Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:8-11 – A Temptation to Gain World Rule

Matthew 4:8-11 – A Temptation to Gain World Rule

|| Luke 4:5-8, 13

MT4:8 Again the Devil took Jesus along to an unusually high mountain[1] and showed him all the kingdoms[2] of the world[3] and their glory. MT4:9 And the Devil said to Jesus, “All this I will give you if you ever prostrate[4] yourself and bow before me, kissing my feet.” MT4:10 Then Jesus said to the Devil, “Be on your way, Satan,[5] for it has been written,[6] ‘You shall worship[7] YHWH your God[8] and to Him only shall you render divine service.’”[9][Deuteronomy 5:9; 6:13; 10:20] MT4:11 With that the Devil left Jesus, and, look! angels approached Jesus and ministered to him.

*

Now we come to the moment that the adversary of God shows the many kingdoms of earth to Jeshua, Christ Jesus, of whom is written in the ancient Scriptures that he is the sent one from God who is to govern over all kingdoms or monarchies, empires, monocracies, emperors, hereditary figures such as kings and queens, going to be the King of kings. The adversary of God promised Jesus that he was going to give all things if Jesus would fall down and worship him. This is not so much different today as at the time of Jesus. Today the satans or adversaries of God still promise the people many things they really cannot give, because those things do not belong to them and because they have no right of power over them. Lots of people also want to be worshipped by those around them. Many people fall in front of them because they love to receive more things and better positions from them. They are clearly of the world and not loving God as such, because their priorities are not for the heavenly goods but for the worldly goods.

At the moment the world still belongs to satan or to those who might be against God, but that is not going to stay so. There shall come a day when Jesus shall be authorised to rule over all the kingdoms on earth. (Revelation 11:15).

5 So he brought him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the inhabited earth in an instant of time.+ 6 Then the Devil said to him: “I will give you all this authority and their glory, because it has been handed over to me,+ and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 If you, therefore, do an act of worship before me, it will all be yours.” 8 In reply Jesus said to him: “It is written, ‘It is Jehovah* your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’”+ {Luke 4:5-8}

• • John 12:31

  • 31 Now there is a judging of this world; now the ruler of this world+ will be cast out.+

• • John 14:30

  • 30 I will not speak with you much more, for the ruler of the world+ is coming, and he has no hold on me.*+

• • Ephesians 2:2

  • 2 in which you at one time walked according to the system of things* of this world,+ according to the ruler of the authority of the air,+ the spirit+ that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.

• 1 John 5:19: 19 We know that we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.+
• • Matthew 13:19

  • 19 Where anyone hears the word of the Kingdom but does not get the sense of it, the wicked one+ comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart; this is the one sown alongside the road.+

Though rulership may today still belong to the adversary of God he does not deserve worship. Jesus very well knew to Whom worship belongs. It is not Jesus who has to be worshipped nor satan or any adversary of God or any other person or any other god than the God of gods, the Host of hosts.

Jesus’ refusal was curt:

“Beat it, Satan!”

He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy, saying that it is written:

“It is Jehovah* your God you must worship,+ and it is only to Him alone you must render sacred service (or absolute single-heartedness).’”+

**

Mount Hermon, viewed from Mount Bental in the Golan Heights

[1] High mountain: We are tempted to envision Mount Everest though Mount Hermon might be the location.

[2] All the kingdoms: The governments and world powers all belong to the Devil as Luke 4:6, 7 confirms. Satan is the “god of this world.” (2 Corinthians 4:4) The entire world lies in his power (1 John 5:19). This “world” will one day be ruled by Lord Messiah (Revelation 11:15).

[3] World: The Greek is KOSMOS.

[4] Prostrate: The Greek is PROSKUNESES and contains “before + kiss” meaning to bow to the ground and kiss the sandals or hem of a garment. Older translations often use “worship” which is drawn from “worthy” and was used in old English regarding worthy persons such as kings, judges, and priests as worthy persons who may be addressed “Your worship.” It may range from a simple matter of respect to religious worship.

[5] Satan: The name means “Resister; Rebel; Apostate.” The name occurs 68 times with the first occurrence at 1 Chronicles 21:1. It occurs most often (17) in the Book of Job.

[6] Written: Perhaps a conflate paraphrase from Deuteronomy 5:9; 6:13; 10:20.

[7] Worship: The Greek is PROSKUNESEIS as in verse 9 but amplified by Jesus’ next word. TCNT: do homage.

