Bible

 

Matthew 4

Studie

   

1 τοτε G5119 ADV ο G3588 T-NSM ιησους G2424 N-NSM ανηχθη G321 G5681 V-API-3S εις G1519 P EP την G3588 T-ASF ερημον G2048 A-ASF υπο G5259 P EP του G3588 T-GSN πνευματος G4151 N-GSN πειρασθηναι G3985 G5683 V-APN υπο G5259 P EP του G3588 T-GSM διαβολου G1228 A-GSM

2 και G2532 CONJ νηστευσας G3522 G5660 V-AAP-NSM ημερας G2250 N-APF τεσσαρακοντα G5062 A-NUI και G2532 CONJ νυκτας G3571 N-APF τεσσαρακοντα G5062 A-NUI υστερον G5305 ADV επεινασεν G3983 G5656 V-AAI-3S

3 και G2532 CONJ προσελθων G4334 G5631 V-2AAP-NSM αυτω G846 P-DSM ο G3588 T-NSM πειραζων G3985 G5723 V-PAP-NSM ειπεν G2036 G5627 V-2AAI-3S ει G1487 COND υιος G5207 N-NSM ει G1488 G5748 V-PXI-2S του G3588 T-GSM θεου G2316 N-GSM ειπε G2036 G5628 V-2AAM-2S ινα G2443 CONJ οι G3588 T-NPM λιθοι G3037 N-NPM ουτοι G3778 D-NPM αρτοι G740 N-NPM γενωνται G1096 G5638 V-2ADS-3P

4 ο G3588 T-NSM δε G1161 CONJ αποκριθεις G611 G5679 V-AOP-NSM ειπεν G2036 G5627 V-2AAI-3S γεγραπται G1125 G5769 V- PI-3S ουκ G3756 P T-N επ G1909 P EP αρτω G740 N-DSM μονω G3441 A-DSM ζησεται G2198 G5695 V-FDI-3S ανθρωπος G444 N-NSM αλλ G235 CONJ επι G1909 P EP παντι G3956 A-DSN ρηματι G4487 N-DSN εκπορευομενω G1607 G5740 V-PNP-DSN δια G1223 P EP στοματος G4750 N-GSN θεου G2316 N-GSM

5 τοτε G5119 ADV παραλαμβανει G3880 G5719 V-PAI-3S αυτον G846 P-ASM ο G3588 T-NSM διαβολος G1228 A-NSM εις G1519 P EP την G3588 T-ASF αγιαν G40 A-ASF πολιν G4172 N-ASF και G2532 CONJ ιστησιν G2476 G5719 V-PAI-3S αυτον G846 P-ASM επι G1909 P EP το G3588 T-ASN πτερυγιον G4419 N-ASN του G3588 T-GSN ιερου G2411 N-GSN

6 και G2532 CONJ λεγει G3004 G5719 V-PAI-3S αυτω G846 P-DSM ει G1487 COND υιος G5207 N-NSM ει G1488 G5748 V-PXI-2S του G3588 T-GSM θεου G2316 N-GSM βαλε G906 G5628 V-2AAM-2S σεαυτον G4572 F-2ASM κατω G2736 P EP γεγραπται G1125 G5769 V- PI-3S γαρ G1063 CONJ οτι G3754 CONJ τοις G3588 T-DPM αγγελοις G32 N-DPM αυτου G846 P-GSM εντελειται G1781 G5699 V-FNI-3S περι G4012 P EP σου G4675 P-2GS και G2532 CONJ επι G1909 P EP χειρων G5495 N-GPF αρουσιν G142 G5692 V-FAI-3P σε G4571 P-2AS μηποτε G3379 ADV προσκοψης G4350 G5661 V-AAS-2S προς G4314 P EP λιθον G3037 N-ASM τον G3588 T-ASM ποδα G4228 N-ASM σου G4675 P-2GS

7 εφη G5346 G5713 V-IXI-3S αυτω G846 P-DSM ο G3588 T-NSM ιησους G2424 N-NSM παλιν G3825 ADV γεγραπται G1125 G5769 V- PI-3S ουκ G3756 P T-N εκπειρασεις G1598 G5692 V-FAI-2S κυριον G2962 N-ASM τον G3588 T-ASM θεον G2316 N-ASM σου G4675 P-2GS

