[1] Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. [2] And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. [3] And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. [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. [5] Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, [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.
Verse 1 Expanded Bible Comments
| Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| How was Jesus led (i.e., by what mechanism)? | By the Holy Spirit. |
| To where was he led? | The wilderness. |
| Is there any spiritual significance to where he was led? | Possibly. The wilderness normally pictures the condition of separateness from the world. It is specifically mentioned as the place that was prepared for the church. Rev. 12:6 |
| For what purpose was Jesus led there? | To be tempted by the Devil. |
| Is there any similarity between this and the experiences of the members of the church? | Yes. For many there testings begin immediately after making their consecration. |
Verse 2 Expanded Bible Comments
| And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| What did Jesus do during his time in the wilderness and for how long was he there? | He fasted for 40 days. |
| Other than what is specifically stated, what do we think he was doing during that period of time? | It is reasonable to think that Jesus, with his perfect memory, was prayerfully going over the Scriptures to determine just exactly how to proceed with the work the Father had given him to do. |
| Is there a lesson in this for us? | We too should prayerfully study any matter concerning the Truth before we present it to others. The same holds true for any matter concerning our consecrated walk. |
Verse 3 Expanded Bible Comments
| And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| After this period of time, what was the physical condition of Jesus? | He was hungry. |
| What happened next? | The tempter (the devil) came to him. |
| What did the tempter say to him. | "IF thou be the son of God .." |
| Why did the tempter put his temptation in the form of a question? | To raise doubt. The adversary would like to do the same with all of us. He wants us to question: "Am I really the son of God?" The Lord's people need to be positive on this matter. 1 John 3:2 "Now .. are we the sons of God." |
| What did the Adversary suggest to Jesus that He do? | Use His newly attained power to change stone to bread so that Jesus could satisfy His hunger/ |
| What was wrong with this suggestion? | Using spiritual to satisfy the flesh. This would have been a misuse of the power given to Him. It was not given to be used for selfish purposes. |
Verse 4 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| How did Jesus answer the Adversary? | "It is written." |
| Does the first part of Jesus' answer have any importance to us today? | All of our responses to any opponent should be of the same nature, i.e., taken from the Word of God. R1688 |
| What scripture was Jesus quoting? | Deut. 8:3 |
| How can it be that man lives by the words of God? | Principles, doctrines, etc. These all tell man how to live in harmony with his creator. If a man does not live in harmony with his Creator he will eventually perish. |
Verse 5 Expanded Bible Comments
| Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| Did Satan literally take Jesus to the top of the temple in Jerusalem? | No. He did so in his mental vision. |
Verse 6 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| How did the Adversary begin this temptation? | The same way as the previous one, by attempting to plant doubt - "IF thou be the Son of God .." |
| What did Satan suggest that Jesus do? | Jump down from the height of the temple so that all the people would see his miraculous rescue by angels. Thus they would know that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah. |
| How did Satan present this argument, upon what basis? | He quoted scripture - Psa. 91:11-12. |
[7] Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. [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; [9] And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. [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. [11] Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Verse 7 Expanded Bible Comments
| Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| In what manner did Jesus answer him? | By pointing him to the Word of God. "It is writen.. " |
| Where do we find this quote? | Deut. 6:16. |
| What principle is revealed by Jesus' answer? | That God's word does not contratict itself. |
Verses 8 & 9 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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; [9] And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| Where did the devil take Jesus? | "Into an exceeding high mountain." |
| Did he literally do this or was it in some other fashion? | He must have shown him this in his mental vision. See Luke 4:5. |
| What did the devil show to Jesus? | The kingdoms of the world and their glory. |
| What was the temptation? | To join forces with the devil and establish the Kingdom at that time, without having to suffer and die. R5084 |
Verse 10 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| What was Jesus' response? | "It is written." Worship God alone. |
| What lessons may we derive from his response? | Righteous indignation is sometimes appropriate. Be positive when dealing with the Adversary. |
Verse 11 Expanded Bible Comments
| Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| What happened next? | The Adversary saw that it was useless to continue to try to corrupt such a determined character, left him alone. |
| Can we expect the same things? | Only if we take the same kind of determined stand. |
[12] Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; [13] And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali: [14] That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, [15] The land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; [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.
