Matthew 4: 1-4 Summary

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The fourth section of Matthew’s account of Jesus’ temptation is an attempt by Satan to get Jesus to worship him. MacArthur writes that “Satan drops his pretenses…and finally reveals his supreme purpose: to induce Jesus Christ to worship him.” Satan shows Christ all the kingdoms of the cosmos their glory and offers to Christ what he has shown Him if Christ were to fall down and worship Satan himself. It must be noted that to some extent, Satan’s claims have merit, as he is referred to in John 12:31 as the prince of this world. However, the devil’s claim here is rooted ultimately in idolatry. For Christ to fall down and worship Satan would be an outward expression of an inward heart issue. Christ would no longer esteem God and His word above all else, but would instead be giving merit and preference to the devil as his ultimate authority. Christ, having reached the breaking point in a sense, proclaims “Be gone, …show more content…
The book paints a picture of Jesus, creator, sustainer, savior, and redeemer of all. Though the work of salvation had not yet been completed in Matthew 4, the text does detail the initiation of Jesus’ work and ministry which was to ultimately lead to the cross. Matthew 4 ushers in God’s kingdom through a new covenant. There is a picture of inaugurated eschatology that is being presented here. Stephen Wellum and Peter Gentry outline this idea in their work God’s Kingdom through God’s Covenant,
From an Old Testament perspective there is a distinction between “this present age” – an age characterized by sin, death, and opposition to god as represented by earthly kingdoms – and “the age to come” – an age in which the covenant Lord will come to rescue his people through his Messiah and to usher in his kingdom, i.e. his saving rule and reign… “This present age” ends with the coming of the Messiah, and with his arrival dawns the “age to

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