8 παλιν G3825 ADV παραλαμβανει G3880 G5719 V-PAI-3S αυτον G846 P-ASM ο G3588 T-NSM διαβολος G1228 A-NSM εις G1519 P EP ορος G3735 N-ASN υψηλον G5308 A-ASN λιαν G3029 ADV και G2532 CONJ δεικνυσιν G1166 G5719 V-PAI-3S αυτω G846 P-DSM πασας G3956 A-APF τας G3588 T-APF βασιλειας G932 N-APF του G3588 T-GSM κοσμου G2889 N-GSM και G2532 CONJ την G3588 T-ASF δοξαν G1391 N-ASF αυτων G846 P-GPF

9 και G2532 CONJ λεγει G3004 G5719 V-PAI-3S αυτω G846 P-DSM ταυτα G5023 D-APN παντα G3956 A-APN σοι G4671 P-2DS δωσω G1325 G5692 V-FAI-1S εαν G1437 COND πεσων G4098 G5631 V-2AAP-NSM προσκυνησης G4352 G5661 V-AAS-2S μοι G3427 P-1DS

10 τοτε G5119 ADV λεγει G3004 G5719 V-PAI-3S αυτω G846 P-DSM ο G3588 T-NSM ιησους G2424 N-NSM υπαγε G5217 G5720 V-PAM-2S οπισω G3694 ADV μου G3450 P-1GS σατανα G4567 N-VSM γεγραπται G1125 G5769 V- PI-3S γαρ G1063 CONJ κυριον G2962 N-ASM τον G3588 T-ASM θεον G2316 N-ASM σου G4675 P-2GS προσκυνησεις G4352 G5692 V-FAI-2S και G2532 CONJ αυτω G846 P-DSM μονω G3441 A-DSM λατρευσεις G3000 G5692 V-FAI-2S

11 τοτε G5119 ADV αφιησιν G863 G5719 V-PAI-3S αυτον G846 P-ASM ο G3588 T-NSM διαβολος G1228 A-NSM και G2532 CONJ ιδου G2400 G5628 V-2AAM-2S αγγελοι G32 N-NPM προσηλθον G4334 G5656 V-AAI-3P και G2532 CONJ διηκονουν G1247 G5707 V-IAI-3P αυτω G846 P-DSM

12 ακουσας G191 G5660 V-AAP-NSM δε G1161 CONJ ο G3588 T-NSM ιησους G2424 N-NSM οτι G3754 CONJ ιωαννης G2491 N-NSM παρεδοθη G3860 G5681 V-API-3S ανεχωρησεν G402 G5656 V-AAI-3S εις G1519 P EP την G3588 T-ASF γαλιλαιαν G1056 N-ASF

13 και G2532 CONJ καταλιπων G2641 G5631 V-2AAP-NSM την G3588 T-ASF ναζαρετ G3478 N-P I ελθων G2064 G5631 V-2AAP-NSM κατωκησεν G2730 G5656 V-AAI-3S εις G1519 P EP καπερναουμ G2584 N-P I την G3588 T-ASF παραθαλασσιαν G3864 A-ASF εν G1722 P EP οριοις G3725 N-DPN ζαβουλων G2194 N-P I και G2532 CONJ νεφθαλειμ G3508 N-P I

14 ινα G2443 CONJ πληρωθη G4137 G5686 V-APS-3S το G3588 T-NSN ρηθεν G4483 G5685 V-APP-NSN δια G1223 P EP ησαιου G2268 N-GSM του G3588 T-GSM προφητου G4396 N-GSM λεγοντος G3004 G5723 V-PAP-GSN

15 γη G1093 N-VSF ζαβουλων G2194 N-P I και G2532 CONJ γη G1093 N-VSF νεφθαλειμ G3508 N-P I οδον G3598 N-ASF θαλασσης G2281 N-GSF περαν G4008 ADV του G3588 T-GSM ιορδανου G2446 N-GSM γαλιλαια G1056 N-VSF των G3588 T-GPN εθνων G1484 N-GPN