Verse 12 Expanded Bible Comments
| Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| What did Jesus do when he found out that John the Baptist was cast into prison? | He went into Galilee. |
| Why Galilee? | Because it was "Galilee of the Gentiles." He went to the Jews in Galilee where the influence of the scribes and pharisees was not so strong. By dwelling among the Gentiles these Jews had less to unlearn. |
| Is there anything Jesus' action that may relate to us today? | F507:2; Matt. 10:23; 2:13; 12:15 |
Verse 13 Expanded Bible Comments
| And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali: | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| After arriving in Galilee where did Jesus go next? | Nazareth. |
| Where did he find dwelling? | Capernaum. |
Verses 14-16 Expanded Bible Comments
| That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, [15] The land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; [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. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| Where is this prophecy found? | Isa. 9:1-2 |
| Why were these people described as sitting "in darkness?" | They were Gentiles under Roman rule. |
| Why were they described as being in "the shadow of death?" | "The word Galilee signifies circle; hence the prophecy implied that this land would be encircled by the Gentiles. And so it was; the Samaritans to its south cutting it off from Judea. Its people, thus separated from the great religious center of their day, were in greater darkness than their brethren, in the very shadow of the death-darkness that was upon the Gentiles. Nevertheless on this very account they were more amenable to the teachings of Jesus than were many of their more religious, more enlightened and more priest-ridden brethren of Judea." R4557:Top |
| What light sprang up? | The Gospel of Jesus Christ. |
[17] From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Verse 17 Expanded Bible Comments
| From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| Why did Jesus tell the people to repent? | These apparently had not been baptized with John's baptism, which was for repentance. |
| What did he mean when he said "the kingdom of heaven is at hand?" | Jesus was already on the path to the spiritual phase of the kingdom and He stood before them. Additionally the new and living way was about to open up. |
| Is there anything in this message that applies today? | "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is done in heaven." The true kingdom of God is under the control of Heaven, even the earthly phase, which seems now very close at hand. |
[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. [19] And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. [20] And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. [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. [22] And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
Verse 18 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| Was this the first meeting between Jesus and these two brothers? | Probably not. R2245:5; John 1:36-42. |
| What were they doing? | Net fishing. |
Verse 19 Expanded Bible Comments
| And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| Why did Jesus refer to fishing? | Jesus was always making reference to the things around him and relating them to our Heavenly Father, reminding His followers that God is the giver of every good and perfect gift. Also He sought to refer to those familiar things they knew well and added just enough to peek their interest to discover what he was talking about. |
| What did he mean by "I will make you fishers of men." | "Spiritual fishing requires knowledge, tact, bait, and that self be kept out of sight. Fish are easily alarmed when they think anyone wishes to take them. "'Be ye wise as serpents and harmless as doves.'" - EBC |
Verse 20 Expanded Bible Comments
| And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| What was the reaction of Peter and Andrew? | They left their fishing business and followed Jesus. |
Verses 21, 22 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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. [22] And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| Whom did Jesus next see? | James and John with their father Zebedee. |
| What were they doing? | Mending their fishing nets. |
| What did he say to them? | He called James and John to follow him. |
| What did they do? | James and John left their equipment with their father Zebedee and followed Jesus. |
| Considering the noble characters of both James and John it is clear they had a good upbringing. They had likely been talking with their father about Jesus prior to this event. So when Jesus called them, their father, while no doubt he was going to miss them and their help in their fishing business, not only understood them leaving but was also delighted for them. | |
[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. [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. [25] And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.
Verse 23 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| While in Galilee, where did Jesus preach? | In their synagogues. |
| What did he preach? | The gospel of the kingdom. |
| What does that mean? | Gospel means "good news." The gospel was summed up by Paul in Gal. 3:8 as including the blessing of "all nations." |
| What else did he do? | He healed those who were brought to him that had diseases. |
Verse 24 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| Was Jesus known outside of Galilee? | Yes. "His fame went throughout all Syria." |
| Who were brought to Jesus? | The diseased, or who were pssessed with devils, etc. |
| What did he do for them? | He healed them. |
Verse 25 Expanded Bible Comments
| And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan. | |
|---|---|
| Question | Answer |
| When Jesus went about were his disciples the only ones to go with him? | "There followed him great multitudes of people." |
| Where did the people come from? | From Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judaea, and beyond Jordan. |