Matthew 4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 4:12

Verse 12 Matthew 4:12.When Jesus had heard. These words appear to be at variance with the narrative of the Evangelist John, who declares, that John and Christ discharged the office of public teachers at the same time. But we have to observe, that our three Evangelists pass over in silence that short space of time, because John’s course was not yet completed, and because that course was intended to be a preparation for receiving the Gospel of Christ. And, in point of fact, though Christ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 4:13

Verse 13 13.And having left Nazareth I have thought it proper to introduce this passage of Matthew, immediately after Luke’s narrative, which we have just examined; because we may gather from the context that, as Christ had hitherto been wont to frequent the town of Nazareth, so, in order to avoid danger, he now bade a final adieu to it, and dwelt in Capernaum and the neighboring towns. There would be no difficulty in this history, were it not that there is some appearance, as if Matthew had... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 4:18

Verse 18 Matthew 4:18.And Jesus walking. As this history is placed by Luke after the two miracles, which we shall afterwards see, an opinion has commonly prevailed, that the miracle, which is here related by him, was performed some time after that they had been called by Christ. (336) But the reason, which they allege, carries little weight: for no fixed and distinct order of dates was observed by the Evangelists in composing their narratives. The consequence is, that they disregard the order... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 4:22

Verse 22 Matthew 4:22.And they immediately left the ship. The first thing that strikes us here is the power of Christ’s voice. Not that his voice alone makes so powerful an impression on the hearts of men: but those whom the Lord is pleased to lead and draw to himself, are inwardly addressed by his Spirit, that they may obey his voice. The second is, the commendation bestowed on the docility and ready obedience of his disciples, who prefer the call of Christ to all worldly affairs. The... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 4:23

Verse 23 Matthew 4:23.And Jesus went about all Galilee. The same statement is again made by Matthew in another place, (Matthew 9:35 .)But though Christ was constantly employed in performing almost innumerable miracles, we ought not to think it strange, that they are again mentioned, twice or thrice, in a general manner. In the words of Matthew we ought, first, to observe, that Christ never remained in one place, but scattered every where the seed of the Gospel. Again, Matthew calls it the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 4:1

Then ; temporal. Mark, "and straightway." Immediately after the descent of the Holy Ghost upon him. Was led up . into the wilderness. Up (Matthew only); from the Jordan valley into the higher country round (cf. Joshua 16:1 ), in this case into the desert ( Matthew 3:1 ). There is nothing told us by which we may identify the place, but as the scene of the temptation must have been near the scene of the baptism, namely, on the west side of Jordan ( Matthew 3:1 , note), it may be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 4:1

Christ tempted. The very fact that Christ was subject to temptation is immensely significant, both as regards his nature and life and as regards our experience of temptation. I. THE PICTURE OF CHRIST . We see him assailed by the tempter, wrestling with the fiend, and flinging the monster at every bout. Jesus tempted in the wilderness appears Very different from the Christ seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Here some remarkable features of his nature and work are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 4:1

The preliminaries of the ordeal temptations of Jesus Christ. The baptism of water, to which Jesus Christ had submitted in obedience to the human nature which he had assumed, and to the conditions under which he had assumed it, is now succeeded by the more significant, far more intrinsic, inward baptism of temptation. Let us here consider— I. WHAT THIS BAPTISM OF TEMPTATION REALLY MEANS AND AMOUNTS TO . It means a testing , practical investigation into The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 4:1

The leadings of the Spirit. Whether we are to understand an impulse from Christ's own spirit, or a direction of the Divine indwelling Spirit, need not be disputed, because the two may be regarded as included, and the relation of the one to the other may be shown. The analogy of such verses as Ezekiel 8:3 ; Acts 8:39 ; Revelation 1:10 suggests a state of ecstasy. As Bushnell expresses it, "The fact is signified that the Spirit, coming here upon him in the full revelation of his call,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 4:1

The model temptation. All the best writers hold that, whatever may have been the outward machinery of the temptation, the temptation was really a spiritual struggle. It was no model of our human temptations if it was not. Some have thought that the devil appeared as an old man, and talked with Jesus. But evidently all the things were suggestions to his mind; the first from the feeling of hunger and the sight of the stones; the others from his anxious thoughts about the modes of executing his... read more

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