew summed up the story that Luke would record in greater detail
(see Luke 1:5-25, 39-45, 57-80). John was a miracle child, born to Elizabeth and
Zacharias (Zechariah, in some Bible versions). Elizabeth was unable to have
children, and advanced age rendered her and Zacharias certain to remain
childless.

Zacharias was a priest. One day, while he was carrying out his duties in the
temple, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and explained that Zacharias and
Elizabeth would have a baby boy whom they should name John. Then he added:
“He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit
and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their
children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a
people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:16-17 NRSV). There had not been a
prophet in Israel for more than four hundred years. It was widely believed that
when the Messiah came, prophecy would reappear (Joel 2:28-29; Malachi 3:1;
4:5). John was that prophet, preaching a message of repentance. The word
translated “preaching” comes from the Greek word meaning “to be a herald, to
proclaim.” Matthew described John as a herald proclaiming news of the coming
King, the Messiah. The title “the Baptist” distinguished this John from many
other men with the same name—baptism was an important part of his ministry
(3:6).

John’s mother, Elizabeth, was a cousin to Jesus’ mother, Mary. Thus, Jesus
and John the Baptist were distant cousins. It is likely that they knew of each
other, but John probably did not know that Jesus was the Messiah until Jesus’
baptism by John (see 3:16-17).

To us also John the Baptist must come if we shall properly
appreciate the Redeemer. We must expose ourselves to the fire,
the ax, the winnowing-fan, that we may learn what we really are,
and come, like Paul, to reckon our own righteousness as loss if
only we may win Christ and be found in him.

—F. B. Meyer

MATTHEW 3:2

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (NRSV) John the
Baptist’s preaching focused specifically on one message—preparing hearts for
the coming Messiah. Preparation could only occur through repentance. John
called the people to repent—to turn away from sins and turn toward God. To be
truly repentant, people must do both. Without apology or hesitation, John
preached that the people could not say they believed and then live any way they
wanted (see 3:7-8). They had to understand that they were sinners, that sin is
wrong, and that they needed to change both their attitude and their conduct.
Repentance was a radical concept for Jews who considered themselves already
“the people of God.” In the Old Testament, “repent” means the radical return to
God of those who have broken the covenant with him. John used the word this
way.

Why did they need this radical repentance? Because the kingdom of heaven
had arrived. The kingdom of heaven began when God himself entered human
history as a man. Passages referring to God’s kingdom appear 50 times in
Matthew’s Gospel alone; the phrase “kingdom of heaven” occurs 33 times. Mark
and Luke refer to it as the “kingdom of God.” This is a “kingdom” where God
reigns. The phrase indicates a present reality and a future hope. Matthew’s use of
“kingdom of heaven” relates to his Jewish audience and their reluctance to use
the name of God. But there is no theological distinction implied between
“kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God.” Today Jesus Christ reigns in the
hearts of believers, but the kingdom of heaven will not be fully realized until all
evil in the world is judged and removed. Christ came to earth first as a suffering
Servant; he will come again as King and Judge to rule victoriously over all the
earth.

The phrase “has come near” portrays that God has interrupted history with a
dramatic new revelation of his power. Discussion of the timing of the arrival of
God’s kingdom fills many pages of scholarly work. The issues seem to fall into
three main views:

1.Futurist—Since the Old Testament view of the kingdom of God refers to
his rule over a geographical area and in a political reality, this rule must
be in the future. Thus, Jesus was announcing that the rule was “near” or
“at hand.” Most Jews held this view and would not accept the message of
repentance.

2.Realized—This view sees God’s kingdom as announced and inaugurated
with Jesus’ ministry on earth. The rule of Satan’s kingdom was broken as
Jesus cast out demons. With Jesus’ initiation of God’s rule on earth, all
humanity must carry out his will by living in love and peace on earth. 

3.Two-pronged approach—This view recognizes the kingdom of God as
both present and future. The rule of God transcends all time. God ruled
before Christ came to earth, but in the ministry of Christ, new power was
released through Christ, requiring people to encounter and decide to
follow God. This looks forward both to the Resurrection and to Pentecost
for further authentication and enabling. However, God’s geographical and
political rule will be revealed at a future time when Christ returns.

Turn Around

John the Baptist’s theme was “Repent!” Repentance means
doing an about-face—a 180-degree turn—from the kind of self-
centeredness that leads to wrong actions such as lying, cheating,
stealing, gossiping, taking revenge, abusing, and indulging in
sexual immorality. A person who stops rebelling and begins
following God’s way of living prescribed in his Word is a person
who has repented. The first step in turning to God is to admit your
sin, as John urged. Then God will receive you and help you live
the way he wants. Remember that only God can remove sin. He
doesn’t expect us to clean up our lives before we come to him.

This third view integrates the Scriptures and explains the teachings of Christ
most satisfyingly. It enables us to see God’s kingdom as both present (Matthew
12:28; Luke 7:22-23; 17:20-21) and future (Matthew 6:10; Mark 9:47; Luke
13:28-29).

MATTHEW 3:3

For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice
of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His
paths straight.’” (NKJV) The prophet quoted is Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3), one of the
greatest prophets of the Old Testament and one of the most quoted in the New.
Here Matthew quoted from the Septuagint (often abbreviated as LXX), the Greek
version of the Hebrew Old Testament. The second half of the book of Isaiah is
devoted to the promise of salvation. Isaiah recorded God’s promise to bring the
exiles home from Babylon. He also wrote about the coming of the Messiah and
the person who would announce his coming, John the Baptist (Isaiah 40:3). Like
Isaiah, John was a prophet who urged people to confess their sins and live for
God. Both prophets taught that the message of repentance is good news to those
who listen and seek the healing forgiveness of God’s love, but terrible news to
those who refuse to listen and thus cut off their only hope.

