| Back to Home Page | Back to
Book Index |
Matthew Chapter
Four
Matthew 4
Having thus in grace taken up His position as man on
earth, He commences His earthly career, being led of the Spirit into the
wilderness to be tempted of the devil. The righteous and holy man, the Son of
God, enjoying the privileges proper to such a one, He must undergo the trial of
those devices through which the first Adam fell. It is His spiritual condition
which is tested. It is not now an innocent man in the enjoyment of all God's
natural blessings, who is put to the proof in the midst of those blessings
which should have made him remember God. Christ, nigh to God as His beloved
Son, but in the midst of trial, having the knowledge of good and evil, and as
to outward circumstances come down into the midst of man's fallen state, must
have His faithfulness to this position fully tried with respect to His perfect
obedience. To maintain this position, He must have no other will than that of
His Father, and fulfil it or suffer it, whatever might be the consequences to
Himself. He must fulfil it in the midst of all the difficulties, the
privations, the isolation, the desert, where Satan's power was, which might
tempt Him to follow an easier path than that which should be only for the glory
of His Father. He must renounce all the rights that belonged to His own Person,
save as He should receive them from God, yielding them up to Him with a perfect
trust.
The enemy did his utmost to induce Him to make use of His privileges,
"if thou be the Son of God," for His own relief, apart from the
command of God, and in avoidance of the sufferings which might accompany the
performance of His will. But it was to lead Him to do His own will, not God's.
Jesus, enjoying in His own Person and relationship with
God the full favour of God as Son of God, the light of His countenance, goes
into the wilderness for forty days to be in conflict with the enemy. He did not
go away from man, and from all intercourse with man and the things of man, in
order (like Moses and Elias) to be with God. Being already fully with God, He
is separate from men by the power of the Holy Ghost to be alone in His conflict
with the enemy. In the case of Moses, it was man out of his natural condition
to be with God. In the case of Jesus, it is so to be with the enemy: to be with
God was His natural position.
The enemy tempts Him first by proposing to Him to satisfy
His bodily need, and, instead of waiting on God, to employ according to His own
will and on His own behalf the power with which He was endowed. But, if Israel
was fed in the wilderness with manna from God, the Son of God, however great
His power, would act in accordance with what Israel should have learnt by that
means, namely, that "man doth not live by bread only, but by every word
that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." The Man, the obedient Jew, the
Son of God, waited for this word, and would do nothing without it. He was not
come to do His own will, but the will of Him who sent Him. This is the
principle that characterises the Spirit of Christ in the Psalms. No deliverance
is accepted but the intervention of Jehovah at His own good time. It is perfect
patience, in order to be perfect and complete in allthe will of God. There
could be no sinful lust in Christ; but to be hungry was no sin, yet it was a
human need, and what harm in eating when hungry? There was no will of God to do
it, and that will by the word He came to do. Satan's suggestion was, "if
thou be the Son of God, command"; but He had taken the place of a servant,
and this was not commanding: he sought to get the Lord out of the place of
perfect service and obedience, out of the place of a servant.
And note here the place the written word has, and the
character of Christ's obedience. This character is not simply that the will of
God is a rule; it is the one motive for action. We have a will arrested often
by the word. Not so Christ. His Father's will was His motive; He acted not
merely according to, but because it was, God's will. We delight to see a child
who would run off to something it delights in, stop and cheerfully do its
parents' will when called to do it. But Christ never obeyed thus, never sought
a will of His own, but was stopped by His Father's. And we are sanctified to
the obedience of Christ. Note further that the written word is that by which He
lives and by which He overcomes. All depended here on Christ's victory, as all
did on Adam's fall. But for Christ, one text, rightly used of course, suffices.
He seeks no other: that is obedience. It suffices for Satan; he has no reply.
His wiles are thus defeated.
The first principle of conquest is simple and absolute obedience,
living by words out of God's mouth. The next is perfect confidence in the path
of obedience.
In the second place then, the enemy sets Him on a
pinnacle of the temple, to induce Him to apply to Himself the promises made to
the Messiah, without abiding in the ways of God. The faithful man may assuredly
reckon on the help of God while walking in His ways. The enemy would have the
Son of man put God to the test (instead of reckoning on Him while walking in
His ways) to see whether He might be trusted in. This would have been a want of
confidence in God, not obedience; or pride, presuming on its privileges,
instead of counting on God in obedience. [1] Taking His place with Israel in the
condition they were in when without a king in the land, and, quoting the
directions given to them in that book to guide them in the godly path there
taught, He uses for His guidance that part of the word which contains the
divine injunction on this subject, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy
God"; a passage often quoted as if it forbade excess in trusting God;
whereas it means not to distrust, and try if He is faithful. They tempted God,
saying, Is God indeed among us? And this Satan would have had the Lord do.
The enemy, failing to deceive that obedient heart, even
by hiding himself under the use of the word of God, shows himself in his true
character, tempting the Lord, thirdly, to spare Himself all the sufferings that
awaited Him, by shewing Him the inheritance of the Son of man on earth, that
which would be His when He had reached it through all those paths, toilsome yet
necessary to the Father's glory, which the Father had marked out for Him. All
should now be His, if He would acknowledge Satan by worshipping him, the god of
this world. This in fact was what the kings of the earth had done for only a
part of these things; how often done for some trifling vanity! but He should
have the whole. But if Jesus was to inherit earthly glory (as well as all
other) the object of His heart was God Himself, His Father, to glorify Him.
Whatever might be the value of the gift, it was as the gift of the Giver that
His heart prized it. Moreover He was in the positionof tested man and a
faithful Israelite; and whatever might be the trial of patience into which the
sin of the people had brought Him, be the trial ever so great, He would serve
none but His God alone.
But if the devil carries temptation, sin, to the utmost,
and shews himself to be the adversary (Satan), the believer has the right to
cast him out. If he comes as a tempter, the believer should answer him by the
faithfulness of the word, which is man's perfect guide, according to the will
of God. He does not need to see through everything. The word is the word of Him
who does, and in following that, we walk according to a wisdom which knows
everything, and in a path formed by that wisdom, and which hence involves
absolute trust in God. The two first temptations were the wiles of the devil,
the third, open hostility to God. If he comes as the open adversary of God, the
believer has a right to have nothing to do with him. "Resist the devil,
and he will flee from you." He knows he has met Christ, not flesh. May
believers resist if Satan would tempt them by the world, remembering it is
Satan's domain in fallen man!
