Pastor Luther Walker returns to the Gospel of Matthew, reviewing Joseph’s return from Egypt after Herod’s death and the family’s settlement in Nazareth, which connects to the prophecy of the branch from the seed of Jesse. He covers John the Baptizer’s proclamation in Matthew 3:1–12 as the voice in the wilderness preparing the way of the Lord, calling for a change of mind and immersing many, including some Pharisees and Sadducees whom he rebukes as a brood of vipers for their legalism and failure to produce fruit worthy of repentance.
Jesus comes from Galilee to the Jordan to be immersed by John (Matthew 3:13). John resists, saying he needs to be immersed by Jesus, but Jesus replies that it is fitting to fill up all righteousness—that is, to complete what is lacking. This immersion is into Christ’s priestly service according to the order of Melchizedek rather than the Levitical priesthood of Aaron (Hebrews 7:11). Priests in the Levitical system typically began service at thirty years of age (Numbers 4:3).
Immediately after the immersion, Jesus comes up from the water, the heavens open, and the Spirit of God descends like a dove and alights upon him, anointing him in his humanity for priestly service to the Father (Matthew 3:16). A voice from the third heaven declares, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” This fulfills the sign given to John that the one upon whom the Spirit descends and remains is the one who immerses with the Holy Spirit and is the Son of God (John 1:32–34). “Son of God” denotes the second person of the Godhead in a place of privilege, not merely one born from God.
Jesus is then led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for forty days and nights, after which he is hungry (Matthew 4:1–2). Temptation is not sin; sin consists in the outward act, not the thought itself. Christ was tempted yet without sin. Temptation has value only when it appeals to desire (James 1:14). The recorded temptations, though not exhaustive of the forty days, illustrate Satan’s attempt to induce a member of the Godhead to act independently.
First, Satan says, “Since you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.” Jesus answers from Deuteronomy 8:3 that man shall not live by bread alone but by every utterance that proceeds from the mouth of God. The temptation seeks to have Jesus use his deity for personal provision apart from the Father’s word.
Second, Satan takes him to the pinnacle of the temple and says, “Since you are the Son of God, throw yourself down,” citing Psalm 91:11–12 concerning angels bearing him up. Jesus replies from Deuteronomy 6:16, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” One does not put God to the test to see whether he will fail.
Third, Satan shows him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory and offers them if Jesus will fall down and worship him. Satan knows the Father’s promise in Psalm 2:8 to give the nations to the Son upon request, and he currently holds authority over the kingdoms of men as the prince of the power of the air in this malignantly evil age (Ephesians 2:2). Jesus commands, “Away with you, Satan,” and quotes Deuteronomy 6:13: “You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.” To kneel would have appeared to validate Satan’s claim to be like God, rooted in the pride described in Isaiah 14:13–14 and Ezekiel 28:17.
After the temptation the devil leaves, and angels come and minister to Jesus (Matthew 4:11).
Upon hearing that John has been imprisoned—because he rebuked Herod for marrying Herodias, his brother’s wife (Mark 6:17–18)—Jesus departs to Galilee, leaves Nazareth, and dwells in Capernaum by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali (Matthew 4:12–13). This fulfills Isaiah 9:1–2 concerning the people who sat in darkness seeing a great light in Galilee of the Gentiles.
From that time Jesus begins to herald with authority, “Change your mind, for the kingdom of the heavens is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). Prior to John’s imprisonment Jesus had proclaimed the kingdom of God; afterward he proclaims the kingdom of the heavens, which John had already been announcing. The kingdom of the heavens is the regal reign from the heavens over the earth, as illustrated in Daniel 4:17 and 26 where the Most High rules in the kingdom of men through the decrees of the watchers. Watchers are angels, some unfallen and some fallen, who convey heavenly decrees concerning earthly kingdoms (for example, the lying spirit in 1 Kings 22:19–23). The kingdom of God, by contrast, relates to the Spirit of God’s authority concerning salvation and is distinct from divine sovereignty. Distinctions that cannot be reconciled indicate separate realities.
The teaching concludes by pointing to further examination of the kingdom of God and directs listeners to wordofgracestudies.org for verse-by-verse resources and to thechristianlife.org for ongoing Bible teaching.
