Commentaries:
People's Commentary (NT)
Matthew 4:3
The tempter came to him. The devil. He chose his time craftily,
as he always does when he assails man. Whether he came in a personal
form or as the whisper of the evil spirit is uncertain.
If thou be the Son of God. "If" suggests a doubt, and, perhaps,
a taunt. It is a cunning appeal to Christ to work a miracle to satisfy
his hunger and to display his power. It would seem an innocent thing
for Christ to make bread when he was hungry, for himself, as he
afterwards did for the five thousand. Why not? Because if he had
availed himself of his Divine power to escape the discomforts and
sufferings of humanity he would have failed to suffer as we do, to set
us an example in all things, to be tempted in all points as we are; and
besides, he "came to minister" (Matthew 20:28 Mr 10:45) never to use
his Divine power for their own benefit. To have so exerted it for
selfish and vainglorious purposes would have been sinful, and a
distrust of God. Christ came to save others, not himself. Self-denial
was the law of his mission.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Matthew 4:3
Mark 1:13
Luke 4:1-13
James 4:7
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