The believer's safeguard, morally (that is, as to the
state of his heart) is a single eye. If I seek only the glory of God, that
which presents no other motive than my own aggrandisement, or my own
gratification, whether of body or mind, will have no hold upon me; and will
shew itself in the light of the word, which guides the single eye, as contrary
to the mind of God. This is not the haughtiness that rejects temptation on the
ground of being good; it is obedience, humbly giving God His place, and
consequently His word also. "By the word of thy lips I have kept me from
the paths of the destroyer," from him that did his own will and made it
his guide. If the heart seeks God alone, the most subtle snare is discovered,
for the enemy never tempts us to seek God alone. But this supposes a pure
heart, and that there is no self-seeking. This was displayed in Jesus.
Our safeguard against temptation is the word, used by the
discernment of a perfectly pure heart, which lives in the presence of God, and
learns the mind of God in His word, [2] and therefore knows its application to the
circumstances presented. It is the word that preserves the soul from the wiles
of the enemy.
Observe also that, consequently, it is in the spirit of
simple and humble obedience that power lies; for where it exists, Satan can do
nothing. God is there, and accordingly the enemy is conquered.
It appears to me that these three temptations are
addressed to the Lord in the three characters, of man, of Messiah, and of Son
of man.
He had no sinful desires like fallen man, but He was an
hungered. The tempter would persuade Him to satisfy this need without God.
The promises in the Psalms belonged to Him as being made
to the Messiah.
And all the kingdoms of the world were His as the Son of
man.
He always replies as a faithful Israelite, personally
responsible to God, making use of the Book of Deuteronomy, which treats of this
subject (namely, the obedience of Israel, in connection with the possession of
the land, and the privileges that belonged to the people in connection with
this obedi nce; and this, apart from the organisation which constituted them a
corporate body before God). [3]
Satan departs from Him, and the angels come to exercise
their ministry towards the Messiah, the Son of man victorious through
obedience. What Satan would have Him try God about, He has fully. They are
ministering spirits for us also.
But how profoundly interesting is it to see the blessed
Lord come down, the Son of God from heaven, and take-the Word made flesh-His
place among the poor godly ones on the earth, and, as having taken that place,
owned of the Father as His Son, heaven being opened and opened to Him as man,
and the Holy Ghost coming down and abiding on Him as man though without
measure, and so forming the model of our place, though we were not yet in it;
the whole Trinity, as I have said, being first fully revealed when He is thus
associated with man; and then, we being slaves to Satan, going in this
character and relationship to meet also Satan for us, to bind the strong man,
and give man through Him this place also: only for us redemption was needed to
bring us where He is.
John being cast into prison, the Lord departs into
Galilee. This movement, which determined the scene of His ministry outside
Jerusalem and Judea, had great significance with respect to the Jews. The
people (so far as centred in Jerusalem, and boasting in the possession of the
promises, the sacrifices, and the temple, and in being the royal tribe) lost
the presence of the Messiah, the Son of David. He went away for the
manifestation of His Person, for the testimony of God's intervention in Israel,
to the poor and despised of the flock; for the remnant and poor of the flock
are already in chapters 3, 4 clearly distinguished from the heads of the
people. He thus really became the true stock, instead of being a branch of that
which had been planted elsewhere; although this effect was not yet fully
manifested. The moment corresponds with John 4.
We may remark here, that, in John's Gospel, the Jews are
always distinguished from the multitude (called the people in the Gospels). The
language, or rather the pronunciation, was entirely different. They did not
speak Chaldee in Galilee.
At the same time this manifestation of the Son of David
in Galilee was the fulfilment of a prophecy in Isaiah. The force of that
prophecy is this:-although the Roman captivity was far more terrible than the
invasion of the Assyrians when they came up against the land of Israel, there
was nevertheless this circumstance which altered everything, namely, the
presence of the Messiah, the true Light, in the land.
We observe that the Spirit of God here passes over the
whole history of Jesus until the commencement of His ministry after the death
of John the Baptist. He gives Jesus His proper position in the midst of
Israel-Emmanuel, the Son of David, the Beloved of God, acknowledged as His Son,
the faithful One in Israel, though exposed to all Satan's temptations; and then
at once, afterwards, His prophetic position announced by Isaiah, and the
kingdom proclaimed as at hand. [4]
[1] We
need confidence to have courage to obey; but true confidence is found in the
path of obedience. Satan could use the word in guile, but not turn Christ the
Lord from it. He still uses it as the adequate divine weapon, and Satan still
has no reply. To have forbidden obedience would have been to shew himself
Satan. As regards the place in which the Lord was dispensationally, we may
remark the Lord always quotes from Deuteronomy.
[2]
There must be no other motive for action than the will of God, which, for man,
is always to be found in the word; because, in that case, when Satan tempts us
to act, as he always does, by some other motive, this motive is seen to be
opposed to the word which is in the heart, and to the motive which governs the
heart, and is therefore judged as being opposed to it. It is written, "Thy
word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee." This is
the reason why it is so often important, when we are in doubt, to ask ourselves
by what motive we are influenced.
[3] A
careful examination of the Pentateuch will shew that, though needed historical
facts are stated, yet the contents of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers are
essentially typical.The tabernacle was made according to the pattern shewn in
the mount-the pattern of heavenly things; and not only the ceremonial
ordinances, but the historical facts, as the apostle distinctly states,
happened unto them for types, and are written for our instruction. Deuteronomy
gives directions for their conduct in the land; but the three books named, even
where there are historical facts, are typical in their object. I do not know if
one sacrifice was offered after they were instituted, unless perhaps the
official ones (see Acts 7:42).
[4] And
we may remark here, that He leaves the Jews and Jerusalem, as already remarked,
and His natural place, so to speak, what gave Him His name, Nazareth, and takes
His prophetic place. The casting of John into prison was significant of His own
rejection. John was His forerunner in it, as in his mission, of the Lord. See
chapter 17:12. The testimony of Jesus is the same as that of John the Baptist.