16 ο G3588 T-NSM λαος G2992 N-NSM ο G3588 T-NSM καθημενος G2521 G5740 V-PNP-NSM εν G1722 P EP σκοτει G4655 N-DSN ειδεν G3708 G5627 V-2AAI-3S φως G5457 N-ASN μεγα G3173 A-ASN και G2532 CONJ τοις G3588 T-DPM καθημενοις G2521 G5740 V-PNP-DPM εν G1722 P EP χωρα G5561 N-DSF και G2532 CONJ σκια G4639 N-DSF θανατου G2288 N-GSM φως G5457 N-NSN ανετειλεν G393 G5656 V-AAI-3S αυτοις G846 P-DPM

17 απο G575 P EP τοτε G5119 ADV ηρξατο G756 G5662 V-ADI-3S ο G3588 T-NSM ιησους G2424 N-NSM κηρυσσειν G2784 G5721 V-PAN και G2532 CONJ λεγειν G3004 G5721 V-PAN μετανοειτε G3340 G5720 V-PAM-2P ηγγικεν G1448 G5758 V- AI-3S γαρ G1063 CONJ η G3588 T-NSF βασιλεια G932 N-NSF των G3588 T-GPM ουρανων G3772 N-GPM

18 περιπατων G4043 G5723 V-PAP-NSM δε G1161 CONJ παρα G3844 P EP την G3588 T-ASF θαλασσαν G2281 N-ASF της G3588 T-GSF γαλιλαιας G1056 N-GSF ειδεν G1492 G5627 V-2AAI-3S δυο G1417 A-NUI αδελφους G80 N-APM σιμωνα G4613 N-ASM τον G3588 T-ASM λεγομενον G3004 G5746 V-PPP-ASM πετρον G4074 N-ASM και G2532 CONJ ανδρεαν G406 N-ASM τον G3588 T-ASM αδελφον G80 N-ASM αυτου G846 P-GSM βαλλοντας G906 G5723 V-PAP-APM αμφιβληστρον G293 N-ASN εις G1519 P EP την G3588 T-ASF θαλασσαν G2281 N-ASF ησαν G2258 G5713 V-IXI-3P γαρ G1063 CONJ αλιεις G231 N-NPM

19 και G2532 CONJ λεγει G3004 G5719 V-PAI-3S αυτοις G846 P-DPM δευτε G1205 G5773 V-XXM-2P οπισω G3694 ADV μου G3450 P-1GS και G2532 CONJ ποιησω G4160 G5692 V-FAI-1S υμας G5209 P-2AP αλιεις G231 N-APM ανθρωπων G444 N-GPM

20 οι G3588 T-NPM δε G1161 CONJ ευθεως G2112 ADV αφεντες G863 G5631 V-2AAP-NPM τα G3588 T-APN δικτυα G1350 N-APN ηκολουθησαν G190 G5656 V-AAI-3P αυτω G846 P-DSM

21 και G2532 CONJ προβας G4260 G5631 V-2AAP-NSM εκειθεν G1564 ADV ειδεν G1492 G5627 V-2AAI-3S αλλους G243 A-APM δυο G1417 A-NUI αδελφους G80 N-APM ιακωβον G2385 N-ASM τον G3588 T-ASM του G3588 T-GSM ζεβεδαιου G2199 N-GSM και G2532 CONJ ιωαννην G2491 N-ASM τον G3588 T-ASM αδελφον G80 N-ASM αυτου G846 P-GSM εν G1722 P EP τω G3588 T-DSN πλοιω G4143 N-DSN μετα G3326 P EP ζεβεδαιου G2199 N-GSM του G3588 T-GSM πατρος G3962 N-GSM αυτων G846 P-GPM καταρτιζοντας G2675 G5723 V-PAP-APM τα G3588 T-APN δικτυα G1350 N-APN αυτων G846 P-GPM και G2532 CONJ εκαλεσεν G2564 G5656 V-AAI-3S αυτους G846 P-APM

22 οι G3588 T-NPM δε G1161 CONJ ευθεως G2112 ADV αφεντες G863 G5631 V-2AAP-NPM το G3588 T-ASN πλοιον G4143 N-ASN και G2532 CONJ τον G3588 T-ASM πατερα G3962 N-ASM αυτων G846 P-GPM ηκολουθησαν G190 G5656 V-AAI-3P αυτω G846 P-DSM

