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Matthew 4 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”
Matthew 4:1 NASB
Wow! What a chapter! Let’s read and re-read this opening verse. Satan didn’t just show up on Jesus’ doorstep as so many of the children’s stories portray. What does the text say? The Holy Spirit led Jesus to the wilderness to be tempted. The Holy Spirit led Jesus into enemy territory? Wait… what?
An even more intriguing theme in this first verse is the phrase “led by the Spirit into the wildernesss.” Where have we seen that before?
The Old Testament is chock-full of verses describing God leading his people (Israel) into the wilderness. (Exo 13:18; Exo 13:21; Exo 15:13; Exo 15:22; Deu 8:2) We all remember how that turned out. Israel failed their wilderness test. Jesus retraces the steps of His people and then quotes three verses that contrast the specific struggles of the Israelites. Jesus is demonstrating the complete obedience that Israel lacked.
There is one more aspect to consider. The calling God had placed on Jesus’ earthly ministry was vast. His mission, should He choose to accept it, was considered humanly impossible. The testing preceded the calling. We know that God does not tempt us because He is without sin, but He often leads us into situations where our hearts will be exposed. It is in these critical moments that our obedience will unlock the door to our future calling in Christ Jesus.
When Adam and Eve were hiding in the garden, God asked where they were to test their heart response. Moses spent 40 years in the desert before leading God’s people out of Egypt. When Abraham climbed up the mountain, God asked him to sacrifice his son, Isaac to test his obedience. Jesus told Peter that Satan wanted to “sift him like wheat” but Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail the test. In fact, Paul may have even spent time in the desert of Arabia before returning to Damascus to be used by God.
Before we can fulfill our calling, we will (probably) have to endure some form of testing. The good news is that the pressure of surviving such a test does not depend on our human strength. God has given us victory through Jesus and guidance through the Holy Spirit. We have everything we need to live a holy, obedient life!