Links: On-Screen Version | Homepage | Rapture Letter | Verses of the Day | Site Map
“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”
Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively. Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior. Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
This webpage could be periodically updated. If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated. Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.
Below are links related to archived copies of this webpage.
archive.is/John314-16.com/Matthew_4-4_and_the_Other_Verses_of_Matthew_4-1–11-Print_Version.html
archive.ph/John314-16.com/Matthew_4-4_and_the_Other_Verses_of_Matthew_4-1–11-Print_Version.html
Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.
When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:
“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Note: The heart refers to the mind.
It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:
“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”
It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”
A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned. In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher. Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:
If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship: whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.
Note: Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites. Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM]. The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges. The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity. The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness. In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human. When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god. Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.
The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind. In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests. The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:
Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession. Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram. Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:
Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.
The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:
Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. Also, it is still much more evident: that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life. Indeed, it is attested: “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”
Note: The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah. Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body. The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.
Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest. In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family. Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:
However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE. You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
Note: Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people. In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people. The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23. In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.
Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Put succinctly: itʼs the message rather than the messenger. In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
*Note: The word says is in the Greek historical present tense. By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.
Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated. That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:
The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.
Note: The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”
Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. While it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur on a day other than the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah. Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah, one can be prepared for that day because of already being in the habit of being prepared. Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life. Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.
Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
1 Corinthians 15:51–52
Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation. The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic. In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.
1 Thessalonians 5:1–11
Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober. Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Note: In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent. In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context. Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!” In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness. The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture. In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation. Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.
The verse of the day for July 12th is Matthew 4:4. The title of the book Matthew is also known as “The Gospel According to Matthew.” The book Matthew was written by the apostle Matthew.
For geographical context, below is a link to a map of Israel during the time of the Lord Jesus Christʼs First Advent (also known as the Incarnation). The First Advent was during a time when the region where Jerusalem was located was an occupied province of the Roman Empire. The name of that Roman province was Judea [joo-DEE-uh or joo-DAY-uh]. The word Judea can also be spelled Judaea or Judæa. The character æ is a ligature [LIG-uh-chuhr or LIG-uh-choor] of a and e. Before the Romans conquered the region known as Judea, the name of the country of the Jewish people was Judah. The inhabitants of Judah can be referred to as Judahites [JOO-duh-ights]. The inhabitants of Judea can be referred to as Judeans [joo-DEE-uhnz or joo-DAY-uhnz]. On that map, Judea is located in grid coordinates B6, C6, B7, and C7. For reference, Jerusalem is located at grid coordinate C6.
https://Classic.NET.Bible.org/images/maps/nt1.jpg
If the above link is inaccessible, the below link can be tried instead.
https://NETBible.org/media/images/maps/nt1.jpg
Because it is useful to study verses that share the same context, below is content related to Matthew 4:1–11. The words of the Lord Jesus Christ are in red.
Matthew 4:1
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Note: Each Member of the Trinity performs a different role. Regarding the roles of the Members of the Trinity, God the Father does the planning, God the Son executes the plan, and God the Holy Spirit reveals the plan. The Lord Jesus Christ is God the Son. With regard to revealing, God the Holy Spirit led the Lord Jesus Christ into the wilderness. Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is how that leading occurred.
The Lord Jesus Christ is 100% Deity and 100% humanity. The Lord being 100% Deity and 100% humanity can be referred to using the term hypostatic union [high-PUH-stat-ick YOON-yuhn]. The English word hypostatic is derived from the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek word ὑπόστασις [pronounced hoo-PAH-stah-sees and transliterated as hypostasis].
The tempting referenced in Matthew 4:1 refers to the Lordʼs humanity being tempted. In that regard, the Lord laid aside His privileges as a Member of the Trinity in order for the Lord to take on the form of a human being. This is called the doctrine of kenosis [keh-NOH-siss]. The word kenosis is a theological term that refers to the Lord Jesus Christ refraining from using His divine essence for the purpose of glorifying Himself, sustaining Himself, or helping Himself in any way, shape, or form during the Incarnation (the First Advent). The word kenosis is derived from the Koine Greek verb κενόω [pronounced keh-NAH-oh and transliterated as kenoō].
As a human, the Lord experienced temptation. Also, as a human, He experienced suffering. Included in that suffering was physical hardship.
The devil is also known as Satan. Satan is a narcissist. One of the things that some narcissists do is tempt others. God the Father graciously permitted Satan to tempt the Lord Jesus Christ.
Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ need to be alert regarding temptations. Being alert for temptations can help a believer avoid falling prey to narcissists. In order to be alert for temptations, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ needs to have knowledge of the Word of God, and the believer needs to be alert with regard to obeying the Word of God. In order to have knowledge of the Word of God, a believer must learn the Word of God while in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit. In that regard, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again, in fellowship with the Trinity again, and ready to learn the Word of God again.
In order to be alert with regard to obeying the Word of God, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, as mentioned in the above paragraph. Also, levels of alertness can be categorized in terms of a mindset color code that involves four colors. The mindset color code describes states of awareness. The mindset color code can be utilized for matters outside oneself; for example, the color code can be applied to both physical dangers and also to the dangers of stumbling blocks that can lead a Christian to sin. Also, the color code can be utilized introspectively with regard to the temptations that can originate from oneʼs old sin nature (OSN). Every human except the Lord Jesus Christ has acquired an old sin nature, and each humanʼs old sin nature is in the body of that human. The old sin nature, which is referenced in Ephesians 4:22 with the term old man, can also be referred to as the sin nature. It is also referenced using the word flesh in Ephesians 2:3 and Galatians 5:16. The content of Romans 6:6 associates the sin nature with peopleʼs bodies, and the content of Romans 7:17–18 references the sin nature being in peopleʼs bodies. Adam and Ishshah [ish-SHAW] (the name of Eve before Adam renamed her Eve) were created without old sin natures, and they acquired old sin natures when they sinned. All other human beings have been conceived. Only the Lord Jesus Christ was conceived without an old sin nature. All the other humans that were conceived have been conceived with old sin natures. Likewise, all humans in the future will be conceived, and the conceiving of each of them will involve each of them receiving an old sin nature at the moment that each of them will be conceived. Below are the conditions of alertness of the mindset color code and descriptions of them.
|
Condition White: |
Unaware and unprepared, one is totally oblivious to what is going on. |
|
|
|
|
Condition Yellow: |
Relaxed alert—no specific threat is detected, but one is “taking in” surrounding info—the mindset in which one is aware that one might have to deal with danger today. |
|
|
|
|
Condition Orange: |
Specific alert—something is not quite right and has oneʼs attention. It might be something having to be dealt with right now. One gets mentally prepared to act, just in case. |
|
|
|
|
Condition Red: |
The potential danger of Condition Orange is determined to be a real danger. It is definitely something having to be dealt with right now. One acts immediately. |
The content of Matthew 4:1 is repeated below for reference.
Matthew 4:1
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Matthew 4:2
Then having fasted forty days and forty nights, He afterwards was hungry.
Note: The use of the verb fasted in this verse refers to refraining from eating. The Koine Greek verb that is translated as “fasted” in this verse is νηστεύσας [pronounced nay-STYOO-sahs and transliterated as nēsteusas]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word νηστεύω [pronounced nay-STYOO-oh and transliterated as nēsteuō]. The verb nēsteuō is derived from the Koine Greek noun νῆστις [pronounced NAY-stees and transliterated as nēstis]. The noun nēstis is derived from an inseparable negative particle and a verb. An inseparable negative particle is a particle that is attached to words rather than being an unattached word by itself. Regarding the noun nēstis being derived from an inseparable negative particle and a verb, that inseparable negative particle is νη [pronounced NAY and transliterated as nē], and that verb is ἐσθίω [pronounced ehs-THEE-oh and transliterated as esthiō]. The verb esthiō means “to eat.” In that regard, the noun nēstis refers to refraining from eating. Likewise, the verb nēsteuō refers to refraining from eating.
Refraining from eating can free up time to be spent on other activities. In that regard, refraining from eating can free up time that can then be used to pray for a longer period of time than would be spent praying on occasions when time is spent eating. Likewise, refraining from eating can free up time that can then be used to study the Word of God for a longer period of time than would be spent studying the Word of God on occasions when time is spent eating.
The number forty appears a number of times in the Bible. For example, when Noah and his family were in the ark during the Flood, rain fell for forty days and forty nights. Also, forty years elapsed from the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt until the Israelites entered the Promised Land. In addition, after the Lord was resurrected after having been judged on the cross for the sins of humanity, He appeared in His resurrection body for forty days before ascending to Heaven (also known as the Third Heaven or Third Heavens), which is where the throne room of God the Father is located. The term first heavens (also known as first heaven) refers to the atmosphere of the earth. The term second heavens (also known as second heaven) refers to outer space.
Matthew 4:3
Then the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God—and You are indeed the Son of God—command that these stones become bread.”