23 και G2532 CONJ περιηγεν G4013 G5707 V-IAI-3S ολην G3650 A-ASF την G3588 T-ASF γαλιλαιαν G1056 N-ASF ο G3588 T-NSM ιησους G2424 N-NSM διδασκων G1321 G5723 V-PAP-NSM εν G1722 P EP ταις G3588 T-DPF συναγωγαις G4864 N-DPF αυτων G846 P-GPM και G2532 CONJ κηρυσσων G2784 G5723 V-PAP-NSM το G3588 T-ASN ευαγγελιον G2098 N-ASN της G3588 T-GSF βασιλειας G932 N-GSF και G2532 CONJ θεραπευων G2323 G5723 V-PAP-NSM πασαν G3956 A-ASF νοσον G3554 N-ASF και G2532 CONJ πασαν G3956 A-ASF μαλακιαν G3119 N-ASF εν G1722 P EP τω G3588 T-DSM λαω G2992 N-DSM

24 και G2532 CONJ απηλθεν G565 G5627 V-2AAI-3S η G3588 T-NSF ακοη G189 N-NSF αυτου G846 P-GSM εις G1519 P EP ολην G3650 A-ASF την G3588 T-ASF συριαν G4947 N-ASF και G2532 CONJ προσηνεγκαν G4374 G5656 V-AAI-3P αυτω G846 P-DSM παντας G3956 A-APM τους G3588 T-APM κακως G2560 ADV εχοντας G2192 G5723 V-PAP-APM ποικιλαις G4164 A-DPF νοσοις G3554 N-DPF και G2532 CONJ βασανοις G931 N-DPF συνεχομενους G4912 G5746 V-PPP-APM και G2532 CONJ δαιμονιζομενους G1139 G5740 V-PNP-APM και G2532 CONJ σεληνιαζομενους G4583 G5740 V-PNP-APM και G2532 CONJ παραλυτικους G3885 A-APM και G2532 CONJ εθεραπευσεν G2323 G5656 V-AAI-3S αυτους G846 P-APM

25 και G2532 CONJ ηκολουθησαν G190 G5656 V-AAI-3P αυτω G846 P-DSM οχλοι G3793 N-NPM πολλοι G4183 A-NPM απο G575 P EP της G3588 T-GSF γαλιλαιας G1056 N-GSF και G2532 CONJ δεκαπολεως G1179 N-GSF και G2532 CONJ ιεροσολυμων G2414 N-GPN και G2532 CONJ ιουδαιας G2449 N-GSF και G2532 CONJ περαν G4008 ADV του G3588 T-GSM ιορδανου G2446 N-GSM

   

Komentář

 

Exploring the Meaning of Matthew 4

Napsal(a) Ray and Star Silverman

Temptation of Christ (mosaic in basilica di San Marco)

Chapter 4.


Tempted by the Devil


1. Then was Jesus led away into the wilderness by the Spirit, to be tempted by the Devil.

2. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He afterwards hungered.

3. And when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If Thou be the Son of God, say that these stones be made bread.”

4. But He answering said, “It is written, Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every saying that goes out through the mouth of God.”

5. Then the Devil takes Him into the holy city, and stands Him on a pinnacle of the temple;

6. And says to Him, “If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down; for it is written that He shall command His angels concerning Thee, and in [their] hands they shall take Thee up, lest Thou ever dash Thy foot against a stone.”

7. Jesus declared to him, “Again, it is written, ‘Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.’”

8. Again, the Devil takes Him to an exceedingly high mountain, and shows Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them;

9. And says to Him, “All these things I will give Thee, if, falling down, Thou wilt worship me.”

10. Then says Jesus unto him, “Get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, ‘Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve’”.

11. Then the Devil leaves Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.


The word “repent” means literally to change the way we think. 1 But there is a difference between changing the way we think and changing the way we feel. Understanding truth can produce a change of mind; but only a life according to that truth can produce a change of heart. It is necessary, therefore, and most appropriate that the next step in our spiritual development be a trial by fire — actual experiences in our life in which we have the opportunity to apply truth to our lives. And this is precisely what happens to Jesus as the narrative continues, for we read that Jesus is led up by the Spirit into the wilderness “to be tempted by the devil” (4:1).

Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness provide the basic model for how we are to meet and overcome every possible temptation. The devil tempts Jesus first on the level of His natural, bodily life — the level of the five senses. Knowing that Jesus is hungry after a forty-day fast, the devil says, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” However hungry He might be, Jesus will not do what the devil demands. Instead, He replies by quoting scripture: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:3; see also Deuteronomy 8:3).

The second temptation regards the spiritual plane of our minds, represented by a temple in the Holy City — a place of spiritual instruction. The devil now sets Jesus on the pinnacle of the temple and says to Him “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge concerning You. And in their hands they shall bear You up, lest You dash Your foot against a stone.’” (Matthew 4:6; see also Psalm 91:11, 12).

It is to be noted that the devil himself can quote scripture — but for his own selfish purposes. Similarly, as we move from the natural to the spiritual level of our lives, we too can learn to quote scripture. In our early development, however, we are sometimes tempted to use scripture to promote our own selfish interests, to feel superior to others, and to become infatuated with our own intelligence. 2 We seem to be above others, secure in our self-intelligence, seated at “the pinnacle of the temple in the Holy City.”

One aspect of this form of self-intelligence is the belief that as long as we have faith, we can do whatever we want, for we are safe, secure, and “saved.” The danger of this false persuasion is represented by the devil suggesting that Jesus throw Himself down from the top of the temple. According to this kind of reasoning, if God has promised to protect us no matter what, then it really doesn’t matter what we do. Jesus, however, does not succumb to this second temptation. Instead, He again quotes scripture, this time saying, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God’” (Matthew 4:7; Deuteronomy 6:16). Faith must not be separated from life. Mere faith, apart from a life according to it, cannot save us.

We should note here that while the first temptation regards the physical plane (the level of natural hunger) the second temptation regards the mental plane — the level of intellectual faith. But merely believing in God without living according to God’s order is not true faith. People under the influence of a powerful delusion, can begin to believe that they are free of earthly constraints. Captivated by their delusional thinking, they take foolish risks, even defying the laws of gravity and sometimes plunging into disaster and death.

But there are less dramatic, more subtle versions of this inclination towards faith alone. Believing that we are saved by our faith, and not by a life in accordance with faith, we may be tempted to live outside the order of God’s commandments; there is a temptation to believe that since we are already saved, and cannot lose our salvation, our actions do not matter.

This is an alluring idea. But it is not a part of God’s order. In Deuteronomy, where it is written, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God,” the very next verse reads, “You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord, His testimonies, and His statutes which He has commanded you. And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord that it may go well with you” (Deuteronomy 6:17-18). 3 Taking foolish risks in the name of “faith” is really a denial of faith — not a testimony to faith. True faith is manifested in a life according to the commandments.

Unable to tempt Jesus at the physical or intellectual levels, the devil now proceeds to tempt Him at the highest level of all. This is suggested by the devil taking Jesus up onto an exceedingly high mountain. As a temple in the Holy City symbolizes the mental plane of our lives, involving matters of faith and belief, a mountain represents an even higher plane — the plane of our highest, and therefore inmost love to the Lord. 4 If Jesus will forsake this love, the devil promises to give Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. The only thing that Jesus will have to do is fall down and worship the devil.

This could be considered a tempting offer. After all, who wouldn’t want to possess the entire world, with all its kingdoms and all its glory? Honor, fame, and wealth! Power, prestige, and profit! All very alluring. But there is a catch: in order to obtain all of this, one must worship Satan instead of God.

Jesus is not fooled by Satan’s empty offer. First of all, the world does not, never did, and never will belong to Satan. “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1). So it is not Satan’s to give away anyway! Secondly, Jesus did not come to tyrannically rule over people, to make people slavishly serve Him, or even to force people to love Him. On the contrary, Jesus came to free people from all forms of tyranny, especially the tyranny of self-love which desires to rule over others — to be the ruler of all the kingdoms of the world.