Matthew understood that John the Baptist was, in fact, the voice that came
crying out to the people of Israel. The Greek word for “crying” is boao, meaning
“to cry out with great feeling.” John the Baptist’s message was full of emotion
and came directly from God. John was merely God’s mouthpiece for the
important message that God was sending to his people: Prepare the way of the
Lord. How were they to do this?

The word “prepare” refers to making something ready; the word “way” could
also be translated “road.” The picture could come from the ancient Middle
Eastern custom of sending servants ahead of a king to level and clear the roads to
make them passable for his journey. The people in Israel needed to prepare their
minds to eagerly anticipate their King and Messiah. The verbs are in the
imperative, meaning that John spoke them as a military general would speak
commands—to be obeyed immediately and without hesitation. Those who
accepted John’s status as a true prophet from God understood these words as
God’s words to them, humbled themselves, repented, received baptism, and
opened the “way” for their Messiah to take hold of their lives.

John’s call to make His paths straight meant much the same as preparing the
way. The “paths” are the way to people’s hearts. For Jesus to be able to reach
them, people needed to give up their selfish way of living, renounce their sins,
seek God’s forgiveness, and establish a relationship with almighty God by
believing and obeying his words (Isaiah 1:18-20; 57:15). Again, the verb is in the
imperative; John was issuing an impassioned command to his fellow Israelites
(see also Luke 7:24-28).

Why did this voice come from the wilderness? The word “wilderness,” also
translated “desert,” refers to a lonely, uninhabited place. John preached in the
Judean wilderness, the lower Jordan River valley. Isaiah’s use of the word
“wilderness” alludes to the wilderness experience of the children of Israel on
their exodus from Egypt to Canaan. The wilderness represents the place where
God would once again act to rescue his people and bring them into fellowship
with him.

John the Baptist’s powerful, to-the-point preaching and his wilderness living
made him a curiosity, separated him from the false piety of many of the religious
leaders, and gave him an unmistakable resemblance to the ancient prophets. We
can only speculate on John’s motives for living in the wilderness. Perhaps he
wanted (1) to get away from distractions so he could hear God’s instructions; (2)
to capture the undivided attention of the people; (3) to symbolize a sharp break
with the hypocrisy of the religious leaders who preferred their luxurious homes
and positions of authority over doing God’s work; and (4) to fulfill Old
Testament prophecies that said the Messiah’s forerunner would be preaching “in
the wilderness.”

Straight Ways

John the Baptist “prepared” the way for Jesus. People who do
not know Jesus need to be prepared to meet him. We can prepare
them by explaining their need for forgiveness, demonstrating
Christ’s teachings by our conduct, and telling them how Christ
can give their lives meaning. We can “make straight paths for
him” by correcting misconceptions that might be hindering people
from approaching Christ. Someone you know may be open to a
relationship with Christ. Can you be their “John the Baptist”? Are
you ready to explain, to challenge, and to win others? Take the
first step today.

MATTHEW 3:4

Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his
waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. (NRSV) John must have
presented a strange image! He was outfitted for survival in the wilderness—like a
desert monk. He dressed much like the prophet Elijah (2 Kings 1:8). Elijah too
had been considered a messenger preparing the way for God (see Malachi 3:1;
4:5). John’s striking appearance reinforced his striking message, distinguishing
him from the religious leaders, whose flowing robes reflected their great pride in
their position (12:38-39). Having separated himself from the evil and hypocrisy
of his day, John lived differently from other people to show that his message was
new. John not only preached God’s law, he “lived” it. Many people came to hear
this preacher who wore odd clothes and ate unusual food. John’s appearance and
food fit the description of the Nazirite vow (see Luke 1:15; also Numbers 6:1-8).
Some people probably came simply out of curiosity and ended up repenting of
their sins as they listened to his powerful message. People may be curious about
your Christian lifestyle and values. You can use their simple curiosity as an
opener to share how Christ makes a difference in you.

His diet, locusts and wild honey, was common for survival in the desert
regions. Locusts were often roasted and were considered “clean” food for the
Jews (Leviticus 11:22); wild honey could be found in abundance, made by the
wild bees who nested in the clefts of rocks and in the trees of the valley.

Being Weird

John’s appearance and lifestyle dramatically contrasted with the
people of his day. He looked and lived as he did both out of
necessity and to further demonstrate his message. Some people go
to great extremes today to demonstrate their loyalty to sports
teams: They buy jackets, license plates, ties, and collectibles.

Since the days of the early church, faithful Christians have
shown loyalty in many ways. Some have adopted clothes and
eating habits similar to John’s. Some have tried to imitate Peter or
other early Christian leaders.

Today, with so much loyalty evident on any city block (just
count the baseball caps), Christians need “caps” to show their
commitment to Jesus. And the Bible suggests the most important
emblems: attitudes like loving others, being hopeful under stress,
and trusting in God for daily needs. Badges like these show others
how faith in the living God makes a difference in your life. What
loyalties does your life portray?

MATTHEW 3:5

People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole
region of the Jordan. (NIV) The verb form of “went out” is in the imperfect
tense, indicating continuous action. From Jerusalem (the holy city of the Jews)
and from the whole region of the Jordan, a stream of people constantly flowed
into the wilderness to hear John the Baptist preach.

