CHAPTER 4

1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

Immediately after His baptism, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the "wilderness." It is important to note that Jesus was "led" by the inner workings of God's Holy Spirit. This denotes the fact that Jesus focused upon the will of God more than anything else!

He had already been in the "wilderness" of the sin of humanity, and never sinned. But now He would be in a specific "wilderness" that tempted Him on the basis of WHO He was - THE Son of God. The whole purpose of His being in the wilderness was to be "tempted of the devil."

First, Jesus "fasted forty days and forty nights" (Matthew 4:2).
Obviously this weakened His physical life. But the commitment of genuine fasting gave Him spiritual strength! The ultimate purpose of fasting is to be in constant communion with God. Though it may weaken the flesh, it strenthens the spirit.

The Scripture says, "he afterward hungred."
And, just at that time, the ole devil offered Jesus the FIRST temptation - bread.

Now, at first, we may think this is a simple temptation: "You are hungy, so eat." But this temptation, we must remember, is based on WHO Jesus is! He is the Creator of the universe. By His Word He called forth from nothing the entirety of what is! The devil is tempting God to use His creative powers and satisfy His fleshly lusts for food.

Man's greatest hunger should not be bread (food), it should be THE "bread of Life" - God Himself!
Undeniably, we have physical hunger. But greater still is our hunger for a personal, intimate relationship with our Lord.

Our deepest desire should not be the "bread" but the SOURCE of the bread! Our purpose in life is not to be filled and satisfied with the things of the world, but to be filled and satisfied with the things of God.

As Jehovah God, Jesus had sent the Israelites into the wilderness for forty YEARS! And they could do nothing but rely upon GOD for their provision. Should God, in human flesh, use His Almighty power to save Himself from suffering? NO! He determined that He would rely totally upon the SOURCE of His need, and be satisfied with the supply of that need within the WILL OF GOD!

And THAT is precisely why the WORD of God is "the Bread of Life!" Jesus is the LIVING BREAD. We must come to Him in order to find real life. The Bible is also LIVING BREAD. In it we find the express will of God stated and recorded for our benefit. Let us then follow the example of our Lord and rely upon the LIVING BREAD!

5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Here, the devil throws away all pretenses to utilize God's Word. He simply relies upon the fact that dominion of the earth has been given over to him. And it is true, for man was first given dominion by the Lord ( Genesis 1:26).
Then, Satan, by deceipt and trickery took the dominion away.

And, yes, Jesus knew that man's dominion had been given over to the devil, for He Himself called Satan "the prince of this world" (John 12:31).

But the dominion of man was GIVEN by the LORD! And though man had relinquished His rulership, God had NOT!

Now Jesus calls the devil what he IS: SATAN! He is the enemy of God, the father of lies, the evil one! And Jesus called him that to his FACE! And Jesus said, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve!"

Satan now realized that God in flesh is STILL GOD! The Lord, our Christ, is Holy, Righteous, and Almighty! Though He be tempted with the things of evil, He will NOT succumb!

Let us then, rely upon our Lord, Jesus when tempted with sin. Read and study and learn of Him from "the bread of life" - the Bible. Then when sin's temptations knock on the door, just let Jesus ANSWER!

9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Never underestimate the power of the ole devil. He had the power to CARRY Jesus to the very pinnacle of the temple! And we should realize that though the devil doesn't surrender to the Lordship of Christ, he certainly knows the revelation of Christ -- the Bible.

Here, the devil quotes Scripture. His use of the Scripture was to tempt Christ in total reliance to the Word of God. But see here what the devil LEFT OUT of the quote!
"11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Ps 91:11-12

Certainly, it would not be in God's "WAYS" to create hazard just to prove His protection! In fact, that's precisely how Jesus answered, with a another quote from God's Word: "Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God.." (Deut 6:16)

Preservation from danger is divinely given to God's children. However, we are not to throw ourselves without caution into danger, lest that divine provision be revoked!

13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.

Note that Jesus "returned in the power of the Spirit!" ((See commentary on Luke 3:21-22))
WHEN YOU HAVE FINISHED READING THAT COMMENTARY, CLIK THE "BACK" BUTTON ON YOUR BROWSER, AND IT WILL REDIRECT YOU TO THIS PAGE.

Jesus was CONSTANTLY filled with God's Holy Spirit, and that was the FOCUS of His life and ministry!

His teaching was absolutely perfect, and touched the hearts of everyone.
That is the reason He gained "fame", and people "glorified" Him. Jesus was not striving for fame and notoriety. But it was part of God's plan that His genuine teaching make Him well known. This became the reason people believed and received Him. This also became the reason people refused and rejected Him.

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?
23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.
30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

Nazareth was Jesus' home town, one might say. It was where He was "brought up." These people KNEW Him.