[8] Your God: By this Jesus infers that YHWH is his God otherwise the quote makes no sense as a response to Satan. Over two dozen times the Scriptures use phrases indicating the Nazarene worships his own God. “The God of our Lord.” (Ephesians 1:3, 17)

[9] Render divine service: The Greek is LATREUSEIS. Or, KJV: serve; RHM: divine service.

+

Preceding

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:1-4 A Wilderness Temptation

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:5-7 – A Temptation to Test God

Jehovah God Maker of the entire universe served by a well-trained army

Next:

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:12-17 – Galilee Saw A Great Light

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:18-22 – The Calling of the First Disciples

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:23-25 – Kingdom Preaching and Healing Draws Crowds

++

Additional reading

1. True riches
2. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God
3. When will it stop
4. Merry Christmas with the King of Kings
5. Looking for answers on the question Is there a God #2 Pantheon of gods and celebrations
6. Looking for answers on the question Is there a God #3 Transcendence or Surpassing other gods and man

+++

Further reading

1. The Ancient Worship of Babylon
2. God Will Rule This Earth
3. Deuteronomy
4. Democratic Mistakes–The falls of Titans
5. Kingdoms Collide
6. All Forms of Government Are Bad
7. Kings and kingdoms
8. Messenger to the Nations
9. Battling in the heavenly realm for your nation
10. Bowing In Humility
11. Missing Our Medicine
12. Seeking to Strengthen the Faith
13. Surrender
14. Having Faith in God 
15. Worship God
16. G3-Why Praise God?
17. Worship in Spirit and in Truth Part A
18. God First (I Chronicles 8-10)
19. Quick Answers: When Is The Best Time To Praise And Worship God?
20. Worship in Spirit and In Truth Part B
21. Unlock and activate what God has for you!
22. Worship out of Love
23. Our Service to God
24. Worship is not about us

+++

Save

Related articles

• What will you do?
• Hotbed of Satanism or the Satanic capital of Britain
• Iranian preacher creating more hatred between religious groups
• Do you purpose that your mouth will not transgress
• the Bible – God’s guide for life #8 Looking to Jesus #1 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus

Save

Authority from the One God to one mediator between God and men

5 For there is one God,+ and one mediator+ between God and men,+ a man, Christ Jesus,+ 6 who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all*+—this is what is to be witnessed to in its own due time. (1 Timothy 2:5, 6 NWT)

1 Timothy 2:5 Reference Bible: 5 For there is one God,+ and one mediator+ between God+ and men,+ a man, Christ Jesus,+ 6 who gave himself a corresponding ransom* for all*+—[this is] what is to be witnessed to at its own particular times.

1 Timothy 2:5 Kingdom Interlinear:

• • 5 Εἷς One γὰρ for θεός, God, εἷς one καὶ also μεσίτης mediator θεοῦ of God καὶ and ἀνθρώπων of men ἄνθρωπος man Χριστὸς Christ Ἰησοῦς, Jesus,

  • 6 ὁ the (one) δοὺς having given ἑαυτὸν himself ἀντίλυτρον corresponding ransom ὑπὲρ over πάντων, all (ones), τὸ the μαρτύριον witness καιροῖς to appointed times ἰδίοις· own;

1 Timothy 2:5 Byington: 5 For there is one God, one mediator too between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, 6* he who gave himself as a ransom for everybody; the attestation when the right time came,

***

there is one God:

• Deuteronomy 6:4: 4 “Listen, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah.+

• Romans 3:30: Since God is one,+ he will declare circumcised people righteous+ as a result of faith and uncircumcised people righteous+ by means of their faith.

• Deuteronomy 5:7: You must never have any other gods besides me.*+

• Isaiah 42:8: I am Jehovah. That is my name; I give my glory to no one else,* Nor my praise to graven images.+

• Zechariah 14:9: And Jehovah will be King over all the earth.+ In that day Jehovah will be one,+ and his name one.+

• Mark 12:29: Jesus answered: “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel, Jehovah* our God is one Jehovah,*

• Mark 12:32: The scribe said to him: “Teacher, you spoke well, in line with truth, ‘He is One, and there is no other besides him’;+

• 1 Corinthians 8:6: there is actually to us one God,+ the Father,+ from whom all things are and we for him;+ and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are+ and we through him.