John attracted so many people because he was the first true prophet in four
hundred years. His blasting of both Herod and the religious leaders was a daring
act that fascinated common people. But John also had strong words for the others
in his audience—they too were sinners and needed to repent. His message was
powerful and true. The people were expecting a prophet like Elijah (Malachi 4:5;
Luke 1:17), and John seemed to be the one!

MATTHEW 3:6

Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. (NIV)
Many of the people who “went out” to hear John (3:5) came confessing their
sins. Confession is more than simply acknowledging one’s own sinfulness; it is
agreeing with God’s verdict on sin and expressing the desire to get rid of sin and
live for God. Confessing means more than verbal response, affirmation, or praise;
it means agreeing to change to a life of obedience and service.

Then they were baptized. When you wash dirty hands, the results are
immediately visible. But repentance happens inside with a cleansing that isn’t
seen right away. So John used a symbolic action that people could see: baptism.
The Jews used baptism to initiate Gentile converts, so John’s audience was
familiar with the rite. Here, John gives baptism a special meaning: It was used as
a sign of repentance and forgiveness.

For baptism, John needed water, and he used the Jordan River, which is about
seventy miles long, its main section stretching between the Sea of Galilee and the
Dead Sea. Jerusalem lies about twenty miles west of the Jordan. Many significant
events in the nation’s history took place by the Jordan River. It was here that the
Israelites renewed their covenant with God before entering the Promised Land
(Joshua 1–5). Here John the Baptist called them to renew their covenant with
God, this time through baptism.

Baptism

Christians have long pondered the proper mode and timing for
baptism and what it really means. Some churches have nearly
abandoned baptism as a “ritual,” while others claim you can’t go
to heaven without it.

Baptism is important for all who say to God, “I belong to you.”
Baptism tells everybody where your loyalties really are, who you
really depend on, and what direction your life is taking. Baptism
says, “I follow Jesus.”

Churches practice different traditions, but all believe that
baptism is the outward sign that separates people from the world
and attaches them to Christ. God promises blessing to all who take
this step.

MATTHEW 3:7

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he
said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath
to come?” (NRSV) John gladly baptized the many repentant men and women who
came to him, confessing their sins and desiring to live for God. But when John
saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he exploded in anger at
their hypocrisy.

The Jewish religious leaders were divided into several groups. Two of the most
prominent ones were the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The Pharisees separated
themselves from anything non-Jewish and carefully followed both the Old
Testament laws and the oral traditions handed down through the centuries. The
Sadducees believed the Pentateuch alone (Genesis—Deuteronomy) to be God’s
Word. They were descended mainly from priestly nobility, while the Pharisees
came from all classes of people. While the two groups disliked each other
greatly, they both opposed Jesus.

Most likely, these distinguished men had come to John not to be baptized but
simply to find out what was going on. John spoke to them with harsh words. John
had criticized the Pharisees for being legalistic and hypocritical, following the
letter of the law while ignoring its true intent. He had criticized the Sadducees for
using religion to advance their political position. He obviously doubted the
genuineness of their desire for baptism and was suspicious of them for even
showing up. John called them a brood of vipers (Jesus also used this term, see
12:34; 23:33). The term literally means “snakes.” It conveys how dangerous and
cunning these religious leaders were and suggests that they were offspring of
Satan (see Genesis 3; John 8:44). His question stung with sarcasm, “Who warned
you to flee from the wrath to come?” In other words, “Who said you were going
to escape God’s coming judgment?” The religious leaders applied the “day of the
Lord” to judgment on the Gentiles; John applied it to the religious leaders. The
reason for John’s harshness is revealed in his words that follow.

Righteous, and Proud of It!

The Pharisees and Sadducees were proud of their knowledge
and position. Religious people must struggle with their pride over
spiritual attainments. Who gets big egos? It can happen to wealthy
donors, to popular preachers, and to normal, everyday Joe and
Jane Sunday school—anyone who starts believing that he or she is
much better than others.

John warned the most religious people in his region that their
version of religion was keeping them from a relationship with
God. How odd—people whose minds were packed with
knowledge of the Scriptures were cut off from the truth because of
their pride over spiritual achievements.

Stay close to friends who will be honest with you, who will
check your bloated ego; keep your feet on the ground and your
heart humble. Without friends like these, you could become as
self-righteous as the esteemed Pharisees and Sadducees.

 

Pharisees and Sadducees
The Pharisees and Sadducees were the two major religious groups in Israel at the time of Christ. The Pharisees were more religiously minded, while the Sadducees were more politically minded. Although the groups disliked and distrusted each other, they worked together to oppose Jesus.
Name	Positive Characteristics	Negative Characteristics
Pharisees	Were committed to obeying all of God's commands	Behaved as though their own religious rules were just as important as God's rules for living
	Were admired by the common people for their apparent piety	Often forced others to try to live up to standards they themselves could not meet
	Believed in a bodily resurrection and eternal life	Believed that salvation came from perfect obedience to the law and was not based on forgiveness of sins
	Believed in angels and demons	Became so obsessed with obeying their legal interpretations in every detail that they completely ignored God's message of mercy and grace
		Were more concerned with appearing to be good than obeying God
Sadducees	Believed strongly in the Mosaic law and in Levitical purity	Relied on logic while placing little importance on faith
	Were more practically minded than the Pharisees	Did not believe that all the Old Testament was God's Word
		Did not believe in a bodily resurrection or eternal life
		Did not believe in angels or demons
		Were often willing to compromise their values with the Romans and others in order to maintain their status and influential positions

 

MATTHEW 3:8

“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” (NIV) Those who refuse to
repent will face judgment; those who repent will escape judgment; however, true
repentance is seen by the fruit (actions and character) it produces. The Pharisees
and Sadducees thought they had a corner on righteousness, but their fruit
revealed their true character. Only if they could produce fruit in keeping with
repentance—if they truly repented and lived for God—then and only then would
they be able to “flee from the wrath to come” (3:7).