Note: The tempter is Satan. Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is the means by which Satan traveled. Also, Satan recognized that the Lord Jesus Christ is God the Son. Satan is callous. In that regard, Satanʼs callousness is revealed by him tempting the Lord to turn stones into bread when the Lord had fasted for forty days and forty nights.
Matthew 4:4
Nevertheless, He answered and said, “It is written: ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.ʼ”
Note: The content of Matthew 4:4 references Deuteronomy 8:3. The content of Deuteronomy 8:3 involves Moses speaking to the Israelites. In that regard, below is content related to Deuteronomy 8:3.
Deuteronomy 8:3
“He humbles you and lets you be hungry and feeds you with manna which you have not known nor have your fathers known, in order to cause you to know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.”
Note: Manna [MAN-uh] is the food that, during the time that the Israelites wandered around in the wilderness after the Exodus, appeared on the ground for the Israelites every morning except Saturday mornings. In the Bible, manna is first mentioned in Exodus 16. Not only did manna provide for the physical needs of the Israelites who ate it, but also the provision of the manna for the Israelites teaches believers in the Lord Jesus Christ that God the Fatherʼs plan involves provision for believers to be sustained, even in the midst of challenges. In that regard, manna provides a spiritual lesson for believers.
Regarding the word spiritual, at the moment of salvation, each believer in the Lord Jesus Christ receives a human spirit, which is a believerʼs essence that involves thinking of Bible doctrine—in other words, thinking that involves the Word of God. An unbeliever lacks a human spirit. In contrast with a human spirit, a soul is a personʼs essence that involves thinking in general. Each unbeliever has a body and soul; therefore, unbelievers are dichotomous [digh-KAHT-uh-muhs]. Each believer has a body, soul, and human spirit; therefore, believers are trichotomous [trigh-KAHT-uh-muhs].
Some people incorrectly believe that an emotionally out-of-control state is spiritual. Similarly, some people incorrectly believe that spirituality involves following oneʼs feelings. In reality, following oneʼs feelings involves following the temptations of oneʼs old sin nature. Regarding the foregoing, the Biblical usage of the word spiritual refers to a believer who is in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit.
Regarding the content of Deuteronomy 8:3 and the content of Matthew 4:4, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ need to learn and obey the Word of God. In order to learn the Word of God, a believer must be in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit while the believer is studying the Word of God. Also, in order to obey the Word of God, a believer must be in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit. In that regard, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again, in fellowship with the Trinity again, and ready to learn and obey the Word of God again.
Typically, people eat food every day. In that regard, it is worthwhile for each believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to study the Word of God every day, to the extent that it is possible to do so. Also, it is worthwhile for each believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to pray to God the Father that He have God the Son control circumstances for that believer such that that believer has enough time to study the Word of God every day.
Matthew 4:5
Then the devil takes* Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the Temple
*Note: The word takes is in the Greek historical present tense. By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs. In this verse, past action is being described.
The holy city is Jerusaelem. Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is the means by which Satan took the Lord into Jerusalem. Also unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is whether anyone saw Satan and the Lord while Satan and the Lord were traveling.
The Second Temple is the Temple referenced in this verse. King Solomon, the third king of Israel, had had the First Temple built. That Temple can also be called Solomonʼs Temple. Many years later, in 586 B.C., the First Temple was destroyed by soldiers of the Babylonian Empire (also known as the Chaldean [kal-DEE-uhn] Empire) when that empire was ruled by Nebuchadnezzar [neb-oo-kad-NEZ-ahr or neb-uh-kuhd-NEZ-uhr or neb-yuh-kuhd-NEZ-uhr] (also known in English as Nebuchadrezzar [neb-oo-kad-REZ-ahr or neb-uh-kuhd-REZ-uhr or neb-yuh-kuhd-REZ-uhr]). Nebuchadnezzar later became a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior. Because Nebuchadnezzar believed in the Lord as the Savior before the Lord was born as the Human the Lord Jesus Christ, Nebuchadnezzar did not necessarily know what the Lordʼs name would be. The same applies to any believer in the Lord as the Savior before the Lord was born.
After the destruction of the First Temple, the Second Temple was built. It was eventually larger than the First Temple. The Second Temple existed during the time of the First Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Second Temple can also be called Herodʼs Temple because King Herod, the ruler of Judea under the authority of the Romans, had construction work done in order to expand the Second Temple.
Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is what part of the Temple was the pinnacle. Regardless of what part of the Temple was the pinnacle, the content of verse 6 indicates that the pinnacle was high up. Also unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is the means by which Satan took the Lord to the pinnacle of the Temple. In addition, unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is whether anyone saw Satan and the Lord while Satan and the Lord were traveling to the pinnacle of the Temple. Furthermore, unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is whether anyone saw Satan and the Lord while Satan and the Lord were on the pinnacle of the Temple
Matthew 4:6
and says* to Him, “If You are the Son of God—and You are indeed the Son of God—throw Yourself down, for it is written: ‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’ and ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’”
*Note: The word says is in the Greek historical present tense. In that regard, past action is being described in this verse. Also, the content of Matthew 4:6 references Psalm 91:11–12. In that regard, below is content related to Psalm 91:11–12.
Psalm 91:11
Certainly, He gives His angels charge concerning you, to guard/protect/keep you in all your ways.
Note: This verse and the next one indicate that there are guardian angels who protect believers. Unspecified are the details regarding how and from what the guardian angels provide the protection.
Psalm 91:12
They bear you up in their hands so that you do not strike your foot against a stone.
Note: The Hebrew word translated as “bear up” in this verse is יִשָּׂאוּ [pronounced yee-sah-OO and can be transliterated as yissa'u], which is an inflected form of the root word נָשָׂא [pronounced nah-SAH and can be transliterated as nasa']. (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.) Also, the content of Matthew 4:5–7 and the content of Luke 4:9–12 cover Satan distorting Psalm 91:11–12 when Satan was tempting the Lord Jesus Christ. In that regard, Satan tried to get the Lord to put Himself into a dangerous situation when it was unnecessary for the Lord to put Himself into a dangerous situation. With that in mind, a believer should refrain from putting himself or herself into a dangerous situation when it is unnecessary to put himself or herself into a dangerous situation. If a believer puts himself or herself into a dangerous situation when it is unnecessary to put himself or herself into a dangerous situation, God the Father might have the guardian angels stop protecting such a believer. In that regard, when Satan tempted the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord refrained from putting Himself into a dangerous situation when it was unnecessary for the Lord to put Himself into a dangerous situation.
Satan is a liar. He distorts the truth, mixing lies with it; the resultant mixtures are lies. Also, Satan can be subtle in his distortions.
The content of Joshua 2 covers the matter of two Israelite spies in the land of Canaan being protected by the woman Rahab at Jericho. In order to protect those innocent Israelites, Rahab hid them and lied to people who were working for the king of Jericho. Rahab thereby deceived those people who were working for the king of Jericho. In that regard, absent from the Bible is any condemnation of Rahab for engaging in deception in order to try to protect the innocent.
The content of 2 Samuel 15:31–37 and the content of 2 Samuel 17:14–16 cover the matter of King Davidʼs friend Hushai deceiving Davidʼs evil son Absalom and people who supported Absalom in his revolution against David. The content of 2 Samuel 15:31–36 covers David requesting that Hushai engage in that deception. The content of 2 Samuel 15:37 and the content of 2 Samuel 17:14–15 cover Hushai engaging in that deception. The content of 2 Samuel 17:16 covers the matter of that deception being for the purpose of protecting the innocent. In that regard, absent from the Bible is any condemnation of Hushai for engaging in deception in order to try to protect the innocent. Likewise, absent from the Bible is any condemnation of David for requesting that Hushai engage in deception in order to try to protect the innocent.
The content of 2 Samuel 17:17–22 covers the matter of a woman protecting two men who were working for David in Davidʼs struggle against Davidʼs evil son Absalom and the people who supported Absalom in his revolution against David. In order to protect those innocent men, the woman hid them and lied to servants of Absalom. That woman thereby deceived those servants of Absalom. In that regard, absent from the Bible is any condemnation of that woman for engaging in deception in order to try to protect the innocent.
In contrast to the aforementioned examples of people attempting to deceive in order to try to protect the innocent, Satanʼs attempts to deceive are motivated by selfishness. Satan is a narcissist. Other narcissists are also motivated by selfishness.
