Coming of the King: Week 4

Matthew 4: The Demonstration and Debut

• 4:1 Why was Jesus tested? Was there a possibility He could fail the test? No, but this was a demonstration that He was tempted in every way that we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15
• 4:3 There are at least two thrusts to this temptation, there is the aspect of "What profit shall this birthright do to me?" Genesis 25:32, and the aspect of "If thou be the Son of God" - was He not Lord of Nature? Matthew 14:13-21. Was not part of His mission to bring forth bread supernaturally?
• 4:4 "It is written" - Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee. Psalm 119:11
• 4:7 Deuteronomy 6:16 The people demanded yet more supernatural proof of God's presence. Exodus 17:7
• 4:9 Shortcut to glory, avoiding the Cross.

  Forbidden Tree	1 John 2:16		Temptation of Christ
  Good for food	Lust of the flesh	body	bread from stones
  Pleasant to the eyes	Lust of the eyes	soul	leap from the temple
  Desirable to make wise	Pride of life	spirit	ruler of the world

• 4:12 John imprisoned Luke 3:19-20
• 4:15 Zebulun and Naphtali Genesis 49:13,21, Isaiah 9
• 4:17 "the kingdom of heaven is near". Satan showed Jesus the kingdoms of the world. Dreamed by Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2, announced by John in Matthew 3, Jesus is the stone of stumbling that strikes at the root of the kingdoms of the world. He presents the manifesto of the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 5, and the seventh angel announces its completion in Revelation 11:15. Every person, every possession, every program is worldly, or heavenly, based on which kingdom they belong to.
• 4:19 Normally, a prospective Talmudi (disciple) asks the Rabbi to let them become a follower. This Rabbi calls the Talmudim. "For we love him because he first loved us." God must always take the initiative in our salvation and development.
• 4:20 "at once" - obedience is the foundation of learning from any teacher.
• 4:23 teaching, preaching, and healing every disease - Isaiah 61