John the Baptist called people to more than words or ritual; he told them to
change their behavior. If we are to produce fruit in keeping with repentance, our
words and religious activities must back up what we say. God judges our words
by the actions that accompany them. Do your actions match your words?

False Security

The religious leaders trusted in Abraham’s faith and in their
own genetic and religious history. When your life takes a wicked
bounce, you’re stressed to the max, and you need help fast, where
do you turn? Some people hang charms on their wrist or emblems
from a car’s rearview mirror. Some people repeat the names of
early Christians. Wouldn’t John the Baptist be surprised to
discover that his own name is used by some people to ward off
trouble?

If you trust in knickknacks or depend on long-departed
Christians to help you wiggle through a tight spot, give it up. Our
faith should not be in objects or people, but in God alone. God is
your help in trouble, and Jesus, your Lord forever. Trust in his
truth.

MATTHEW 3:9

“And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our
father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for
Abraham.” (NIV) The pious Pharisees and Sadducees may have sneered at
John’s outrage. “After all,” they thought to themselves, “we are descendants of
Abraham; therefore, we are guaranteed God’s blessings.” Somewhere over the
years, the Jews erroneously decided that the promise given to the patriarchs was
guaranteed to all their descendants, no matter how they acted or what they
believed. John explained to them, however, that relying on Abraham as their
ancestor would not qualify them for God’s kingdom. John probably pointed at
stones in the riverbed and said out of these stones God can raise up children for
Abraham. John may have used a play on the Aramaic words for “stone” and
“children” in making his point that God can make a nation for himself from
whomever he chooses. Only those who “produce fruit in keeping with
repentance” (3:8) would qualify for God’s coming kingdom. The apostle Paul
would later explain this to the Romans: “Not all who are descended from Israel
are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children
…. It is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of
the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring” (Romans 9:6-8 NIV).

MATTHEW 3:10 

“Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that
does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (NRSV) God’s
message hasn’t changed since the Old Testament—people will be judged for
their unproductive lives. Just as a fruit tree is expected to bear fruit, God’s people
should produce a crop of good deeds (3:8). John compared people who claim that
they believe God but don’t live for God to unproductive trees that will be cut
down. “The kingdom of heaven is near” (3:2); judgment was at hand. The ax is
lying at the root of the trees, poised and ready to do its work, cutting down those
trees that do not bear good fruit. Not only will the trees be cut down, but they will
be thrown into the fire, signifying complete destruction.

Jesus used the same illustration in 7:19, “Every tree that does not bear good
fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (NRSV). Jesus was describing how to
recognize false teachers. He explained that we can know them by their fruits,
their lives. In the same way, God has no use for people who call themselves
Christians but do nothing about it. Like many people in John’s day who were
God’s people in name only, we are of no value if we are Christians in name only.
If others can’t see our faith in the way we treat them, we may not be God’s
people at all.

So how are we to bear good fruit? God calls us to be “active” in our
obedience. To be productive for God, we must obey his teachings, resist
temptation, actively serve others, and share our faith.

MATTHEW 3:11

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful
than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will
baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (NRSV) Turning his attention away
from the self-righteous religious leaders and back to the sincere seekers who
came for baptism, John explained that his baptism with the water of the Jordan
River demonstrated repentance—willingness to turn from sin. This was the
beginning of the spiritual process. John baptized people as a sign that they had
asked God to forgive their sins and had decided to live as he wanted them to live.
Baptism was an “outward” sign of commitment. To be effective, it had to be
accompanied by an “inward” change of attitude leading to a changed life. John’s
baptism did not give salvation; it prepared a person to welcome the coming
Messiah and receive his message and his baptism.

John’s statement He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire revealed the
identity of the one who is more powerful coming after John as the promised
Messiah. The coming of the Spirit had been prophesied as part of the Messiah’s
arrival:

t“I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your
descendants” (Isaiah 44:3 NIV).

t“The time is coming …. I will put my law in their minds and write it on
their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people …. For I will
forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Jeremiah
31:31-34 NIV).

t“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove
from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put
my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to
keep my laws” (Ezekiel 36:26-27 NIV).

t“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and
daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young
men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will
pour out my Spirit in those days” (Joel 2:28-29 NIV).

The Old Testament promised a time when God would demonstrate his
purifying power among people (Isaiah 32:15; Ezekiel 39:29). The prophets also
looked forward to a purifying fire (Isaiah 4:4; Malachi 3:2). This looked ahead to
Pentecost (Acts 2), when the Holy Spirit would be sent by Jesus in the form of
tongues of fire, empowering his followers to preach the gospel. All believers,
those who would later come to Jesus Christ for salvation, would receive the
baptism of the Holy Spirit and the fire of purification (one article precedes these
words, indicating that they were not two separate baptisms, but one and the
same). The experience would not necessarily be like that recorded in Acts 2, but
the outcome would be the same. This baptism would purify and refine each
believer. When Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit, the entire person would
be refined by the Spirit’s fire. So, for those who believe, “the fire” is positive, but
for unbelievers, “the fire” brings awful judgment, as is described in the next
verse.