── John Darby《Synopsis of Matthew》
Matthew 4
Chapter Contents
The temptation of Christ. (1-11) The opening of Christ's
ministry in Galilee. (12-17) Call of Simon and others. (18-22) Jesus teaches
and works miracles. (23-25)
Commentary on Matthew 4:1-11
(Read Matthew 4:1-11)
Concerning Christ's temptation, observe, that directly
after he was declared to be the Son of God, and the Saviour of the world, he
was tempted; great privileges, and special tokens of Divine favour, will not
secure any from being tempted. But if the Holy Spirit witness to our being
adopted as children of God, that will answer all the suggestions of the evil
spirit. Christ was directed to the combat. If we presume upon our own strength,
and tempt the devil to tempt us, we provoke God to leave us to ourselves.
Others are tempted, when drawn aside of their own lust, and enticed, James 1:14; but our Lord Jesus had no corrupt
nature, therefore he was tempted only by the devil. In the temptation of Christ
it appears that our enemy is subtle, spiteful, and very daring; but he can be
resisted. It is a comfort to us that Christ suffered, being tempted; for thus
it appears that our temptations, if not yielded to, are not sins, they are
afflictions only. Satan aimed in all his temptations, to bring Christ to sin
against God. 1. He tempted him to despair of his Father's goodness, and to
distrust his Father's care concerning him. It is one of the wiles of Satan to
take advantage of our outward condition; and those who are brought into straits
have need to double their guard. Christ answered all the temptations of Satan
with "It is written;" to set us an example, he appealed to what was
written in the Scriptures. This method we must take, when at any time we are
tempted to sin. Let us learn not to take any wrong courses for our supply, when
our wants are ever so pressing: in some way or other the Lord will provide. 2.
Satan tempted Christ to presume upon his Father's power and protection, in a
point of safety. Nor are any extremes more dangerous than despair and presumption,
especially in the affairs of our souls. Satan has no objection to holy places
as the scene of his assaults. Let us not, in any place, be off our watch. The
holy city is the place, where he does, with the greatest advantage, tempt men
to pride and presumption. All high places are slippery places; advancements in
the world makes a man a mark for Satan to shoot his fiery darts at. Is Satan so
well versed in Scripture as to be able to quote it readily? He is so. It is
possible for a man to have his head full of Scripture notions, and his mouth
full of Scripture expressions, while his heart is full of bitter enmity to God
and to all goodness. Satan misquoted the words. If we go out of our way, out of
the way of our duty, we forfeit the promise, and put ourselves out of God's
protection. This passage, Deuteronomy 8:3, made against the tempter,
therefore he left out part. This promise is firm and stands good. But shall we
continue in sin, that grace may abound? No. 3. Satan tempted Christ to idolatry
with the offer of the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them. The glory
of the world is the most charming temptation to the unthinking and unwary; by
that men are most easily imposed upon. Christ was tempted to worship Satan. He
rejected the proposal with abhorrence. "Get thee hence, Satan!" Some
temptations are openly wicked; and they are not merely to be opposed, but
rejected at once. It is good to be quick and firm in resisting temptation. If
we resist the devil he will flee from us. But the soul that deliberates is
almost overcome. We find but few who can decidedly reject such baits as Satan
offers; yet what is a man profited if he gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul? Christ was succoured after the temptation, for his encouragement to go on
in his undertaking, and for our encouragement to trust in him; for as he knew,
by experience, what it was to suffer, being tempted, so he knew what it was to
be succoured, being tempted; therefore we may expect, not only that he will
feel for his tempted people, but that he will come to them with seasonable
relief.
Commentary on Matthew 4:12-17
(Read Matthew 4:12-17)
It is just with God to take the gospel and the means of
grace, from those that slight them and thrust them away. Christ will not stay
long where he is not welcome. Those who are without Christ, are in the dark.
They were sitting in this condition, a contented posture; they chose it rather
than light; they were willingly ignorant. When the gospel comes, light comes;
when it comes to any place, when it comes to any soul, it makes day there.
Light discovers and directs; so does the gospel. The doctrine of repentance is
right gospel doctrine. Not only the austere John Baptist, but the gracious
Jesus, preached repentance. There is still the same reason to do so. The
kingdom of heaven was not reckoned to be fully come, till the pouring out of
the Holy Spirit after Christ's ascension.
Commentary on Matthew 4:18-22
(Read Matthew 4:18-22)
When Christ began to preach, he began to gather
disciples, who should be hearers, and afterwards preachers of his doctrine, who
should be witnesses of his miracles, and afterwards testify concerning them. He
went not to Herod's court, not to Jerusalem, among the chief priests and the
elders, but to the sea of Galilee, among the fishermen. The same power which
called Peter and Andrew, could have wrought upon Annas and Caiaphas, for with
God nothing is impossible. But Christ chooses the foolish things of the world
to confound the wise. Diligence in an honest calling is pleasing to Christ, and
it is no hinderance to a holy life. Idle people are more open to the
temptations of Satan than to the calls of God. It is a happy and hopeful thing
to see children careful of their parents, and dutiful. When Christ comes, it is
good to be found doing. Am I in Christ? is a very needful question to ask
ourselves; and, next to that, Am I in my calling? They had followed Christ
before, as common disciples, John 1:37; now they must leave their calling.
Those who would follow Christ aright, must, at his command, leave all things to
follow him, must be ready to part with them. This instance of the power of the
Lord Jesus encourages us to depend upon his grace. He speaks, and it is done.
Commentary on Matthew 4:23-25
(Read Matthew 4:23-25)
Wherever Christ went, he confirmed his Divine mission by
miracles, which were emblems of the healing power of his doctrine, and the
influences of the Spirit which accompanied it. We do not now find the Saviour's
miraculous healing power in our bodies; but if we are cured by medicine, the
praise is equally his. Three general words are here used. He healed every
sickness or disease; none was too bad; none too hard, for Christ to heal with a
word. Three diseases are named; the palsy, which is the greatest weakness of
the body; lunacy, which is the greatest malady of the mind; and possession of
the devil, which is the greatest misery and calamity of both; yet Christ healed
all, and by thus curing bodily diseases, showed that his great errand into the
world was to cure spiritual maladies. Sin is the sickness, disease, and torment
of the soul: Christ came to take away sin, and so to heal the soul.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Matthew》
Matthew 4
Verse 2
[2] And
when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
Having fasted —
Whereby doubtless he received more abundant spiritual strength from God.
Forty days and forty nights — As did Moses, the giver of the law, and Elijah, the great restorer of
it.
He was afterward hungry — And so prepared for the first temptation.
Verse 3
[3] And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God,
command that these stones be made bread.
Coming to him — In
a visible form; probably in a human shape, as one that desired to inquire
farther into the evidences of his being the Messiah.