Sometimes referred to as “the love of dominion” or simply the desire to have one’s own way, this “love of ruling” is an inner drive which destroys relationships and reduces people to being either the master or the slave. While we do not always recognize it as “the love of ruling,” it manifests as the desire to control what others love, think and do. Whether it be the relationship between an employer and an employee, a parent and a child, a teacher and a student, or a husband and wife, the covetous desire to control others and to make people do as we wish — when based on self-love rather than on mutual respect — is always destructive. 5

This then, is the third temptation with which Jesus is confronted. For Him it is the highest, most difficult temptation of all. From His Divine Power He could have easily ruled the world and forced all to love Him and keep His commandments. But this kind of external compulsion is antithetical to God’s love. This then, is the inner reason why Jesus chooses to resist this third and inmost temptation. God’s love for us, as manifested in Jesus, is so great that He even gives us the freedom to reject that love if we so choose. He will not force us to believe in Him, or to love Him, even though He knows that therein lies our greatest happiness. He will not succumb to the temptation to be the ruler of “all the kingdoms of the world,” nor does He desire to obtain “their glory.”

Instead He will forever preserve and protect our freedom to either reject or receive the blessings that flow from Him. 6 This is the reason that Jesus, again quoting scripture, rejects Satan’s offer, saying, “Away with you, Satan. For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve’” (Matthew 4:10; see also Deuteronomy 6:13).

In each case, whether it is a temptation of the body (bread), mind (temple), or spirit (mountain), Jesus is able to resist the devil through employing the power of sacred scripture. While the devil uses scripture to justify evil, Jesus uses scripture to resist it. Each time Jesus is tempted, he responds with the words “It is written.” The devils of hell cannot resist the power of scripture. Temporarily defeated, they give up and depart, allowing angels to approach with consolation. Therefore we read, “Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him” (4:11). 7

Through the story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, we see the power of sacred scripture in overcoming temptation. This ordeal is a necessary and essential step in Jesus’ spiritual development. Baptized in the waters of truth, He immediately undergoes the fires of spiritual temptation. In this way, He gradually becomes one with the truth itself.

As for Jesus, so for us; temptation is an essential step on the path of our spiritual development. As we call upon and use the truth of sacred scripture in the combats of temptation, we make them our own, and these truths become a part of who we are. Through using truth from the letter of the Word, we open the way for the angels to flow in through those truths and minister to us: “Then the devil left Him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto Him” (4:11).


Bringing the Word to the Gentiles


12. And Jesus, having heard that John was delivered up [into custody], departed into Galilee;

13. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is on the seacoast, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali,

14. That it might be fulfilled which was declared by Isaiah the prophet, saying,

15. “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

16. The people who sat in darkness saw great light; and to them that sat in the country and shadow of death, light has risen.”

17. From then Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent ye, for the kingdom of the heavens is near.”

18. And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishers.

19. And He says to them, “Come after Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

20. And straightway they left [their] nets and followed Him.

21. And advancing from thence, He saw two other brothers, James [the son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them.

22. And straightway, leaving the ship and their father, they followed Him.

23. And Jesus went around all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every malady and every disease in the people.

24. And the report of Him went into the whole of Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, having different diseases and torments besetting [them], and the demon-possessed, and the lunatics, and those sick of the palsy; and He cured them.

25. And many crowds followed Him from Galilee, and Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and [from] across the Jordan.


Emerging from His temptations, Jesus is more deeply aware of the power of scripture. Having used it successfully during the three temptations in the wilderness, He realizes that it will be the primary means through which He will be able to save the human race. That, in fact, is his mission — nothing less than the salvation of the human race. And it is all the more urgent now, because John the Baptist (representing the literal truths of the Word) has been captured and put in prison. Therefore, Jesus resolves to carry on the work of John the Baptist, crying out, even as John did, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (4:17).

Jesus’ actions now are swift and deliberate. There is no time to waste. He immediately gathers together His first disciples, saying “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (4:19). After gathering together His disciples, He travels throughout Galilee, teaching, preaching, and healing. “And as He journeyed, His fame increased, and people came to see Him, and hear Him, bringing with them people who were sick, and demon-possessed, and paralyzed. And Jesus healed them all” (4:24).

What is happening here, and how does this relate to the divine arrangement of these episodes? We need to remember that Jesus has just been baptized and then tempted in the wilderness. Not only did He learn the truth (symbolized by receiving the waters of baptism), but He immediately put it to use in overcoming three successive temptations. This symbolizes the great power that flows into us after we have learned the truth and used it to be victorious in temptation. In Jesus’ case, he uses this power to heal all manner of disease, and to do so instantly. In our case it is the power to love our neighbor as ourselves, to do good to others, and to serve them with no thought of selfish gain. To the extent that we do so, putting aside all selfish motivation, while believing that it is God alone who does good through us, we come into states of peace.

