Exegesis of Matthew 4:1-11
RLD
Step I - (Initial) Acquaintance
A. Comparison of English or other published translations
NRSV
1) led up by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil
3) the tempter
6) Son of God
9) fall down and worship me
11) suddenly
CEV
1) The Holy Spirit led Jesus . . . So that the devil could test him.
3) the devil
6) God''s Son
9) bow down and worship me
11) (Gr. idou) is not translated
Peterson - puts the scripture citations of Jesus and the devil in the
text, which is quite helpful.
1) by the Spirit for the Test
3) the Devil
6) God''s Son
9) go down on your knees and worship me
11) (Gr. idou) ""and in his place, angels! Angels, came"" (Is this a
misprint in Peterson''s version?)
The Greek word ""idou"" which I translate as ""behold!"" seems to be an
important theological marker in Matthew''s gospel. These modern versions
do not seem to know what to do with it.
B. Greek/Hebrew Textual Criticism
The only significant variant is in 4.10, when, in some texts, ""go"" (Gr.
upage) is followed by ""behind me"" (Gr. opiso mou). This insertion makes
the verse more parallel to Mt 16.23, when Jesus tells Peter to ""get
behind me"". The majority of Alexandrian texts support the text, and the
shorter and non-parallel reading argue for omitting the insertion.
C. One's Own Rough Translation
1 Then Jesus was taken up into the wilderness by the spirit to be
tempted by the devil.
2 And having fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward he hungered.
3 And approaching the tempting one said to him, ""If you are the son of
God, then say these stones may become loaves.""
4 But he answering said, ""It has been written: Not upon bread only shall
a human live, but upon every word coming out through mouth of God.""
5 Then the devil takes him into the holy city, and stood him upon the
wing of the temple,
6 and says to him, ""If you are the son of God, cast yourself down, for
it has been written that to his angels he will give command concerning
you and on hands they will bear you, lest you strike against a stone
your foot.""
7 Jesus said to him, ""Again it has been written: You will not tempt the
Lord your God.""
8 Again the devil takes him to a very high mountain and shows him all
the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them,
9 and said to him: ""These things to you all I will give, if falling you
will worship me.""
10 Then Jesus says to him, ""Go, adversary! For it has been written: The
Lord your God you will worship and him only you will serve.""
11 Then the devil leaves him, and behold! Angels approached and
ministered to him.
Step II - Disposition
A. Genre - How the text says what it says
This narrative sounds a little like the story of Daniel (6.13) being
asked to bow down before the king. Or, it could be seen like an old
Western movie showdown. Instead of six-shooters, the two rivals battle
with scripture quotations. This is also reminiscent of Elijah''s contest
with the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18).
The temptation breaks the pattern of Matthew presenting Jesus as a new
Moses. Yes, Jesus goes up on the mountain and presents the law in chap.
5. And yes, Jesus spends a time of forty days (like the forty years) in
the wilderness. But Moses did not face a great evil adversary in the
desert. However, Moses was tried in the wilderness. And Moses failed
the trial and could not enter the promised land.
B. Personal Interaction - Questions and observations
What spirit directs Jesus to the wilderness? Is it his spirit, the Holy
Spirit, or something else?
Who is this devil/Satan, according to Matthew''s context? Why does he
not appear until late in the OT?
Who or what are these angels and how did they minister to Jesus?
C. Organization - Where the elements of "B" are located
Most of my questions are about the cosmology of the 1st c.
Jewish/Christian world (Step IV). How do we interpret angels, the
devil, and spirit?
Step III - Composition
A. Immediate Context - preceding/following pericope
In the Kephalaia, the early Church chapter divisions, this section falls
in a reading that begins at 3.1 with John the Baptist and continues
through 4.16 with the beginning of Jesus'' ministry in Capernaum.
The Eusebian canon: verse 4.1 is a II (in Mk, Mt, Lk), 4.2-10 is a V (in
Mt, Lk), 4.11 is a VI (Mt, Mk)
B. Organization of the Compositional Whole
According to Matthew''s organization, this seems to be the end of
Matthew''s prologue. Matthew first tells us about Jesus'' genealogy.
Then we have a section which tells about the events in Jesus'' adult life
that lead up to his ministry. In this section, we are not told much of
Jesus'' teachings. In this pericope, Jesus only quotes scripture. In
his early ministry which follows, Matthew only has Jesus repeat John''s
message of repentance. After this prologue is over, Matthew presents
Jesus'' preaching and action in great detail.
C. Issues of Authorship
Matthew presents Jesus as an interestingly human character. He is
subject to temptation, but he does not give in. He is obedient to God.
Matthew seems to have a well-developed understanding of Christ as human
and divine. He is the Son of God, subject to human suffering, but not
as imperfect as the rest of us.
Step IV - Context
A. Primitive Christianity - the following are the NT parallels from the
Nestle text
Lk 4.1-13 when the devil finished every test, he departed from him until
an opportune time.