Verse 4
[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.
It is written —
Thus Christ answered, and thus we may answer all the suggestions of the devil.
By every word that proceedeth out of the
mouth of God — That is, by whatever God commands to sustain
him. Therefore it is not needful I should work a miracle to procure bread,
without any intimation of my Father's will. Deuteronomy 8:3.
Verse 5
[5] Then
the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of
the temple,
The holy city — So
Jerusalem was commonly called, being the place God had peculiarly chosen for
himself.
On the battlement of the temple — Probably over the king's gallery, which was of such a prodigious height,
that no one could look down from the top of it without making himself giddy.
Verse 6
[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.
In their hands —
That is, with great care. Psalms 91:11,12.
Verse 7
[7]
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy
God.
Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God — By requiring farther evidence of what he hath already made sufficiently
plain. Deuteronomy 6:16.
Verse 8
[8]
Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him
all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
Showeth him all the kingdoms of the world — In a kind of visionary representation.
Verse 9
[9] And
saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and
worship me.
If thou wilt fall down and worship me — Here Satan clearly shows who he was. Accordingly Christ answering this
suggestion, calls him by his own name, which he had not done before.
Verse 10
[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.
Get thee hence, Satan — Not, get thee behind me, that is, into thy proper place; as he said on a
quite different occasion to Peter, speaking what was not expedient. Deuteronomy 6:13.
Verse 11
[11] Then
the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Angels came and waited upon him — Both to supply him with food, and to congratulate his victory.
Verse 12
[12] Now
when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
He retired into Galilee — This journey was not immediately after his temptation. He first went
from Judea into Galilee, John 1:43; 2:1. Then into Judea again, and celebrated the
passover at Jerusalem, John 2:13. He baptized in Judea while John was
baptizing at Enon, John 3:22,23. All this time John was at liberty,
John 3:24. But the Pharisees being offended, John 4:1; and John put in prison, he then took
this journey into Galilee. Mark 1:14.
Verse 13
[13] And
leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast,
in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
Leaving Nazareth —
Namely, when they had wholly rejected his word, and even attempted to kill him,
Luke 4:29.
Verse 15
[15] The
land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond
Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
Galilee of the Gentiles — That part of Galilee which lay beyond Jordan was so called, because it
was in a great measure inhabited by Gentiles, that is, heathens. Isaiah 9:1,2.
Verse 16
[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.
Here is a beautiful gradation, first, they
walked, then they sat in darkness, and lastly, in the region of the shadow of
death.
Verse 17
[17] From
that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven
is at hand.
From that time Jesus began to preach — He had preached before, both to Jews and Samaritans, John 4:41,45. But from this time begin his
solemn stated preaching.
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand — Although it is the peculiar business of Christ to establish the kingdom
of heaven in the hearts of men, yet it is observable, he begins his preaching
in the same words with John the Baptist: because the repentance which John
taught still was, and ever will be, the necessary preparation for that inward
kingdom. But that phrase is not only used with regard to individuals in whom it
is to be established, but also with regard to the Christian Church, the whole
body of believers. In the former sense it is opposed to repentance; in the
latter the Mosaic dispensation.
Verse 18
[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.
Verse 23
[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.
The Gospel of the kingdom — The Gospel, that is, the joyous message, is the proper name of our
religion: as will be amply verified in all who earnestly and perseveringly
embrace it.
Verse 24
[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 lunatick, and those that had the
palsy; and he healed them.
Through all Syria —
The whole province, of which the Jewish country was only a small part.
And demoniacs —
Men possessed with devils: and lunatics, and paralytics - Men ill of the palsy,
whose cases were of all others most deplorable and most helpless.
Verse 25
[25] And
there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis,
and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.
Decapolis — A
tract of land on the east side of the sea of Galilee, in which were ten cities
near each other.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on
Matthew》
Chapter 4.
Triumph over Temptation
Got by the Lord
Get for the Lord
I. Temptation from the Devil
II. Jesus Begins His Ministry
III. Calling of the First four Disciples
── Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》
The Temptation Of Jesus (4:1-11)
INTRODUCTION
1. One of the blessings of having Jesus as our Savior is His ability to comfort and aid those who are tempted... a. This is because He too was tempted - He 2:18 b. He is sympathetic, and can provide mercy and grace to help in time of need - He 4:14-16 2. One of His greatest periods of temptation was at the beginning of His public ministry... a. Immediately following His baptism by John - Mt 3:13-17 b. Just prior to starting His preaching ministry - Mt 4:12-17 3. Studying "The Temptation Of Jesus" can be fruitful for several reasons... a. It reminds us that Jesus can understand our own temptations b. It reveals how we can be more successful in overcoming temptation [With that in mind and using Mt 4:1-11 as our basic text, let's beginwith...] I. THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS REVIEWED
A. THE SETTING OF THE TEMPTATIONS... 1. Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness - Mt 4:1 a. The same Spirit which descended upon Him in bodily form as dove - Mt 3:16; Lk 3:22 b. It was likely the wilderness of Judea , a desolate place 2. To be tempted by the devil - Mt 4:1 a. It appears that this challenge was initiated by the Spirit b. For it was the Spirit who led Jesus to the wilderness for this purpose 3. Where Jesus fasted and was tempted for forty days - Mt 4:2 a. His fasting is reminiscent of Moses and Elijah - Exo 34:28;1 Ki 19:8
