Biblical Studies/New Testament Commentaries/The Gospel of Matthew/Chapter 4

Overview of Matthew 4
Matthew 4 has four main sections: the temptation of Christ, the beginning of Christ’s ministry, calling the disciples, and healing and teaching.


 * The temptation of Christ is important to the Gospels because it that Jesus is the Son of God (Hagner 61). He went through the temptations and passed the test. Unlike Israel, before him, who proved to be an unworthy "son of God," he succeeded by resisting the temptation to be unfaithful (Hagner 62). There are three parts to the first section, one for each of the three different temptations. Each temptation calls forth a biblical quotation as the response of Jesus (Luz 147).


 * The second section is the beginning of Christ’s ministry. The fact that John is now arrested is a signal flag that all preparations have been made and now it is time for Jesus to start his ministry to the gentiles in Galilee (Hagner 61).


 * Section three of Matthew 4 reports the calling of the first four disciples of Jesus. This is the first statement of any type of ministry for Jesus. He calls two sets of brothers (Hagner 75).


 * Finally, in section four, Jesus begins to go around and teach and heal. There is an emphasis on teaching here and throughout Matthew (Hagner 79). This section of Matthew is a mixture of haggadah, which is mainly parables and stories, and midrash, which is more legal material (Hagner 63).

Source Analysis
The majority of Matthew 4 was taken from Q [??], which is a document that has never been identified from biblical times. There are some variations from this document, however. We can tell this from the Gospel of Luke, which also seems to have been written using this source (Luz 148).

The order of the temptations is different in the Gospel of Luke and Matthew. It is most likely that Matthew has preserved in the original order. Luke rearranged the sequence to locate the final temptation in Jerusalem (Luz 148). Matthew 4 has no direct dependence on Mark, although there are many similarities. This is not an attempt at a picture of the time or a historical view (Luz 148).

Inductive Questioning

 * Why was Jesus led into the desert?
 * Who is the Devil?
 * Why did the Devil Test him?
 * What is the significance of 40 days and 40 nights?
 * Where is the Wilderness?
 * Where did he come from?
 * Why was he called into the wilderness right now?
 * What followed this experience?
 * How old was Jesus at this point?
 * Where were the disciples?
 * What is the significance of The stone?
 * What is the significance of the bread?
 * What does Jesus mean by living on the word of God?
 * Why does Jesus use this reply?
 * Where is Jesus' reply to this found?
 * What is the highest point of the Holy city?
 * What is the significance of jumping from the tallest building?
 * Where is Jesus' reply to this found?
 * What is the theological significance of worshiping the devil?
 * Where is Jesus' reply to this found?
 * How did the angels attend to him?
 * Why is John arrested?
 * Where is John Kept?
 * How long is John Kept?
 * Why does Jesus return to Nazareth?
 * Are the disciples with Jesus on his return to Nazareth?
 * How far of a Journey is it to Nazareth?
 * What is the Prophecy in Isaiah?
 * How does the Prophecy complement this story?
 * What is the context of the prophecy?
 * Where did Jesus preach first?
 * What did Jesus preach first?
 * Why did Jesus begin preaching now?
 * What was the context of Jesus' first message?
 * Who was the audience?
 * Why did Jesus call Simon and Andrew first?
 * In what context did he call them?
 * Why did Jesus call James and John second?
 * Why did Jesus call brothers?
 * What is the context of the second calling to the disciples?
 * Why did Jesus heal?
 * Where was this at?

Fishing/Fishermen

 * While most instances in the Bible were from a view point of the Israelites so fishing was a a means of survival and income, the Kings of Egypt often took part in fishing purely for the sport of the activity. It was not until after the exile in Babylon that Israel took to fishing. Tyrians and Philistines also were heavy into fishing. (Buttrick 273) Fishermen often worked nights and it was a very tough profession as there are many items to keep in good repair for fishing to go smoothly such as the nets for catching and the baskets for transportation and sale. There is some suggestion that the original fishing hooks were made from thorns such as the ones used in this passage. Bone fishhooks have also been found in some settlements.(Buttrick 274)

Tempt

 * The temptation is used as a testing to prove that something is worthy. In the Old Testament many things were put to the test, such as a sword(I Samuel 17:39) a reputation( I Kings 10:1; II Chronicles 9:1) or convictions (Daniel 1:12,14). Most of the uses of testing is God testing man or vice versa. "God's testing is always for the good end exposing loyalty and disloyalty, faith and unbelief, for what they are; it is never an enticement to evil. Jesus was also tempted in every sense of the word just as man was.(Hebrew 4:15)

Testing of Jesus
1 Jesus felt called by the spirit that was living in him to go into the desert for a time of testing by the devil. 2 Jesus then fasted for forty days and nights. 3 The devil then came to him with the first test “If God is your father, then turn these stones to bread and quench your hunger.”4 Jesus replied “It has been written: ‘Man lives on more than bread, he lives on the word from the mouth of God’” 5Then the devil and Jesus went to Jerusalem and stood atop the highest point of the temple. 6The devil said, “If you are the Son of God, then jump and the angels will save you. For it is written: ‘He will have his angels attend to you, and you will not strike your foot on anything.’” 7 Jesus said in reply, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord.’” 8 Jesus and the devil went then to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms and their greatness.9 “all you may have, if you bow and worship him.” 10 Jesus said, “leave me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord and only serve him. 11Then the devil left, and angels came and attended to him.

Beginning of the Ministry of Jesus
12 Jesus then heard that John was incarcerated he returned to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth, lived in Capernaum, which was close to Zebulun and Naphtali14 this fulfilled what the prophet Isaiah said: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles- 16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”17 Jesus began preaching at this point, saying, “ Repent, the kingdom of heaven is coming.”

Calling of the Disciples
18 Jesus was walking by the sea of Galilee, saw Simon Peter and Andrew. 19They were fisherman on the lake and Jesus called them from their fishing to follow him. Saying “ I will make you fishers of men. 20 They then came and followed him. 21Continuing on he saw two more brothers James and John. They were preparing their nets with their father, Jesus called to them and they came and followed him.

Healing and Teaching
23 Jesus went on teaching in synagogues and to the masses about the good news, healing diseases and sicknesses throughout Galilee. 24 News spread through all of Syria and the people came bringing their sick and possessed, and Jesus healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the other side of the Jordan joined his following.