John knew that the Messiah would be coming after him. Although John was
the first genuine prophet in four hundred years, Jesus the Messiah would be
infinitely greater than he. John was pointing out how insignificant he was
compared to the one who would come. John pointed out three main differences
between himself and the one coming after him: (1) Jesus’ baptism transcends
John’s because it includes full redemption—John’s was limited to repentance; (2)
Jesus would be “more powerful,” referring to eschatological power; (3) John was
not even worthy of doing the most menial tasks for him, like carrying his sandals,
an act considered so low that only slaves did it. (Not even disciples were required
to carry their rabbi’s sandals because the dusty shoes symbolized the sins of life.)

John the Baptist said, “He must become greater; I must become less” (John
3:30 NIV). What John began, Jesus finished. What John prepared, Jesus fulfilled.

MATTHEW 3:12

“His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor,
gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with
unquenchable fire.” (NIV) Threshing was the process of separating the grains of
wheat from the useless outer shell called chaff. This was normally done in a large
area called a threshing floor, often on a hill, where the wind could blow away the
lighter chaff when the farmer tossed the beaten wheat into the air. A winnowing
fork is a pitchfork used to toss wheat in the air in order to separate wheat from
chaff. The wheat is the part of the plant that is useful; chaff is the worthless outer
shell. Chaff is burned because it is useless; wheat, however, is gathered.
“Winnowing” is often used in the Bible to picture God’s judgment. Jesus used
the same analogy in a parable (13:24-30). John spoke of repentance, but he also
spoke of judgment upon those who refused to repent. The message is always the
same; there is no middle ground and no gray area. Repent, turn to Christ, and be
saved; or refuse to repent, refuse to turn to Christ, and be destroyed.

The wrath of God is like great waters that are dammed for the
present; they increase more and more, and rise higher and higher,
till an outlet is given; and the longer the stream is stopped, the
more rapid and mighty is its course, when once it is let loose.

—Jonathan Edwards

MATTHEW 4

Satan Tempts Jesus in the Wilderness—Matthew 4:1-11 /
18

From Jesus’ temptation we can learn that following our Lord can bring
dangerous and intense spiritual battles. We won’t always feel good; we will
experience times of deprivation, loneliness, and hostility. Jesus’ temptation also
shows that our spiritual victories may not always be visible to the watching
world. Above all, it shows that we must use the power of God to face temptation
and not try to withstand it in our own strength.

MATTHEW 4:1

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by
the devil. (NKJV) The word “then” indicates an important connection of the end
of chapter 3 and the beginning of chapter 4. The same Holy Spirit that sent Jesus
to be baptized, then sent Jesus into the wilderness. The temptation was a divine
necessity to prove Jesus’ messianic purpose. Led up by the Spirit, Jesus took the
offensive against the enemy, Satan, by going into the lonely and desolate
wilderness to face temptation. In the Old Testament, the “wilderness” (or
“desert”) was a desolate and dangerous place where wild animals lived (see, for
example, Isaiah 13:20-22; 34:8-15).

“Devil” in Greek means “accuser”; in Hebrew, the word “Satan” means the
same (4:10). The devil tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, and here he tempted
Jesus in the wilderness. Satan is a fallen archangel. He is a real, created being,
not symbolic, and is constantly fighting against those who follow and obey God.
The verb “to be tempted” describes continuous action because Jesus was tempted
constantly during the forty days. The word “tempted” means “to put to the test to
see what good or evil, strengths or weaknesses, exist in a person.” The Spirit
compelled Jesus into the wilderness where God put Jesus to the test—not to see if
Jesus was ready, but to show that he was ready for his mission. Satan, however,
had other plans; he hoped to thwart Jesus’ mission by tempting Jesus to do evil.
Satan tried to get Jesus to declare his kingship prematurely. Satan tried to get
Jesus to take his messianic power into his own hands and to forsake his Father’s
will. If Jesus had given in, his mission on earth—to die for our sins and give us
the opportunity to have eternal life—would have been lost. For more on Satan,
see 1 Chronicles 21:1; Job 1–2; Zechariah 3:1-2; Luke 10:18; Revelation 20.

The devil’s temptations focused on three crucial areas: (1) physical needs and
desires, (2) possessions and power, and (3) pride (see 1 John 2:15-16 for a similar
list). This temptation by the devil shows us that Jesus was human, and it gave
Jesus the opportunity to reaffirm God’s plan for his ministry. It also gives us an
example to follow when we are tempted. Jesus’ temptation was an important
demonstration of his sinlessness. He faced temptation and did not give in.

Time of Testing

This time of testing showed that Jesus really was the Son of
God, able to overcome the devil and his temptations. A person has
not shown true obedience if he or she has never had an
opportunity to disobey. We read in Deuteronomy 8:2-3 that God
led Israel into the desert to humble and test them. God wanted to
see whether or not his people would really obey him. You too will
be tested. Because you know that testing will come, you should be
alert and ready for it. Remember, your convictions are only real if
they hold up under pressure!

 

Know the Enemy, Know the Method
Satan, the archenemy of all believers, has been tempting people to turn from God since the first woman on earth listened to his lies. Interestingly enough, his methods have never really changed. He tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, Jesus in the wilderness, and tempts us in our daily lives. When we know how he attacks, we can be prepared.
How Satan tempted …
Jesus	Eve	Us (see 1 John 2:16)
Turn stones to bread to eat	Fruit would be good to eat	Lust of the flesh
Prove his divine sonship	Gain wisdom so as to be like God	Pride of life
Obtain all he could see	Look at the fruit and see that it looks tasty	Lust of the eyes

 

MATTHEW 4:2

He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.
(NRSV) Jesus fasted during his time in the wilderness—going without food and
perhaps even water, though some fasts allowed food and water only at night.
Fasting was used as a spiritual discipline for prayer and a time of preparation for
great tasks that lay ahead.