b. Luke reveals that temptations occurred over the period of forty days - Lk 4:2 c. Mark mentions wild beasts - Mk 1:13 -- Thus it was after forty days of temptation that we find Satan approaching Jesus for a "climax" involving three particular temptations B. THE CLIMAX OF THE TEMPTATIONS... 1. The first temptation - Mt 4:3-4 a. Satan's appeal to the lust of the flesh 1) Having fasted for forty days, Jesus was naturally hungry 2) Challenging Jesus' identity, Satan appeals to His fleshly hunger: "command that these stones become bread" b. Jesus responds with Scripture 1) Quoting Deu 8:3, "Man shall not live by bread alone..." 2) There is more to life than just fulfilling physical desires; man is dependent upon the Word of God to truly live! 2. The second temptation - Mt 4:5-7 a. Satan appeals to the pride of life 1) Again challenging Jesus' identity, Satan sets Jesus on the pinnacle of the temple, tells Him to "throw Yourselfdown"
2) Quoting scriptures himself, using Psa 91:11,12 b. Jesus responds with Scripture 1) Deu 6:16, "You shall not tempt the LORD your God" 2) While the passage Satan quoted is true, it would be an abuse of it to purposely test God 2. The third temptation - Mt 4:8-10 a. Satan appeals to the lust of the eyes 1) Taking Jesus to high mountain and showing Him the kingdoms of the world 2) Offering to give Jesus all the kingdoms if He will worship Satan b. Jesus responds with Scripture 1) Deu 6:13, "You shall worship the LORD your God, and Himonly you shall serve"
2) Though offered a shortcut to receiving power over the nations, Jesus does not take the easy path - cf. Re 2:26-27; 3:21
C. AT THE END OF THE TEMPTATIONS... 1. Angels came and ministered to Jesus - Mt 3:11 a. Exactly what they did is not mentioned b. Perhaps they provided bodily nourishment (Hendricksen) 2. This would not be the last time Satan would seek to tempt Jesus - cf. Lk 4:13; Mt 16:21-23 [With forty days of overcoming temptation behind Him, especially thetemptation of taking a short cut to His rule as the Messiah, Jesus wasnow prepared to begin His public ministry. What observations might one make regarding "The Temptation Of Jesus"?Here are a few...] II. OBSERVATIONS FROM THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS
A. WE HAVE THE SAME ADVERSARY... 1. Jesus was tempted by the devil, and so are we - 1 Pe 5:8-9 2. The devil now directs his attention towards the disciples of Christ - Re 12:17 -- We should not treat him lightly, for the conflict is real! - Ep 6:12 B. WE HAVE SIMILAR TEMPTATIONS... 1. The lust of the flesh - e.g., immorality, especially when young 2. The lust of the eyes - e.g., materialism, especially when middle-aged 3. The pride of life - e.g., pride and arrogance, especially when elderly -- These we must overcome, if we wish to have the love of the Father - 1 Jn 2:15-16 C. WE HAVE THE SAME TOOLS TO OVERCOME... 1. Jesus appealed to the Word of God, and so can we - cf. Ep 6:17 2. Jesus had faith in the plan of God (victory through suffering), we need a similar shield of faith - Ep 6:16; cf. He 10:35-39 3. Jesus undoubtedly prayed, for He taught us to use prayer in overcoming temptation - Mt 26:41 -- The Word of God, faith, and prayer...against these the devil has no chance! D. WE HAVE SIMILAR BLESSINGS WHEN WE OVERCOME... 1. Jesus was administered to by angels, angels will carry us home - cf. Lk 16:22 2. Jesus received wonderful blessings when He ultimately overcame and ascended to heaven; He has promised similar blessings for us - cf. Re 2:10,26-27; 3:21 E. WE CAN LEARN SOME IMPORTANT LESSONS... 1. Material sustenance alone cannot truly satisfy, we need the spiritual sustenance from God's Word 2. While we are to trust in the Lord, we should not foolishly tempt Him 3. Scripture can easily be abused, as well as used - 2 Pe 3:16 4. The way to glory is not quick and easy, but long and hard - Ac 14:22; Ro 2:7 CONCLUSION
1. But perhaps the greatest lesson to glean from "The Temptation OfJesus" is that we have a Savior who in all things was made like
us... a. That He might be our merciful and faithful High Priest - He 2:17 b. That having suffered, being tempted, He can aid us who are tempted - He 2:18 c. That He might be sympathetic, providing mercy and grace to help in time of need - He 4:15-16 2. Are you burdened with temptations? a. Look to Jesus as your example in learning how to overcome temptation in your life! b. Look to Jesus as your High Priest when you need to approach God in prayer and receive mercy and grace for those times when you succumbed to temptation! As in all things, look to Jesus, as the writer to Hebrews exhorts us... "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls." - He 12:2-3
The Preaching Ministry Of Jesus (4:12-17)
INTRODUCTION
1. In Mt 4:12-17, we read of Jesus' public ministry in Galilee ... a. Which followed the imprisonment of John the Baptist - Mt 4:12 b. Which began at Capernaum , on the edge of the Sea of Galilee - Mt 4:13 c. Which fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah - Mt 4:14-16; Isa 9:1,2 2. His public ministry involved "preaching"... a. "From that time Jesus began to preach..." - Mt 4:17 b. Compare also Mt 4:23, "Jesus went about all Galilee , teaching intheir synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom..."
3. The word "preach" (Gr., kerux) means "to herald, to proclaim"... a. But what was the message Jesus was proclaiming? b. Is it a message that should be proclaimed today? [In this study our focus will be on Mt 4:17, as we seek to understandthe message proclaimed by Jesus during His public ministry. From thisverse we learn first that...] I. JESUS PREACHED REPENTANCE
A. HE CALLED UPON PEOPLE TO REPENT... 1. Just as John the Baptist did - Mt 3:2 2. As Jesus would say later: "For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." - Mt 9:13
B. WHAT DOES "REPENT" MEAN? 1. Many people have misconceptions concerning repentance a. E.g., that repentance is "sorrow" 1) But repentance is an outcome of sorrow - cf. 2 Co 7:9-10 2) Sorrow leads to repentance; sorrow itself is not repentance! b. E.g., that repentance is "a changed life" 1) Thinking that repentance is a converted life 2) But repentance and conversion are two separate things - cf. Ac 3:19 a) Peter says "Repent therefore and be converted" b) If repentance means the same as conversion, then Peter was redundant 2. W. E. Vine defines "repentance" as: a. A "change of mind" b. That which "involves both a turning from sin and a turning to God" 3. Repentance is thus "a change of mind" in which we DECIDE to"turn from sin and turn to God"
a. Which is preceded by sorrow b. And followed by a changed life -- Jesus was therefore calling upon people to change their minds regarding sin, because of what He taught about the kingdom (more on that shortly) C. DOES REPENTANCE NEED TO BE PROCLAIMED TODAY? 1. Most certainly! a. Repentance is to be preached in Jesus' name to all nations - Lk 24:46-47 b. God now calls men everywhere to repent - Ac 17:30 c. Thus Paul preached to both Jews and Gentiles that they should repent - Ac 26:20 2. Wherever there is sin, the message of repentance needs to be proclaimed! a. People need to be told to "change their minds" (repent) b. They need "turn to God, and do works befitting repentance" - cf. Ac 26:20; Mt 3:8 -- Any gospel preaching that does not include a clarion call to repent is not the true gospel! [In calling people to repent, Jesus proclaimed why they needed to change their minds and turn from sin to God: "for the kingdom of heavenis at hand". This leads to our next point...]