This is the peace, joy and the gladness of mind that is always available to us — and which we most perceptibly experience after a spiritual struggle. It is also noteworthy that Jesus does not begin his public ministry after his baptism. Rather, He begins His ministry after a series of grueling temptations. Something similar can take place in each of our lives. We, too, can become a healing presence for others — not because we have learned truth (baptism), but because we have brought that truth into our life, used it in the combats of temptation, and given the glory to God. Only then do we experience true inner peace. 8

But the process does not end there. It is quite natural to want to share that peace with others, and to find ways to do so. In Jesus’ case, He immediately goes to Galilee to begin His public ministry. We, too, will find ways to share our experience with others. After all, “we have seen a great light.” Though we may have been experiencing our own “shadow of death,” we also experienced the quiet inner joy that comes to those who are victorious in temptation.

The experience of such inner peace is too wonderful to keep to ourselves. Something deep within us desires to reach out to others so that the words of the prophet might be fulfilled, “The people which sat in darkness have seen a great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death, light has sprung up (Matthew 4:16; Isaiah 9:2).

Poznámky pod čarou:

1. From the Greek word μετανοέω (metanoeo) literally “meta” (above) and “noiea” (to think, understand, exercise the mind). Therefore, it refers to changing the way we think, thinking from above, or, thinking above the way we normally think.

2Arcana Coelestia 10406: “When the literal sense of the Word is used in support of self-love and love of the world, people do not have any enlightenment from heaven. Instead they rely on their own intelligence…. They substantiate this by means of the literal sense of the Word, falsifying it by using it in a wrong way and interpreting it in a perverted manner.”

3. This passage is contained in the famous “Shema” from the sixth chapter of Deuteronomy. It begins at verse four with the words “Hear [Shema]O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.” It continues until verse 25, ending with the words “Then it will be righteousness for us if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us.” See Deuteronomy 6:4-25

4Arcana Coelestia 1292: “In the Word, ‘mountains’ signify love or charity, because these are the highest, or, what is the same, the inmost things in worship.” See also Arcana Coelestia 795[4]: “Get up on to the high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength’ (Isaiah 40:9). These words refer to worshipping the Lord in love and charity. And because these are inmost loves, they are also the highest.”

5DLW 141: “The love which is at the head of all heavenly loves or to which all other heavenly loves are related is love toward the Lord. And the love which is at the head of all hellish loves or to which all other hellish loves are related is a love of ruling stemming from a love of self. These two loves are diametrically opposed to each other.”

6Arcana Coelestia 6472: “The Lord does not compel a person to receive what flows in from Himself; but He leads in freedom, and so far as a person allows, through freedom He leads to good.”

7True Christian Religion 224[3-4]: “The Word has indescribable power… as soon as devils and satans catch a whiff of Divine truth, they immediately dive headlong into the depths, hurl themselves into caves, and seal the caves up so completely that not a crack is left open…. I could support this point with many pieces of evidence I have experienced in the spiritual world; but since these would stagger belief, I will forgo any listing of them here…. I will, however, make this assertion: A church that has Divine truths from the Lord has power over the hells. This is the church the Lord was talking about when he said to Peter, ‘On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it’” (Matthew 16:18).

8True Christian Religion 599: “In people’s struggles or temptations the Lord carries out an individual redemption, just as He did a total redemption when He was in the world. By struggles and temptations in the world the Lord glorified His Human, that is, He made it Divine. It is likewise now with people individually; when someone is subject to temptations, the Lord struggles for him, overcoming the spirits of hell who assail him; and after his temptation He glorifies him, that is, renders him spiritual. After His universal redemption, the Lord brought everything in heaven and in hell into a state of order. He does much the same with a person after temptation, for He brings into a state of order everything in him relating to heaven and the world. After the act of redemption the Lord established a new church; likewise too He establishes in a person what is to do with the church, and makes him a church at the level of the individual. After redemption the Lord granted peace to those who believed in Him; for He said: ‘I leave peace with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give it to you’ (John 14:27). Likewise, He grants to a person after temptation to feel peace, that is, gladness of mind and consolation. These facts show that the Lord is the Redeemer forever.”

Bible

 

Psalms 24:1

Studie

       

1 The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.