Matthew 4:1

MATT. 4

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. (Matthew 4:1)

Led up of the Spirit ... does not mean that the Spirit provided the temptation, because God does not tempt any man (James 1:13). However, the Holy Spirit did desire that Jesus' temptation should take place at this particular time. Jesus' two great temptations were this one in the wilderness and that in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:42; Matthew 26:39); but he was tempted at other times (Luke 4:13), and perhaps at ALL times (Hebrews 2:18).

Into the wilderness ... Dummelow saw in this wilderness temptation a contrast to the temptation of the first Adam. "The temptation of the first Adam took place in a garden ... the temptation of the second Adam took place in a wilderness."[1] The fruits and flowers of Eden contrast with the wild beasts and the disorder of the howling wilderness. Thus, the victory of Christ was made more wonderful.

To be tempted of the devil ... The identity and person of Satan have long afforded fruitful fields for conjecture; although, in the present generation, there is a widespread tendency to reduce Satan to the status of a mere influence, or personification of evil.[2] However, it is plainly declared in the Holy Scriptures that Satan is actually a person, a being higher in the order of creation than man, but fallen from his first estate (Jude 1:1:6). Satan is held in awe even by angels and appears to have been cast out of his domain because of conceit and ambition (1 Timothy 3:6). Satan is the enemy that sows tares (Matthew 13:28); snatches the word out of men's hearts (Matthew 13:19); and, by means of countless snares and devices, takes men captive to do the devil's will (2 Timothy 2:26). Nevertheless, Satan is restricted and limited. He does not share control of the universe with God and may not even tempt one little child of God more than the child is able to bear (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Temptation is in itself no sin. This is implicit in the fact that Christ was tempted. The oft-repeated lie of Satan that it is as wrong to desire to do evil as it is actually to do evil is frustrated by this passage. It is not temptation to do wrong that constitutes sin, but YIELDING to that temptation.

[1] J. R. Dummelow, One Volume Commentary (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1937), p. 632.

[2] H. Leo Boles, Commentary on Matthew (Nashville, Tennessee: The Gospel Advocate Company, 1961), p. 96.