Matthew 4

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4

In this chapter we have, A.M. 4031. A.D. 27. (1,) An account of Christ’s fasting forty days, and being afterward assaulted in three different ways by Satan, but overcoming in each assault, 1-11. (2,) Of his beginning to preach in Galilee and parts adjacent, 12-17. (3,) Of his calling disciples to attend him, viz., Peter and Andrew, James and John, 18-22. (4,) Of his miraculously healing multitudes, and being greatly followed by the people for his cures and instructions, 23-25. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:1

Matthew 4:1. Then After the afore-mentioned glorious manifestation of his Father’s love, by which he was armed for the combat. Was Jesus led by the Spirit By a strong impulse of the Spirit of God, of which he was full; into the wilderness Probably, the wilderness near Jordan, which, as Mr. Maundrell, who travelled through it, assures us, is a miserable and horrid place, consisting of high, barren mountains, so that it looks as if nature had suffered some violent convulsions there. Our... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:2

Matthew 4:2. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights As Moses, the giver, and Elias, the restorer of the law, had done before: he was afterward a hungered That is, he was as sharply assaulted with hunger, as any man is at any time for want of food. Thus he was fitted for the ensuing trial of his trust in God. And, as an ancient writer observes, We are then especially to expect temptations, when we are alone, and when we are in straits and exigencies, from which we see no... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:3

Matthew 4:3. And when the tempter came to him In a visible shape and appearance, to tempt him outwardly, as he had done inwardly before. For it appears from the account which Mark and Luke have given us of this matter, that our Lord had been tempted by the devil invisibly during the whole of the above-mentioned forty days but now, it seems, he came to him in a visible form, probably in the human, as one that desired to inquire further into the evidences of his mission. Accordingly he said, ... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:4

Matthew 4:4 . It is written There is no better way of answering the tempter, than by opposing the word of God to his temptations. This is that sword of the Spirit that must put him to flight. The Church of Rome, therefore, by taking from the people the word of God, disarm them as to the spiritual combat. Man shall not live by bread alone These words are quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3, and signify that bread, or ordinary sustenance, is not necessary to support the life of man; that God can... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:5-7

Matthew 4:5-7. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city That is, the city Jerusalem, frequently called the holy city in Scripture, see Nehemiah 11:1; Isaiah 52:1; Daniel 9:24; and that with great propriety, as being for ages the place of the special residence of Jehovah. It has been supposed by many, that Satan transported our Lord through the air, but whether he did or not cannot be determined from this passage, the original word, παραλαμβανει , signifying no more than that he... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:8-9

Matthew 4:8-9. Again the devil taketh him up In what way is not said; into an exceeding high mountain Probably one of the mountains in the wilderness, and from that eminence, partly by the advantage of the place, from which he might behold many magnificent buildings, rich fields, pleasant meadows, hills covered with wood and cattle, rivers rolling through the fertile valleys, and washing the cities as they passed along; and partly by an artful visionary representation, showeth him all... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:10

Matthew 4:10. Then saith Jesus, Get thee hence, Satan The expression, Υπαγε , Σατανα , plainly expresses Christ’s authority over Satan, as well as his detestation of so vile a suggestion: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, &c. It would therefore be unlawful to worship thee, who art no other than a mere creature, even though thou wast indeed his deputy on earth; and how much more then must it be so, as thou art, in reality, the great avowed enemy of God and man!... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:11

Matthew 4:11. Then the devil Being so baffled and confounded as not to be able to present any other temptation which seemed more likely to prevail, leaveth him Namely, for a season, as Luke observes meditating no doubt some future assault, and especially designing, by and by, to use all stratagems to take away his life. And, behold, angels came and ministered unto him Not only furnishing him with proper supplies for his hunger, but also congratulating him on so illustrious a victory... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:12

Matthew 4:12. Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison Namely, for reproving Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee, for taking his brother Philip’s wife, and for other evils, Matthew 14:3-4: he departed into Galilee Viz., from Judea. This it seems he did, partly to avoid the envy of the Pharisees, John 4:3, and partly to encourage John’s disciples, and to continue the preaching interrupted by his confinement, being desirous to improve those good impressions which the ministry... read more

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:1

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:2

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:3

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:4

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:5-7

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:8-9

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:10

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:11

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 4:12

Verse of the Day

Daily Devotional

Group of Brands