Notice that the Scripture says, "as His custom was," he entered the church on the Sabbath day. The Greek word etho is translated "custom," and can mean determined design, or habitual activity. It was Jesus designed habit to be in church on the designated day!

When Jesus entered the synagogue, He was accepted as a distinguished visitor. For they gave Him the "book", or copy of part of the Bible. He was given the "book...to read..." It was customary for the priest to determine from which "book" the reading would come. It was customary for the person designated to read, which PART of the book would be used. The person who read, was also expected to speak concerning the reading.

Jesus read from what we call Isaiah 61:1-2. And one cannot help but notice that Jesus cut off His reading in the middle of verse 2! Jesus' entrance in the world at that time did not include "proclaim(ing) the day of vengeance of our God..."!

His first entrance was to purchase redemption for sinful man.
He came to proclaim "the Gospel" of salvation!
That Gospel is indeed "good tidings"!
It is healing to the "brokenhearted."
It is "liberty" to those who are "captives" to sin.
Though sinners are "bound" in sin, Jesus brings "opening" to the prison doors!
He came to usher in the "acceptable year of the LORD!"

Jesus' work of paying the penalty for all mankind was ACCEPTED by God!

After Jesus had read this, He sat down. It was customary for the one chosen to speak to continue standing. But Jesus sat down and waited until all attention was focused on Him.

Then, He stated, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears."
In other words, HE is the fulfillment of that prophecy!

The people UNDERSTOOD what He was saying!
It caused a commotion among them!
Until this moment, they had only known Him as "Joseph's son."
But the import of His statement could not be mistaken!
He IS the "Anointed One!" He IS God come in flesh!

Because His statement brought such a commotion, Jesus began to clarify.

Obviously, they thought he was crazy! They knew of His healing in Capernaum, and surely they would want Him to "heal thyself" of His insanity.

But He would give them Biblical examples to follow.

First, Elijah was sent to only ONE widow, when there were MANY widows around. WHY?
That particular widow was chosen of God because she was WILLING to do what God designed for her to do!
Second, Elisha healed ONLY Naaman when there were MANY lepers in the land! WHY?
Naaman was chosen of God because he was WILLING to do what God designed for him to do!

And so it must be with Jesus!
In order to RECEIVE Him, we must be WILLING to do what God has designed us to do!
We must SURRENDER to Him as LORD!

Obviously, the people in the synagogue that day did NOT believe Jesus!
They tried to KILL Him!

The question is: do YOU believe Him?
Have you SURRENDERED to Jesus as LORD of your life?

31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
34 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.
35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.
36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
37 And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.

Jesus went back to Capernaum and began to teach the people who WOULD LISTEN!

There it is noted that His "word was with power"! God's "WORD" is powerful enough to create heaven and earth (Genesis 1:3)! God's "WORD" is powerful enough to destroy all His enemies (Revelation 1:13)!
But God's "WORD" of love, healing and salvation only has "power" in those who will RECEIVE it!

Notice that even the devils recognized Jesus (verse 33)!
Even though this man was possessed, he had enough sense to come to the ONE Who could heal and save him!

Jesus' "Word" is powerful enough to put away anything that keeps us from eternal salvation.
But we must be as this man, and willing to put away our UNBELIEF that Jesus is GOD!

38 And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.
39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.

When Jesus left the synagogue and came to Simon's house, the people there "besought Him" (PRAYED) to heal Simon's mother-in-law.

Prayer, in faith, unlocks the door of God's heart and brings healing to souls (See James 5:15).

40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.
41 And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.

Jesus had healed the man in the synagogue.
Now, He had healed Simon's mother-in-law.
As a result, Simon's house was FLOODED with people bringing others who were diseased and possessed!

Again (vs 41), it is pointed out that the devils KNEW that Jesus "was the Christ!"

The demons KNEW that Jesus is the One that will one day place them in a "lake of fire" that burns "day and night for ever and ever!" (See Revelation 20:10).

They KNEW it by the proof of Jesus' actions!
He IS THE "WORD" of God! (See JOhn 1:1-4)

What's amazing is that many of the PEOPLE didn't realize it!
And it's amazing that many people TODAY don't realize it!

42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.
43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
44 And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.

Jesus was "sent" into the world to "preach the kingdom of God."
The "Kingdom of God" has come and is coming to all those who will RECEIVE Jesus as Lord!

Later, it is said (See Luke 9:2) that Jesus sent His disciples to "preach the kingdom of God."
The "Kingdom of God" comes where the "will of God" is done! (See the Disciple's Prayer Luke 11:2)

The "Kingdom of God" includes the eternal forgiveness of, and the eternal closeness of God Himself.

Let God's "WORD" (JESUS) have "power" in your life today!
BELIEVE Him, RECEIVE Him, and SERVE Him!
In order to RECEIVE Him, we must be WILLING to do what God has designed us to do! We must SURRENDER to Him as LORD!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.