The number forty brings to mind the forty days of rain in the great Flood
(Genesis 7:17), the forty days Moses spent on Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:18), the
forty years of Israel’s wandering in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 29:5), the forty
days of Goliath’s taunting of Israel prior to David’s victory (1 Samuel 17:16),
and the forty days of Elijah’s time of fear in the wilderness (1 Kings 19:8). In all
those situations, God worked in his people, preparing them for special tasks.

At the end of this forty-day fast, Jesus obviously was famished. Jesus’ status as
God’s Son did not make this fast any easier; his physical body suffered the severe
hunger and pain of going without sustenance. The three temptations recorded
here occurred when Jesus was at his most physically weakened state. But Satan
could not weaken Jesus spiritually.

Weak Spots

Jesus wasn’t tempted inside the temple or at his baptism but in
the desert, where he was tired, alone, and hungry, and thus most
vulnerable. The devil often tempts us when we are at our weakest
point—under physical or emotional stress (for example, lonely,
tired, weighing big decisions, or faced with uncertainty). But he
also likes to tempt us through our strengths, where we are most
susceptible to pride. We guard against his attacks when we start
the day with prayer, build our attitudes around the Bible’s truth,
and depend on God’s Holy Spirit to keep us from spiritual harm.

MATTHEW 4:3

The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command
these stones to become loaves of bread.” (NRSV) “The tempter” is another name
for the devil (4:1), Satan. Jesus may have finished his fast, but Satan was not
finished with his temptations. In fact, his first effort with Jesus was to tempt him
to do the obvious. “You’ve been fasting and you’re famished,” Satan said. “Why
don’t you just turn some of these stones into bread and have yourself a small
meal?” What could possibly be so wrong about that? But there was much more
going on here than a seemingly compassionate offer for a hungry person to have
lunch.

Satan phrased his temptation in an interesting manner. He said, “If you are the
Son of God.” The word “if” did not imply doubt; both Jesus and Satan knew the
truth. Instead, Satan tempted Jesus with his own power. If indeed Jesus was the
Son of the one true, all-powerful God, then Jesus certainly could command these
stones to become loaves of bread if he so chose in order to satisfy his hunger.
“God’s Son has no reason to be hungry,” Satan suggested. Satan did not doubt
Jesus’ sonship nor his ability to turn stones to bread. Instead, he wanted Jesus to
use his power in the wrong way at the wrong time—to use his position to meet
his own needs rather than to fulfill his God-given mission.

In later miracles Jesus did supply baskets full of bread, but he supplied them
for a hungry crowd, not to satisfy himself. And he did the miracles in God’s
timing for God’s purposes as part of his mission (see 14:13-21; 15:32-39).

MATTHEW 4:4

But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by
every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (NRSV) Jesus saw through
Satan’s scheme. Jesus did not attempt to get into a discussion with Satan (as Eve
had done); instead, he answered with words from what is written in Scripture,
quoting Deuteronomy 8:3. The words in Deuteronomy describe God’s lesson to
the nation of Israel. This testing was designed to help Israel depend on God:

Remember the long way that the Lord your God has led you
these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, testing
you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would
keep his commandments. He humbled you by letting you hunger,
then by feeding you with manna, with which neither you nor your
ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that
one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes
from the mouth of the LORD. (Deuteronomy 8:2-3 NRSV)

In all three quotes from Deuteronomy, found in Matthew 4:4, 7, and 10, the
context shows that Israel failed each test each time. Therefore, Jesus conveyed to
Satan that while the test may have caused Israel to fail, it would not work with
Jesus. Matthew showed the spiritual superiority of Christ over the nation.

Jesus, God’s Son, humbled himself in the wilderness, voluntarily undergoing
the trial of extreme hunger in order to learn obedience through suffering. Jesus
came to earth to accomplish the Father’s mission. Everything he said and did
worked toward that goal; nothing could deter or distract him. Jesus understood
that obedience to the Father’s mission was more important than food—no matter
what his physical body said, no matter what Satan said.

To truly accomplish his mission, Jesus had to be completely humbled, totally
self-abased. Making himself bread would have shown that Jesus had not quite set
aside all his powers, had not humbled himself, and had not identified completely
with the human race. But Jesus refused, showing that he would use his powers
only in submission to God’s plan and that he would depend on God, not his own
miraculous powers, for his daily needs. Jesus lived not by bread alone; Jesus
truly lived and served by every word that comes from the mouth of God, giving
himself completely to God’s mission. Matthew shows that we should follow
Jesus’ example and depend on God.

Normal Desires

Jesus was hungry and weak after fasting for forty days, but he
chose not to use his divine power to satisfy his natural desire for
food. Food, hunger, and eating are good, but the timing was
wrong. Jesus was in the wilderness to fast, not to eat. And because
Jesus had given up the unlimited, independent use of his divine
power in order to experience humanity fully, he wouldn’t use his
power to change the stones to bread. We also may be tempted to
satisfy a perfectly normal desire in a wrong way or at the wrong
time. If we indulge in sex before marriage or if we steal to get
food, we are trying to satisfy God-given desires in wrong ways.
Many desires are normal and good, but God wants you to satisfy
them in the right way and at the right time. True discipleship
means learning from Christ how to know the right ways and right
times. Seek the help of a pastor, youth leader, or mature Christian
friend to help you get started.

