RSV ~ Matthew 4 Notes

Mt 4:1-11 | ISB Notes

Matthew’s temptation narrative recounts 5 Jesus’ spiritual preparation for ministry.

• The event contrasts the disobedience of ancient Israel with the obedience of Jesus, representative of the new Israel: (1) Israel and Jesus are both called God’s son (3:17; Ex 4:22); (2) the temptations of both Israel and Jesus are preceded by a baptism (3:13-17; 1 Cor 10:1-5); (3) Israel was tested for 40 years, Jesus is tempted for forty days and forty nights (4:2); (4) Israel failed its wilderness testing, while Jesus triumphs over Satan through obedience and self-abasement (4:11). These parallels are supported by Jesus’ three responses (4:4, 7, 10) to the devil taken from Deut 6-8. These texts (Deut 8:3; 6:16; 6:13) warned the Israelites against disobedience and reminded them of God’s provisions in the wilderness (CCC 538-39).

• Morally (St. John Chrysostom, Hom. in Matt. 8): Jesus’ victory sets an example for Christian obedience. Earthly life is a wilderness trial for God’s people en route to the land of heaven. Through this probationary period, God wills the faithful to overcome temptations from the world, the flesh, and the devil. Triumph is possible through penance and obedience to God’s word. Rather than earthly bread and power, the faithful must desire the food of God’s will and the humility of Christ (11:29; Jn 4:34). The battle successfully won merits heavenly comfort in the company of angels (4:11). The Church annually reminds us of this life-long vocation during the 40 days of Lent (CCC 540, 2849).

Mt 4:1 | ISB Notes

tempted: Having witnessed the Father’s declaration (3:17), Satan tests Jesus’ identity as the Son of God. He tempts Jesus to embrace an earthly and political mission (4:89) and seeks to divert him from suffering and death. Peter is later rebuked as “Satan” (16:23) when he refuses to accept Jesus’ path of suffering (16:21).

• The Second Council of Constantinople (A.D. 553) condemned the view that Jesus was impeccable only after his Resurrection (can. 12). On the contrary, Christ is a divine Person and so could not have sinned at any time during his earthly life (Jas 1:13; 1 Jn 3:5). Furthermore, his temptations came entirely from the suggestions of the devil and had nothing to do with the inner struggles and disordered desires of fallen human nature that we experience (Jas 1:14-15).

Mt 4:6 | ISB Notes

it is written: Both Jesus (4:4, 7, 10) and Satan (4:6) quote from Scripture. Whereas Jesus handles Scripture with reverence and sensitivity, Satan misconstrues its meaning.

• Satan’s use of Ps 91:11-12 violates its original meaning. The psalm encourages trust and faith in God’s protection; it does not advocate testing him. Jesus’ proper interpretation of Deut 6:16 (4:7) excludes the possibility of twisting Ps 91 to justify testing God.

Mt 4:12 | ISB Notes

Galilee: The uppermost region of Palestine, north of Judea and Samaria. In ancient Israel, Galilee was home to several of the nation’s 12 tribes. After military devastations by the Assyrians in the eighth century B.C. (2 Kings 15:29), Galilee was ruled separately from Judea and Samaria for most of its history extending into NT times. While some Jews resided in Galilee when Jesus lived there, many were descendants of the northern tribes of Israel who lived alongside Gentile immigrants. Even after the NT period, the Jewish Mishnah (A.D. 200) consistently refers to Galileans as “Israelites”, as distinct from southern “Jews” or “Judeans” (cf. 10:5-6; Jn 1:47). Jesus chose Galilee as the place to restore the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” (15:24), regather his scattered disciples (26:31-32), and send them on a worldwide mission (28:7, 10, 16-20).

Mt 4:15-16 | ISB Notes

The land of Zebulun … dawned: A citation I from Is 9:1-2 concerning the land allotments of two Israelite tribes, Zebulun and Naphtali. Since these Galilean regions were the first to be ravaged by Assyrian invasions from 733 to 732 B.C. (2 Kings 15:29), Jesus targets Galilee as the place to begin reversing the tragedies of Israel’s history by restoring the 12 tribes in the New Covenant (cf. 15:24; 19:28; Rev 7:4-8).

• Isaiah foresees a “latter time” (Is 9:1), when God will restore hope to Galilee. Matthew links this with Jesus’ residence in “Capernaum” (4:13), a town north of the Sea of Galilee where the tribal territories of Zebulun and Naphtali intersect. Matthew’s sustained interest in the Davidic kingship of Jesus suggests that the fuller context of this oracle is also significant. Isaiah 9:1-2 prefaces an Immanuel prophecy of the birth of a new king who will sit “upon the throne of David” (Is 9:7) and restore this light of hope to Galilee (cf. Lk 1:32-33).

Mt 4:18-22 | ISB Notes

fishermen: A common Galilean occupation. Matthew emphasizes the promptness of the disciples’ response to Jesus (Immediately 4:20, 22). Three of them—Peter, James, and John—enjoyed a special relationship with him (17:1; 26:37).

• God’s New Covenant grace builds upon, perfects, and elevates our human nature. The natural skills of these fishermen are thus raised to a new and spiritual level by grace, enabling them to gather souls for the kingdom as missionaries in the Church.

Mt 4:23 | ISB Notes

synagogues: Buildings for Jewish worship, prayer, and instruction in the Scriptures. They also served a more general function as community centers within rural villages. Assemblies were held on the Sabbath (in the evening) and the liturgy centered on the proclamation and explanation of the Hebrew Bible. Since these are unmentioned in the OT, the origin of the synagogue is uncertain. Their beginning may be linked with teaching centers in the 48 Levitical cities (Num 35:1-8) or to the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon in the sixth century B.C. Since Jewish males were required to travel to the Jerusalem Temple only three times annually (Deut 16:16), the synagogue was a complementary site for non-sacrificial worship and education during the remainder of the year.

Mt 4:25 | ISB Notes

Decapolis: Literally, the “ten cities”. These were predominantly Gentile cities in Palestine, and most were located east of the river Jordan. They are known for their distinctive Hellenistic (Greek) architecture.