II. JESUS PREACHED THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
A. THIS WAS A MAJOR THEME OF HIS PREACHING... 1. Just as it was with John the Baptist - Mt 3:2 2. It was the focus of His itinerant ministry - Mt 4:23 a. The theme of His Sermon on the Mount - Mt 5:3,10,19-20; 6:33; 7:21
b. The theme of many of His parables - e.g., Mt 13:24,31,33,44,45,47
3. It was the theme of the Limited Commission - Mt 10:7 -- During this time, the kingdom of heaven was "at hand" (drawing near) B. WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN? 1. It is the same thing as "the kingdom of God" a. Some try to make a distinction (e.g., Scofield Reference Bible) b. But a quick comparison of the gospels indicate the terms refer to the same thing 1) Cf. Mt 4:17 with Mk 1:14-15 2) Cf. Mt 5:3 with Lk 6:20 3) Cf. Mt 13:31 with Mk 4:30-31 c. Matthew used the expression "kingdom of heaven" almost exclusively, while the other gospel writers used the phrase "kingdom of God" d. It may be that since Matthew wrote his gospel to the Jews, he chose to use the phrase "kingdom of heaven"... 1) Because of the Jews' reluctance to use the name of God (out of reverence) 2) Because of the Jews' misconception of the coming kingdom a) Many anticipated a physical kingdom b) The expression "heaven" (literally, "heavens") would emphasize a spiritual kingdom 2. The "kingdom of heaven" involves four inter-related concepts a. God's kingship, rule, or recognized sovereignty 1) The term "kingdom" as used by the Jews often stressed the abstract idea of rule or dominion, not a geographical area surrounded by physical boundaries 2) It is used this way by Jesus in Mt 6:10 - "Your KINGDOMcome; Your WILL be done..." (note the connection
between kingdom and will) -- Thus, the "kingdom of heaven" would involve the rule of heaven in the hearts of men b. This rule of heaven is spiritual in nature 1) It is not a physical kingdom - cf. Jn 18:36 2) But one that is spiritual - cf. Ro 14:17 c. Its visible manifestation today is in the form of the Lord's church 1) For the church is that community of souls in whose hearts God is recognized as Sovereign 2) That the church constitutes the kingdom of God on earth, consider: a) How the term "church" and "kingdom" were used interchangeably - Mt 16:18 b) Comments made to those who were in the church - Co 1:13; 1 Th 2:12
c) The description of those in the churches of Asia - Re 1:4,6,9 d. It has a future element as well as a present one 1) Its future aspect is spoken of by Jesus, Paul, Peter - Mt 25:34; 1 Co 15:50; 2 Ti 4:18; 2 Pe 1:10-11 2) Peter described the coming of its future state in 2 Pe3:10-13
3. Thus the "kingdom of heaven" today is both present and future a. In the present sense... 1) It is found wherever the sovereignty of God is accepted in the hearts of men 2) It is a spiritual kingdom, for God rules in the hearts of men 3) Its outward manifestation today is the Lord's church 4) This rule or kingdom of God was "inaugurated" on the Day of Pentecost (Ac 2) b. In the future sense... 1) The rule or kingdom of God will be "culminated" with the coming of the Lord 2) It will involve that "news heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells", described by Peter and John - 2 Pe 3; Re 21-22 3) It will be experienced only by those in the church who are submitting to God's will today! - cf. Mt 7:21-23;2 Pe 3:13-14
C. DOES THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN NEED TO BE PROCLAIMED TODAY? 1. Most certainly! a. Philip "preached the things concerning the kingdom of God" - Ac 8:12 b. The apostle Paul in his preaching and teaching: 1) Spoke of the challenges in entering the kingdom in the future sense - Ac 14:22 2) Reasoned and persuaded with people concerning the kingdom - Ac 19:8 3) Had gone among the Ephesians, "preaching the kingdom of God" - Ac 20:25 4) Solemnly testified of the kingdom of God to the Jews in Rome - Ac 28:23 c. In his epistles, Paul wrote of: 1) The nature of the kingdom - Ro 14:17 2) Those who will not inherit the kingdom - 1 Co 6:9-10;Ga 5:21; Ep 5:5
3) Jesus giving the kingdom to God when He returns - 1 Co15:24-26
4) How flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom - 1 Co15:50
5) How we are now in the kingdom - Co 1:13 6) His companions as fellow workers for the kingdom - Co 4:11
7) How we might be counted worthy of the kingdom - 2 Th 1:5 8) God calling us into His kingdom and glory - 2 Th 2:12 9) Jesus judging us at His appearing and His kingdom - 2 Ti4:1
10) The Lord preserving him for His heavenly kingdom - 2 Ti4:18
d. The Hebrew writer referred to our receiving a kingdom which can't be shaken - He 12:28 e. James described the faithful poor as "heirs of the kingdom" - Ja 2:5 f. Peter wrote of how we might have an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord - 2 Pe 1:10-11 g. John described himself as a brother and companion in the kingdom of Jesus Christ - Re 1:9 2. There is a slight difference in our message, however... a. John the Baptist, Jesus, His disciples in the Limited Commission...all proclaimed the kingdom "at hand" (drawing near) 1) For the rule of God as foretold by the prophets was about to be manifested - cf. Mk 1:14-15 2) During Jesus' earthly ministry that kingdom (reign) was yet future -- That was the "good news" (gospel) of the kingdom then:it was near!
b. However, after the ascension of Christ, the preaching of the kingdom proclaimed it both present and future 1) The rule of God is now being fully manifested in the person of Jesus Christ - cf. Mt 28:18; Ep 1:20-22; 1 Pe3:22
2) Those who "gladly receive" the message can be added by the Lord Himself to His church or kingdom (i.e., the community of believers who submit to His authority) - cf. Ac 2:36-41,47; Co 1:13; Re 1:9 3) Those who persevere to the end can inherit the heavenly and everlasting kingdom of our Lord - Ac 14:22; 2 Pe 1:10-11
-- This is the "good news" (gospel) of the kingdom now: itis both now and coming!