MATTHEW 4:5

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest
point of the temple. (NIV) This temptation is set in the holy city, that is,
Jerusalem, the religious and political seat of Palestine. The temple was the
religious center of the Jewish nation and the place where the people expected the
Messiah to arrive (Malachi 3:1). Herod the Great had renovated the temple in
hopes of gaining the Jews’ confidence. The temple was the tallest building in the
area, and this highest point was probably the corner wall that jutted out of the
hillside, overlooking the valley below. The historian Josephus wrote about the
enormous height from the top of the temple to the bottom of the ravine below.
From this spot, Jesus could see all of Jerusalem behind him and the country for
miles in front of him. Whether the devil physically took Jesus to Jerusalem, or
whether this occurred in a vision is unclear. In any case, Satan was setting the
stage for his next temptation.

MATTHEW 4:6

And said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it
is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands
they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” (NKJV)
Jesus had quoted Scripture in response to Satan’s first temptation. Here Satan
tried the tactic with Jesus. Satan used Scripture to try to convince Jesus to sin!

Again Satan began with “If You are the Son of God.” As in 4:3, Satan was not
suggesting doubt, but rather saying, “If you’re God’s Son, then certainly God
will want to protect you from harm. So throw Yourself down from this pinnacle
so that God will send his angels to protect you.” Then Satan quoted words from
Psalm 91:11-12 to support his request. The psalm describes God’s protection for
those who trust him. Psalm 91:11 begins, He shall give His angels charge over
you; verse 12 continues, In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your
foot against a stone.

Some scholars believe that Satan wanted Jesus to take advantage of the
prophecy in Malachi 3:1; the people believed that this prophecy meant that the
Messiah would appear suddenly at the temple. What a spectacular proof of Jesus’
messiahship this would be if he suddenly appeared on the pinnacle of the temple
before all the people and then jumped off, only to be carefully placed on the
ground by God’s angels. Surely everyone would believe then.

More likely, however, this temptation did not focus on Jesus proving to the
people that he was the Messiah. Instead, Satan was focusing on Jesus’
relationship with his Father. Satan wanted Jesus to test that relationship to see if
God’s promise of protection would prove true.

Dangerous Knowledge

What a sobering thought that Satan knows Scripture and knows
how to use it for his own purposes! Sometimes friends or
associates will present attractive and convincing reasons why you
should try something that you believe is wrong. They may even
find Bible verses that seem to support their viewpoint. Study the
Bible carefully, especially the broader contexts of specific verses,
so that you understand God’s principles for living and what he
wants for your life. Only if you really understand what the whole
Bible says will you be able to recognize errors of interpretation
when people take verses out of context to make them say what
they want them to say. Choose your Bible teachers carefully. We
have much to learn from others. Capable and wise teachers often
present the broader context to help us grow in our Bible
knowledge.

Satan was quoting Scripture out of context, making it sound as though God
protects even through sin, removing the natural consequences of sinful acts.
Neither jumping from the roof in a public display or jumping in order to test
God’s promises would have been part of God’s will for Jesus. In context, the
psalm promises God’s protection for those who, while being in his will and
serving him, find themselves in danger. It does not promise protection for
artificially created crises in which Christians call to God in order to test his love
and care. We should not test God, as Jesus will explain (see the following verse).

MATTHEW 4:7

Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to
the test.’” (NRSV) Jesus would not get into a discussion with Satan about this
second temptation, as he had also refused to do in the first. Instead, Jesus quoted
from Scripture again, but, contrary to Satan’s method, Jesus quoted with an
understanding of the true meaning. No matter what the words that Satan quoted
may have sounded like (that is, they seemed to say that no matter what Jesus did,
God would protect him), the facts were that while God promises to protect his
people, he also requires that they not put him to the test.

Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 6:16, “Do not put the Lord your God to the
test, as you tested him at Massah” (NRSV). In this passage, Moses was referring to
an incident during Israel’s wilderness wanderings, recorded in Exodus 17:1-7.
The people were thirsty and ready to mutiny against Moses and return to Egypt if
he did not provide them with water. God supplied the water, but only after the
people had “quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, ‘Is the Lord among us or
not?’” (NRSV).

Jesus could have jumped from the temple; God could have sent angels to bring
him safely to the ground. But for Jesus to jump from the pinnacle of the temple
would have been a ridiculous test of God’s power, and it would have been out of
God’s will. Jesus knew that his Father could protect him; he also understood that
all his actions were to be focused on fulfilling his Father’s mission, even if it
meant suffering and death (which, of course, it did).

Know the Word

Jesus was able to resist all of the devil’s temptations because he
not only knew Scripture, but he also obeyed it. Ephesians 6:17
says that God’s Word is a sword to use in spiritual combat.
Knowing Bible verses is an important step in helping us resist the
devil’s attacks, but we must also obey the Bible. Note that Satan
knew Scriptures, but he failed to obey them. Knowing and
obeying the Bible helps us follow God’s desires rather than the
devil’s.