Heb 4.15! But we have [a high priest] who in every respect has been
tested as we are, yet without sin.
1 Th 3.5 I sent to find out about your faith; I was afraid that somehow
the tempter had tempted you and that our labor had been in vain.
Rev 11.2 it is given over to the nations, and they will trample over the
holy city for 42 months
21.2, 10 I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of
heaven
22.19 if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy,
God will take away that person''s share in the tree of life and in the
holy city
1 Co 10.9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and
were destroyed by serpents
Act 15.10 why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of
the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to
bear?
Rev 21.10 and in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain
and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven
Mt 16.26 what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but
forfeit their life?
16.23 he turned and said to Peter, ""Get behind me, Satan! . . . You are
setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.""
Jn 1.51 you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and
descending upon the Son of Man
Heb 1.6, 14 when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, ""Let
all God''s angels worship him."" . . . Are not all angels spirits in the
divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit
salvation?
B. Old Testament and Judaism - the following are the OT parallels from
the Nestle text
Ex 34.28 He was there with the Lord 40 days and 40 nights; he neither
ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the
covenant
Dt 9.9 When I went up the mountain to receive the stone tablets . . . I
remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights; I neither ate
bread nor drank water.
1 Ki 19.8 [Elijah] ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that
food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mountain of God
Gn 3.1-7 Now the serpent was more crafty . . . He said to the woman,
""Did God say, ""You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?"" etc.
Dt 8.3 He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with
manna . . . In order to make you understand that one does not live by
bread alone . . .
Wis of Sol 16.26 it is not the production of crops that feeds humankind,
but that your word sustains those who trust in you.
Is 48.2 not in truth or right. For they call themselves after the holy
city . . .
52.1 Put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for the
uncircumcised and the unclean shall enter you no more.
Dan 3.28 G Blessed be the God of Shadrach . . . Who has sent his angel
and delivered his servants who trusted in him . . . Yielded up their
bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.
9.24 Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city; to
finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for
iniquity
Ps 91.11s For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you . .
.
Dt 6.16 G Do not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested him at
Massah
Is 7.12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to
the test."" Then Isaiah said, "" . . . Is it too little for you too weary
mortals, that you weary my God also?""
Dt 3.27 Look well, for you shall not cross over this Jordan.
6.13 G The Lord you God you shall fear; him you shall serve, and by his
name alone you shall swear
10.20 You shall fear the Lord your God; him alone you shall worship
32.43 G worship him, all you gods
1 Ki 19.5ss Suddenly an agel touched him and said to him, ""Get up and
eat.""
26.53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at
once send me more than twelve legions of angels?
C. Hellenistic World
Jesus, like Hercules or Odysseus, is sent out to face a great test
before he returns to claim his rightful place.
Step V - Distillation
A. Summary of Salient Features
Both Jesus and the devil know how to use scripture, but Jesus'' use of
scripture keeps him focussed on God.
B. Smooth Translation
1 Then Jesus was taken up into the wilderness by the spirit to be
tempted by the devil.
2 And having fasted forty days and forty nights, he hungered.
3 And, coming near, the tempter said to him, ""If you are the son of God,
then tell these stones to become loaves.""
4 But Jesus answered saying, ""It has been written: Not upon bread alone
shall a human live, but upon every word coming from the mouth of God.""
5 Then the devil takes him into the holy city, and stood him upon the
wing of the temple,
6 and says to him, ""If you are the son of God, cast yourself down, for
it has been written that to his angels he will give command concerning
you and on their hands they will bear you, lest you strike your foot
against a stone.""
7 Jesus said to him, ""Again it has been written: You will not tempt the
Lord your God.""
8 Again the devil takes him to a very high mountain and shows him all
the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them,
9 and said to him: ""All these things I will give to you, if, falling
down, you will worship me.""
10 Then Jesus says to him, ""Go, adversary! For it has been written: The
Lord your God you will worship and him only you will serve.""
11 Then the devil leaves him, and, behold!, angels approached and
ministered to him.
C. Hermeneutical Bridge
In our society, there seem to be many people use religion to their
advantage, either financially or otherwise. It will be helpful to ask
ourselves how we use scripture. Do we bend it to our will, or do we let
scripture bend us to God''s will?
Step VI - Contemporary Address
A. Description of Audience
This is the First Sunday of Lent. It is probably a good time to explain
Lent for those who are unfamiliar with it.
B. Intended Goals for the Address
To help us be more careful to listen to scripture, and therefore God''s
will, rather than use scripture for our purposes.
C. Address
Title: ""Serve only God""
Focus (What does the text say?): Jesus is obedient to God and God''s
purpose for his life, and scripture guides him in this obedience.
Function (How will the text affect its listeners?): To get us to
consider whether we bend scripture to our will or allow scripture to
bend us to God''s will.