CONCLUSION
1. In "The Preaching Ministry Of Jesus", two themes permeated His message... a. The need to repent b. For the kingdom of heaven was at hand 2. As we fulfill the Great Commission today (Mt 28:18-20), our themes should be similar... a. The kingdom of heaven has come and is coming (implied in "Allauthority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.")
b. The need to repent (implied in "Make disciples of all thenations")
If you desire to experience the bliss of the everlasting kingdom of ourLord and Savior, you must do the Father's Will (cf. Mt 7:21-23) and bein the kingdom of His dear Son today (cf. Co 1:13). Have you submitted to the gospel of the kingdom as proclaimed by ourLord's apostles?
The Discipling Ministry Of Jesus (4:18-22)
INTRODUCTION
1. We saw where the public ministry of Jesus involved "preaching"... a. Proclaiming the need to repent, for the kingdom of heaven was at hand - Mt 4:17 b. Taking this message to synagogues throughout the land - Mt 4:23 2. His ministry was not limited to preaching; it also involved "discipling"... a. In which He called select individuals to follow Him b. Creating His own group of "disciples" 1) Just as John had his disciples - Mt 9:14 2) Even the Pharisees had their disciples - Mt 22:15-16 3. We read of Jesus calling His first disciples in our text... a. The call of Peter and Andrew - Mt 4:18-20 b. The call of James and John - Mt 4:21-22 4. Throughout His public ministry... a. Jesus would call others to become His disciples - cf. Mt 9:9 b. Jesus would spend much time with His disciples c. Jesus would end His time on earth with a command for them to make more disciples - Mt 28:19-20 [Such an important subject to our Lord naturally raises some questions.For example...] I. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BECOME JESUS' DISCIPLE?
A. THE WORD "DISCIPLE"... 1. The word "disciple" literally means a learner 2. According to Vine's Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words, it denotes "one who follows another's teaching" 3. But a disciple was not only a learner, he was also an adherent 4. For this reason disciples were spoken of as imitators of their teachers -- When Jesus told Peter, Andrew, James, and John to "Follow Me" (Mt 4:19), it meant more than to just physically follow Him! B. THE GOAL IN BECOMING HIS DISCIPLE... 1. Stated by Jesus on this occasion: "I will make you fishers ofmen"
a. Just as they had worked in going after fish, now they would be going after men! b. As indicated in the Great Commission, they would be making more disciples - Mt 28:19 2. Stated by Jesus on another occasion: to be like their teacher a. Those perfectly trained will be like their teacher - Lk 6:40
b. Just as Christ sought to save men and make them disciples, so His disciples were to seek and save the lost [A disciple of Jesus, then, is one who desires to imitate Jesus. SinceHe was concerned for the lost, His disciples would be also! Anotherquestion...] II. HOW DOES ONE BECOME JESUS' DISCIPLE?
A. JESUS SAID "FOLLOW ME"... 1. This command He gave to His future disciples - Mt 4:19; 9:9 a. They would spend three years following Jesus around Palestine b. During that time they would listen to what He said, observe what He did c. Eventually they would be told to carry on His work - Mt 28:19-20
d. Their success was related to this time spent with Jesus - cf. Ac 4:13 2. To be a disciple of Jesus, then, requires that one: a. Follow Him b. Spend time with Him c. Carry on His work -- But how can we do this when He is no longer with us on earth? B. JESUS SAID "ABIDE IN MY WORD"... 1. This He said to those who believed in Him - Jn 8:31 a. By learning and observing what He taught, they would truly be His disciples b. As Jesus would say later, future disciples would be made as they were taught "to observe all things that I havecommanded you" - Mt 28:20
c. It would begin with baptism, for He had just commanded His disciples to make disciples by baptizing them - Mt 28:19; cf. Mk 16:16; Ac 2:38 2. To be a disciple of Jesus, then, requires that one: a. Be baptized (having repented and confessed one's faith in Jesus) b. Follow Jesus by doing what He taught His first disciples (the apostles) -- By continuing steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine (i.e., their gospels and epistles), we can be Jesus' disciples today! - cf. Ac 2:41-42 [To follow Jesus by abiding in His word implies some degree of effortand cost. This leads to our next question...] III. WHAT DOES IT COST TO BECOME JESUS' DISCIPLE?
A. HIS FIRST DISCIPLES LEFT "ALL" TO FOLLOW JESUS... 1. They left their business and family - Mt 4:20-22 2. As Peter would say later: "we have left all and followed You"- Mt 19:27
B. JESUS EXPECTED THE SAME OF OTHER DISCIPLES... 1. That He must come before family - Mt 10:37; Lk 9:59-62; 14:25-26
2. That one must be willing to suffer hardship - Mt 10:38; Lk 9:57-58; 14:27
3. Simply put, to forsake all to follow Him - Lk 14:33 C. JESUS EXPECTS THE SAME OF HIS DISCIPLES TODAY... 1. To seek first the kingdom of God - Mt 6:33 2. As illustrated in The Parable Of The Great Supper, family and business cannot come before accepting the call of the gospel! - Lk 14:15-24 CONCLUSION
1. In calling people to repent, Jesus was also calling people to become His disciples... a. But like John the Baptist before Him, Jesus expected that people "bear fruits worthy of repentance" - cf. Mt 3:8 b. As He would say later, "By this My Father is glorified, that youbear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." - Jn 15:8
2. For those willing to accept His call, along with the cost, there is promise of great blessings... a. As Jesus told Peter - Mk 10:28-30 b. As Paul would encourage the Christians at Corinth - 1 Co 15:58 3. Have we accepted the call and responsibility of discipleship, or do we just "go to church"? a. Which comes first, our families, our businesses, or Jesus Christ and His kingdom? b. Are we busy building our lives, enjoying our retirement, while the Lord's church suffers? c. Do we spend more time on fishing and other forms of recreation, than we do on fishing for men? -- How we answer such questions reveals much as to whether we are truly the disciples of Jesus! May we all be open to the call of Jesus: "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."
The Itinerant Ministry Of Jesus (4:23-25)
INTRODUCTION
1. Jesus started His public ministry by moving to Capernaum - Mt 4:12-17
a. A city on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee b. A fulfillment of the prophecy in Isa 9:1-2 c. From which He began to preach His message of the kingdom 2. But Jesus' work was not what you might call a "located ministry"... a. He did not stay in one place b. Where people might easily come to see and hear Him 3. His ministry was an "itinerant ministry"... a. He traveled from place to place b. If people wanted to hear Him more than once, they had to follow Him [In our text, Mt 4:23-25, we find a summary of "The Itinerant MinistryOf Jesus." In this study, let's begin by taking a look at...]