MATTHEW 4:8-9

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the
kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, “All these I
will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” (NRSV) The obvious
impossibility of being able to see the entire world from one mountaintop makes
little difference to this story, but it supports the view that this experience may
have been visionary. The focus is not on the mountain, but on the kingdoms of
the world that were (and are) under Satan’s dominion. Presently, Satan is “ruler
of this world” (John 12:31 NRSV). Luke records Satan’s words at this temptation
as: “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over
to me, and I give it to anyone I please” (Luke 4:6 NRSV). Satan offered to “give”
dominion over the world to Jesus. Satan knew that one day Jesus Christ would
rule over the earth (see Philippians 2:9-11). The offer wasn’t evil, but it
challenged Jesus’ obedience to God’s timing and will. Satan’s temptation was, in
essence, “Why wait? I can give this to you now!” Of course, he would never
really give them away because the offer had a catch. Jesus would have to fall
down and worship Satan.

Satan tempted Jesus to take the world as an earthly kingdom right then, without
carrying out his plan to save the world from sin. For Jesus, that meant obtaining
his promised dominion over the world without experiencing the suffering and
death of the cross. Satan offered a painless shortcut. But Satan didn’t understand
that suffering and death were a part of God’s plan that Jesus had chosen to obey.
Satan hoped to distort Jesus’ perspective by making him focus on worldly power,
not on fulfilling God’s plans. In addition, Jesus would have to denounce his
loyalty to the Father in order to worship Satan. Satan’s goal always has been to
replace God as the object of worship.

 

The Temptations
As if going through a final test of preparation, Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert. Three specific parts of the temptation are listed by Matthew. They are familiar because we face the same kinds of temptations. As the chart shows, temptation is often the combination of a real need and a possible doubt that create an inappropriate desire. Jesus demonstrates both the importance and effectiveness of knowing and applying Scripture to combat temptation.
Temptation	Make bread	Dare God to rescue you (based on misapplied Scripture, Psalm 91:11-12)	Worship me! (Satan)
Real needs used as basis for temptation	Physical need: Hunger	Emotional need: Security	Psychological need: Significance, power, achievement
Possible doubts that made the temptations real	Would God provide food?	Would God protect?	Would God rule?
Potential weaknesses Satan sought to exploit	Hunger, impatience, need to “prove his Sonship”	Pride, insecurity, need to test God	Desire for quick power, easy solutions, need to prove equality with God
Jesus' answer	Deuteronomy 8:3: Depend on God Focus: God's purpose	Deuteronomy 6:16: Don't test God Focus: God's plan	Deuteronomy 6:13: No compromise with evil Focus: God's person

 

MATTHEW 4:10

Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You
shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” (NKJV)
Jesus once again met temptation with Scripture. Quoting from Deuteronomy,
Jesus dismissed Satan with the words “away with you.” The temptations boiled
down to a choice between God and Satan. No one can worship and serve both.
For Jesus to take a shortcut to the goal, ruling the world by worshiping Satan
(4:9) would be to break the first commandment, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our
God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with
all your soul, and with all your strength …. You shall fear the Lord your God and
serve Him …” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, 13 NKJV). Jesus would take the path of
submission to God. Jesus would worship and serve the Lord alone. Only by doing
so would he be able to accomplish his mission of bringing salvation to the world.

Enticed

The devil offered the whole world to Jesus if Jesus would only
bow down and worship him. Today Satan offers us the world by
trying to entice us with materialism, sex, and power. The devil
would like us to believe that “life is short, get all you can!” Even
Christian leaders find themselves tempted to build empires here on
earth. But Satan requires people to pay for such success by selling
their souls to him. We must resist temptations in the same way
that Jesus did. If you find yourself craving something that the
world offers, quote Jesus’ words to the devil: “Worship the Lord
your God, and serve him only.” Then follow that advice, with the
support and prayers of Christian friends.

MATTHEW 4:11

Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. (NIV) The devil
could not stay when Jesus told him to go away (4:10). Jesus is Satan’s superior;
Satan must do as Jesus commands. So the devil left Jesus. Luke records that
Satan “left [Jesus] until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13 NIV). This would only be
the first of many encounters that Jesus would have with Satan’s power.

That angels came and attended him in no way lessens the intensity of the
temptations that Jesus faced. The angels may have given Jesus food and drink
because the Greek word diekonoun, usually translated “ministering” or
“attending,” can also mean “serving food” (see 1 Kings 19:5 where angels
ministered to Elijah). More likely, the angels’ ministry was spiritual in nature—
attending to Jesus’ spiritual needs. The verb indicates continuous action. As
Satan’s temptations lasted continuously during the forty days, so did the
ministrations of the angels.

Angels, like these who waited on Jesus, have a significant role as God’s
messengers. These spiritual beings were involved in Jesus’ life on earth by (1)
announcing his birth to Mary, (2) reassuring Joseph, (3) naming Jesus, (4)
announcing Jesus’ birth to the shepherds, (5) protecting Jesus by sending his
family to Egypt, and (6) ministering to Jesus in Gethsemane. Angels are
continuously present. Hebrews 1:14 defines angels as messengers for God and
ministers to people. They show compassion for human beings. Passages such as
Matthew 18:10; Luke 15:10; Acts 12:14-15; and Revelation 19:10 support the
idea of guardian angels. As agents of God, angels bring special help to believers
(Acts 5:19-21; 12:7-10).

Source of Strength

Jesus was tempted by the devil, but he never sinned! Although
we may feel dirty after being tempted, we should remember that
temptation itself is not sin. We sin when we give in and disobey
God. Remembering this truth will help us turn away from the
temptation. Hebrews 4:15 says that Jesus “has been tempted in
every way, just as we are—yet was without sin” (NIV). He knows
firsthand what we are experiencing, and he is willing and able to
help us in our struggles. When tempted, turn to God for strength
by a short prayer, make a phone call to a Christian friend, or find a
quiet place to pull out your Bible and read a psalm.

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