Regarding believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and the matter of trying to deceive, if a believer who is trying to deceive is motivated by selfishness, then that believer is sinning. If one is unable to determine whether one is being selfish while engaging in deception, one can analyze whether one feels content or discontent. Another way to determine whether one is being selfish while engaging in deception is to analyze whether circumstances beyond oneʼs control are occurring and whether those circumstances are discipline from God the Son. God the Father does the planning, and God the Son carries out the plans of God the Father. If one is uncertain whether one is being selfish while engaging in deception, then one should refrain from engaging in that particular deception. Also, in such a case, one should—in accordance with 1 John 1:9—confess/acknowledge to God the Father that engaging in deception: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” While a believer might be uncertain about whether or not something that that believer thinks, says, or does is a sin, if that believer confesses/acknowledges to God the Father what that believer thought, said, or did, and if what that believer thought, said, or did was indeed a sin, God the Father will forgive that believer for what that believer confessed/acknowledged to God the Father, and God the Father will forgive that believer for all of those of the believerʼs unconfessed post-salvation sins that are unknown to that believer. The phrase and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness in 1 John 1:9 references God the Father forgiving a believerʼs unconfessed post-salvation sins that are unknown to that believer when that believer confesses/acknowledges to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins.
Matthew 4:7
Jesus said to him, “On the other hand / Again, it is written: ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’”
Note: The content of Matthew 4:7 references Deuteronomy 6:16. Deuteronomy 6:16 involves Moses speaking to the Israelites. In that regard, below is content related to Deuteronomy 6:16.
Deuteronomy 6:16
“You do not put Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One your 'Elohiym [el-oh-HEEM] / Godhead to the test, as you have tested at Massah.
Note: The use of the present tense in Deuteronomy 6:16 is for the purpose of giving a command.
Matthew 4:8
Again, the devil takes* Him to a very high mountain and shows* Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory,
*Note: The word takes and the word shows are in the Greek historical present tense. In that regard, past action is being described in this verse. Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is the means by which Satan took the Lord to a very high mountain. Also unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is whether the use of the word mountain in this verse literally refers to a mountain or metaphorically refers to a very high place. Regardless of whether the use of the word mountain in this verse literally refers to a mountain or metaphorically refers to a very high place, Satan had the ability to take the Lord up high such that Satan could show the Lord all of the kingdoms of the world. In that regard, unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is whether all of the kingdoms of the world were simultaneously visible to Satan and the Lord, whether Satan and the Lord watched the kingdoms of the world pass by as the earth rotated, whether Satan and the Lord flew around in the atmosphere of the earth in order to look at the kingdoms of the world, whether Satan and the Lord were orbiting the earth above the atmosphere while looking at the kingdoms of the world, or whether Satan and the Lord were looking at the kingdoms of the world by some other means. Regardless of the means by which Satan and the Lord looked at the kingdoms of the world, this verse indicates that Satan showed all of the kingdoms of the world and their glory to the Lord.
Matthew 4:9
and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You fall down and prostrate Yourself / worship me.”
Note: On the occasion described in this verse, Satan was haughty by showing off the fact that the world was Satanʼs domain at that time and by communicating that Satan could give all of the kingdoms of the world to the Lord. Satan also exhibited haughtiness by even daring to speak the temptations that he spoke to the Lord. Regarding the world being Satanʼs domain then, Satan has been the ruler of the world since the Fall of Adam, and Satan will continue to be the ruler of the world until the Lord Jesus Christ returns to the earth on the occasion of the Second Advent.
Satan wanted the Lord to worship Satan. In that regard, to prostrate oneself means to lie flat on the ground face downward as an act of revering someone or submitting to someone. Satan was irreverent towards the Lord by refraining from worshiping the Lord and instead tempting the Lord to worship Satan.
Matthew 4:10
Then Jesus says* to him, “Go, Satan, for it is written: ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’”
*Note: The word says is in the Greek historical present tense. In that regard, past action is being described in this verse. Also, the content of Matthew 4:10 references Deuteronomy 6:13. In that regard, below is content of Deuteronomy 6:13.
Deuteronomy 6:13
“You yare' [yah-RAY] / יָרֵא / fear / respect / revere / reverence Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One your 'Elohiym/Godhead, and you serve Him, and you make a solemn oath by His name.
Note: The uses of the present tense in Deuteronomy 6:13 are for the purpose of giving commands.
Matthew 4:11
Then the devil leaves* Him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to Him.
*Note: The word leaves is in the Greek historical present tense. In that regard, past action is being described in this verse. Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is the means by which Satan traveled when he left. Also, unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is the means by which the angels who ministered to the Lord Jesus Christ traveled to Him. Regarding those angels ministering to the Lord, they helped Him with regard to the physical condition of His humanity as a result of Him having fasted for forty days. Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is the means by which those angels did the helping of the Lord regarding His physical condition. Regardless of the means by which those angels did the helping of the Lord regarding His physical condition, the content of this verse calls attention to the Lord experiencing physical suffering as a human being.
Sincerely,
John