• Deuteronomy 5:7: You must never have any other gods against my face.*+

• Zechariah 14:9: And Jehovah must become king over all the earth.*+ In that day Jehovah will prove to be one,+ and his name one.+

one mediator:

• Hebrews 8:6: But now Jesus has obtained a more excellent ministry* because he is also the mediator+ of a correspondingly better covenant,+ which has been legally established on better promises.+

• Hebrews 9:15: That is why he is a mediator of a new covenant,+ in order that because a death has occurred for their release by ransom+ from the transgressions under the former covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the everlasting inheritance.+

• Hebrews 12:24: and Jesus the mediator+ of a new covenant,+ and the sprinkled blood, which speaks in a better way than Abel’s blood.+

• Luke 22:20: Also, he did the same with the cup after they had the evening meal, saying: “This cup means the new covenant+ by virtue of my blood,+ which is to be poured out in your behalf.+

between God and men

• 1 Corinthians 11:25: He did the same with the cup+ also, after they had the evening meal, saying: “This cup means the new covenant+ by virtue of my blood.+ Keep doing this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”+

• Galatians 3:20: Now there is no mediator where only one person is concerned, but God* is only one.+

men

• Galatians 3:29: Moreover, if YOU belong to Christ, YOU are really Abraham’s seed,+ heirs with reference to a promise.+

• Ephesians 5:27: that he might present the congregation to himself in its splendor,+ not having a spot or a wrinkle or any of such things, but that it should be holy and without blemish.+

• Hebrews 2:16: For he is really not assisting angels at all, but he is assisting Abraham’s seed.+

a man, Christ Jesus

• Acts 4:12: Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name+ under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.”+

• Romans 5:15: But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by one man’s trespass many died, how much more did the undeserved kindness of God and his free gift by the undeserved kindness of the one man,+ Jesus Christ, abound* to many!+

• 2 Timothy 1:9, 10: 9 He saved us and called us with a holy calling,+ not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and undeserved kindness.+ This was given to us in connection with Christ Jesus before times long ago, 10 but now it has been made clearly evident through the manifestation of our Savior, Christ Jesus,+ who has abolished death+ and has shed light on life+ and incorruption+ through the good news,+

• Matthew 1:21: She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus,*+ for he will save his people from their sins.”+

• Acts 10:43: To him all the prophets bear witness,+ that everyone putting faith in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”+

• Philippians 2:9, 10: 9 For this very reason, God exalted him to a superior position+ and kindly gave him the name that is above every other name,+ 10 so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend—of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground+—

• Colossians 2:13: Furthermore, though YOU were dead in YOUR trespasses and in the uncircumcised state of YOUR flesh, [God]* made YOU alive together with him.+ He kindly forgave us all our trespasses+

6 who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all*+

ransom for all = Or “all sorts of people.”: “Ransom.” Gr., lyʹtron; Lat., re·dem·pti·oʹnem; J^17,18,22(Heb.), koʹpher. Compare 1Ti 2:6 ftn, “Ransom.”: “Corresponding ransom.” Gr., an·tiʹly·tron (from an·tiʹ, “against; in correspondence to; in place of,” and lyʹtron, “ransom [price paid]”). Compare Mt 20:28 ftn, “Ransom.”

• Matthew 20:28: Just as the Son of man came, not to be ministered to, but to minister+ and to give his life* as a ransom in exchange for many.”+

• Mark 10:45: For even the Son of man came, not to be ministered to, but to minister+ and to give his life* as a ransom in exchange for many.”+

• Colossians 1:13, 14: 13 He rescued us from the authority of the darkness+ and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 by means of whom we have our release by ransom, the forgiveness of our sins.+

• Isaiah 53:11: 11 Because of his anguish,* he will see and be satisfied. By means of his knowledge the righteous one, my servant,+ Will bring a righteous standing to many people,+ And their errors he will bear.+

• Titus 2:13, 14: 13 while we wait for the happy hope+ and glorious manifestation of the great God and of our Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us+ to set us free*+ from every sort of lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people who are his own special possession, zealous for fine works.+

• Hebrews 9:28: so also the Christ was offered once for all time to bear the sins of many;+ and the second time that he appears it will be apart from sin,* and he will be seen by those earnestly looking for him for their salvation.+

+

Matthew 28:18-20: 18 Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: “All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth.+ 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations,+ baptizing them+ in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.+ And look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”*+

Matthew 28:18 Reference Bible: 18 And Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: “All authority*+ has been given me in heaven and on the earth.