I. THE NATURE OF JESUS' ITINERANT MINISTRY
A. HE DID NOT STAY IN ONE PLACE LONG... 1. He "went about all Galilee" - Mt 4:23 2. He went about "teaching in their synagogues" - Mt 4:23 3. Luke records an example: in the synagogue at Nazareth - Lk 4:14-30
4. But as mentioned by both Mark and Luke, Jesus felt compelled to keep moving - Mk 1:35-39; Lk 4:42-44 B. HE PROCLAIMED THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM... 1. His preaching involved "good news" about the kingdom - Mt 4:23; cf. Mk 1:14
2. As recorded by Mark, this "good news" included the following: a. "The time is fulfilled" - the time foretold by the prophets, cf. Dan 2:44 b. "The kingdom of God is at hand" - the kingdom foretold by the prophets, cf. Dan 2:44; Lk 1:32-33 C. HE HEALED ALL KINDS OF SICKNESS AND DISEASE... 1. He healed people afflicted with various diseases and torments - Mt 4:23-24 2. Including the demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics - Mt 4:24 3. Both Mark and Luke provide more detail at this point in their gospels a. Casting out an unclean spirit - Mk 1:21-28; Lk 4:31-37 b. Healing Peter's mother-in-law - Mk 1:29-30; Lk 4:38-39 c. Healing many after a Sabbath sunset - Mk 1:32-34; Lk 4:40-41
-- Matthew records these events after The Sermon On The Mount in his gospel D. HIS FAME SPREAD... 1. Throughout all Syria, the region to the north of Galilee - Mt 4:24 2. Evidently throughout Decapolis, Judea, and beyond the Jordan, regions to the south and east - Mt 4:25 3. The healing of a leper forced him to stay in deserted places - Mk 1:45 E. GREAT MULTITUDES FOLLOWED HIM... 1. From Galilee and regions all around - Mt 4:25 2. Mark says they came to Him from every direction - Mk 1:45 3. They came to hear Him, and to be healed by Him - Lk 5:15 II. OBSERVATIONS REGARDING JESUS' ITINERANT MINISTRY
A. EVERYONE NEEDS TO HEAR THE GOSPEL... 1. Jesus' concern was not just for those in his town of Capernaum a. Compelled to preach the gospel in other cities, He went about "all Galilee" b. He later sent His disciples to preach throughout all the cities of Israel c. He finally commissioned to them to preach to every person, making disciples "of all the nations" - Mk 16:16; Mt 28:19 2. It has been said, "No one has the right to hear the gospeltwice, before everyone has heard it once"
a. This statement reflects a sentiment worth remembering b. Once the gospel has been shared, we are not under obligation to repeat it again and again to one not interested c. If those who hear are not interested, they have judged themselves unworthy of eternal life - e.g., Ac 13:44-47 d. As long as there are souls who have not heard, we do not always have the luxury of "spoon-feeding" the spiritually indifferent in an attempt to reach them! 3. Similarly, churches may not always have the luxury to hold on to their evangelists a. Some are like the people who tried to keep Jesus from leaving them - Lk 4:42 b. But having received the word, they need to appreciate the need for others to hear - Lk 4:43 c. Especially today, when we have Bibles to teach us, we can more liberal with letting evangelists do their work of evangelizing! - cf. Ro 10:14-15 B. THE PURPOSE OF THE HEALING MIRACLES... 1. Certainly they were an expression of Jesus' compassion - Mt 14:14; 20:29-34 2. Such miracles were also confirmation of prophecy - Mt 8:16-17 a. They were recorded that we might believe - Jn 20:30-31 b. They were intended to confirm who Jesus was - cf. Jn 5:36 3. In a similar way, the miracles done by His followers was for the purpose of confirming their message as being from God - cf. Mk 16:19-20; He 2:3-4 a. Their purpose was not to make Christians "healthy and wealthy" b. Their purpose was not for personal benefit; e.g., Paul did not heal Timothy of his stomach ailments and frequent infirmities, prescribing medicinal treatment instead - 1 Ti 5:23 -- The primary purpose of such miracles, as always, was to confirm God's messengers; in this case, confirming Jesus to be the Son of God! - cf. Ac 2:22 C. AUTHENTIC MIRACLES CAN'T BE KEPT SECRET... 1. Jesus' reputation quickly spread throughout the region 2. Even His enemies had to admit His miracles were real - Jn 11:47
3. Such was true with the miracles performed by the apostles - Ac 4:14-16 4. If one could truly heal today as Jesus and His apostles did... a. It would be on every TV network b. None would deny it, especially Christians who question the validity of what is often claimed to be miraculous today! -- The more you study the miracles of the Bible, the easier it is see that those who claim to do miracles today are either sincerely mistaken or deliberate deceivers! D. FOLLOWING JESUS REQUIRES EFFORT ON OUR PART... 1. The multitudes who wanted to hear and see Jesus had to follow Him where He went a. It required leaving their homes, probably at great expense b. It was probably very inconvenient, especially when sick and disabled! 2. Following Jesus today requires some effort also! a. Time and energy must be expended to learn and grow in the teachings of Christ b. It may not always be convenient to utilize opportunities to learn more about Jesus -- The next time you stay home because of some physical inconvenience, think of those souls who followed Jesus on His itinerant travels! CONCLUSION
1. Many Christians have often thought how wonderful it must have been to see Jesus on earth during His public ministry... a. To see the miracles, to witness the healings b. To hear His sermons proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom b. To sit at His feet, listening to His gracious words of instruction 2. In reality, it may not have been as easy as one might think... a. You would have had to leave home for an extended period of time b. Contending with the multitudes, it might have difficult to even get close to Jesus -- I wonder if many Christians today would have made the effort! 3. As we think of "The Itinerant Ministry Of Jesus", I hope we will remember... a. The importance of spreading the gospel of the kingdom today b. The compassion our Lord had for the sick and oppressed c. The effort we should be willing to make to follow the Lord 4. Perhaps most importantly, to realize... a. That once you have heard the gospel of the kingdom, no one is obligated to repeat it to you again and again b. That having heard it once, you may never have the opportunity to hear it again! It is _your_ responsibility to heed the call to repent and accept thegood news concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. Have you?
－－《Executable
Outlines》