Matthew 28:18 Kingdom Interlinear:

• • 18 καὶ And προσελθὼν having come toward ὁ the Ἰησοῦς Jesus ἐλάλησεν spoke αὐτοῖς to them λέγων saying ᾿Εδόθη Was given μοι to me πᾶσα all ἐξουσία authority ἐν in οὐρανῷ heaven καὶ and ἐπὶ upon τῆς the γῆς· earth;

Matthew 28:18 Byington: And Jesus approached them and spoke to them, saying “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth:

***

“Authority.” Gr., e·xou·siʹa; Lat., po·teʹstas; J¹⁸(Heb.), mim·shalʹ.

• Daniel 2:44: “And in the days of those kings*+ the God of heaven+ will set up a kingdom*+ that will never be brought to ruin.+ And the kingdom* itself will not be passed on to any other people.+ It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms,+ and it itself will stand to times indefinite;+

• Daniel 7:14: And to him there were given rulership+ and dignity+ and kingdom,*+ that the peoples, national groups and languages should all serve even him.+ His rulership is an indefinitely lasting rulership that will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be brought to ruin.+

• Matthew 11:27: All things have been delivered to me by my Father,+ and no one fully knows the Son but the Father,+ neither does anyone fully know the Father but the Son and anyone to whom the Son is willing to reveal him.+

• Ephesians 1:21: far above every government and authority and power and lordship+ and every name named,+ not only in this system of things,*+ but also in that to come.+

• Philippians 2:9: For this very reason also God exalted him to a superior position+ and kindly gave him the name that is above every [other] name,+

• Colossians 2:10: And so YOU are possessed of a fullness by means of him, who is the head of all government and authority.+

• Hebrews 1:4: So he has become better than the angels,+ to the extent that he has inherited a name+ more excellent than theirs.

• 1 Corinthians 15:24: Next, the end,* when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has brought to nothing all government and all authority and power.+

All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth:

• Ephesians 1:20, 21: 20 which he exercised toward Christ when he raised him up from the dead and seated him at his right hand+ in the heavenly places, 21 far above every government and authority and power and lordship and every name that is named,+ not only in this system of things* but also in that to come.

• Philippians 2:9: For this very reason, God exalted him to a superior position+ and kindly gave him the name that is above every other name,+ 10 so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend—of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground+— 11 and every tongue should openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord+ to the glory of God the Father.

• Acts 4:12: Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name+ under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.”+

+

John 5:25-27-30: 25 “Most truly I say to you, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who have paid attention will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in himself,*+ so he has granted also to the Son to have life in himself.+ 27 And he has given him authority to do judging,+ because he is the Son of man.+ 28 Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice+ 29 and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment.+ 30 I cannot do a single thing of my own initiative. Just as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous+ because I seek, not my own will, but the will of him who sent me.+

John 5:27:

John 5:27 Reference Bible: And he has given him authority to do judging,+ because Son of man+ he is.

John 5:27 Kingdom Interlinear

• • 27 καὶ and ἐξουσίαν authority ἔδωκεν he gave αὐτῷ to him κρίσιν judgment ποιεῖν, to be doing, ὅτι because υἱὸς Son ἀνθρώπου of man ἐστίν. he is.

John 5:27 King James Version: And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

John 5:27 American Standard Version: and he gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man.

John 5:27 Byington: and he has given him authority to administer judgment because he is Son of Man.

***

authority to do judging

• John 5:22: For the Father judges no one at all, but he has entrusted all the judging to the Son,+

• 2 Timothy 4:1: I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is to judge+ the living and the dead,+ and by his manifestation+ and his Kingdom:+

• 2 Corinthians 5:10: For we must all appear* before the judgment seat of the Christ, so that each one may be repaid according to the things he has practiced while in the body, whether good or bad.*+

• Acts 17:31: Because he has set a day on which he purposes to judge+ the inhabited earth in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and he has provided a guarantee to all men by resurrecting him from the dead.”+

+

Preceding articles:

Jehovah’s Witnesses Circuit Assembly and a Pillar to freedom

Jesus’ footstep followers, irrespective of sectarian lines

+++

Related articles

• Sunday, 3 July 2016 : 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle (Second Reading)
• Child of my Father
• The Destiny of God’s People
• 07/28/2016 Scripture
• we need more “character” and less “characters” #GreatestGeneration
• Blessing God in a Dark World
• 1 Peter 5-10 “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”
• The Least of the Apostles, Chief of Sinners, but Blameless and Righteous
• Yes, You Can Be A Christian And Wrong