1. The evangelists were thoroughly convinced of its reality.

2. The other references to it in the New Testament point in the same direction (Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 2:18).

3. Assuming the existence of Satan he is not likely to have engaged our Lord in any unreal way. What is meant when it is said it was impossible for Christ to have sinned? Certainly not that it was a physical impossibility, as when we say that it is impossible for a man of luxury to feel the temptation a starving man feels to steal. It was a moral impossibility; He would not elect to yield. We are certain of Christ's immovable loyalty to righteousness. Temptation is not in itself an admission of moral imperfection, so was not inconsistent with the holy character of our Lord. All Christ's temptations came to Him from without, not from within Him. An inward bias to evil is not essential to temptation; temptation may appeal to what is best within us, to satisfy lawful appetites by unlawful means. Thus the reality of Christ's temptations remain unbroken.

1. The reality of Christ's temptations affects their entire moral significance. We feel the moral sublimity of His character.

2. It affects us as well as Himself: His sympathy with us and our realization of His sympathy with us.

1. We may learn that it is never the will of God we should voluntarily enter into temptation.

2. We ought to pray that God would not "bring" us into it.

3. But should God lead us, as He led Christ, into temptation, then we may confidently appeal to God for grace to overcome.

(G. S. Barrett, B. A.)

1. By the fact that he is a mere creature.

2. By the providence of God.

3. By man's will.

4. We ought not to exaggerate the power of Satan, let us beware of underrating it.

(Norman Macleod, D. D.)

1. In order that the reality and glory of His Sonship might be made manifest.

2. That He might redeem man from the evil to which he was subjected by the fall of the first Adam.

3. That He might become experimentally acquainted with the evil of sin.

4. The temptation of our Lord was a chief element in His sufferings for us as our Mediator.

5. Evil is compelled to glorify God.

(Norman Macleod, D. D.)

1. There seems little reason to doubt that Satan knew Jesus to be the promised One, whose advent the prophets had foretold. The artful use he made of Scripture upon the pinnacle of the temple sufficiently shows his acquaintance with Holy Writ.

2. Satan also supposed, apparently, that Christ possessed superhuman powers.

3. But although Satan was thus far m possession of the truth respecting Christ, it does not follow that he "knew the whole truth respecting Him.

4. If Satan had no just view of the person of Christ, of His true divinity, he would necessarily have imperfect views of His perfect holiness. Even if this view be not admitted, if any person should still believe that Satan did understand the divinity, and consequently the immaculate purity, of our Lord, it is not incredible nor surprising, even on this supposition, that he should attempt to lead Him into sin. For it is possible that he was judicially blinded, that he might not see the hopelessness of his attempt.

(L. H. Wiseman.)

I. The TIME of the temptation. Immediately after our Lord's baptism. The time reveals one object of the temptation — the unveiling of the tactics of the Evil One; it was "for a precaution to us." The opening of heaven from above was followed by the opening of hell from beneath. We have to guard the treasure of grace after it is given. When we are expecting peace and joy we have suddenly to enter into struggles, darkness, and desolation. God has an object in permitting the assaults of Satan at such a time; to keep the soul low when from the presence of Divine favour there may be risk of self-exaltation.

II. The INFLUENCE under which Christ was led to the scene of conflict — "led up of the Spirit."

1. The source of the influence. The Holy Spirit. This in accord with other notices of His relations with the incarnate Lord. Christ was conceived by the Holy Ghost; preached under His guidance.

2. The extent of the Spirit's influence. A stronger term is used by St. Mark — "The Spirit driveth Him." "We must not enter into temptation unless it be under the guidance of the Spirit of God in the way of providence. The Spirit's movements are often to be known by their contrariety to our inclinations, and should lead to solitude, mortification, etc.

III. The PLACE whither Christ was led. Christ called to meet the tempter in the wilderness, that by His unassisted might the victory should be won. Thus He sanctified times of retreat and states of retirement. They should form a part of the preparation for the ministerial office.

(W. H. Hatchings, M. A.)

I. The PERSONALITY of the Evil One. Influence is that which flows out from personality. In proving the existence of God arguments from design are used; so it would be difficult to reconcile the condition of the world in its misery with the Divine goodness unless some other agent be at work in it. All nations in the past have borne witness to a belief in spiritual beings. The evil of the inner life bears the same testimony; no mental law accounts for it. Made clear by revelation. Christ's words and work proclaim existence of the Evil One. The writers of the New Testament testify to the personality of Satan (Acts 5:3). The temptation makes this clear.

II. His QUALIFICATIONS for the office of Tempter.

1. Skill; he has an angelic nature; great experience.

2. Power;

(1)rule, power;

(2)does not stand alone in his work;

(3)the third source of power lies in that mysterious relation between fallen man and the Tempter which necessitated redemption, and which justified the expression, "Prince of this world."

3. Malice: with skill and power is combined unceasing hostility to God and man. But while we note the extent of Satan's power we must not forget its limits. As a creature he possesses finite capacities. His knowledge is restricted in two ways: he cannot discern our thoughts, nor by himself read the future. True, he has acquired a conjectural knowledge. Also limits placed upon his power: on the Divine side there is the law of permission; on our side, of free will. Formidable as the enemy is, there is no ground for despondency, nor excuse for failure in the conflict. In the history of the Tempter see an instance of the fearful way sin may be permitted to run its course.

(W. H. Hatchings, M. A.)

Among military rules there is one in all authors which brings some advantage with it to study the nature and condition of our enemy.

(Hacker.)

I. A FEW GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS UPON THIS SUBJECT.

1. That we are to understand the account of the Evangelist as the history of an actual occurrence.

2. It may assist our thoughts to be reminded of the true character of our Lord's person.

3. That this history represents one great being, as the head of others, employed in the work of tempting men, and frustrating the designs of God.

4. Did Satan know the Person he assaulted? and could he have any hope of success? He knew something of our Lord's character, as appears from the question, "If Thou be the Son of God." But wicked minds often commit great blunders and engage in hopeless tasks.

II. GREAT PRACTICAL LESSONS WHICH THE TRANSACTION APPEARS DESIGNED TO TEACH.

1. The deep humiliation of our Lord.

2. The variety of those temptations by which men are assaulted.

(1)They are subject to necessities.

(2)They are tempted to presumption.

(3)Temptations to the worldly spirit.

3. We see here the means of effectually resisting temptation.

4. That temptation simply considered is not sin.

(R. Watson.)

I. The CIRCUMSTANCES under which it took place.

1. Time when happened.

2. Influence by which directed.

3. Place where enacted

4. Exercise by which prefaced — "Fasted."

II. The PARTICULARS of which it consisted.

1. Distrust.

2. Presumption.

3. Apostacy: to renounce His allegiance to God.

(1)The vision.

(2)The offer.

(3)The condition.

III. The CONSEQUENCES.

1. Satan defeated.

2. Jesus comforted.Uses:

1. Warning.

2. Direction.

3. Encouragement.

(H. Parr.)

I. WHY was Jesus tempted?

1. Because He was a man.

2. Because He was the Messiah.

II. WHAT is the significance of the several temptations?

1. In the first, Christ is urged to satisfy hunger by working a miracle. Christ refused, because miraculous power must not be used simply for personal advantage. Christ recalls the great fact that God feeds man with spiritual food.

2. Satan perceives Christ's frame of mind: Is Christ filled with confidence in His Father? From the Temple roof Christ is asked to cast Himself down. The act urged would have been presumptuous, ostentatious, and untimely. The third temptation was to sacrifice principle to policy. All His suffering might be prevented by a momentary act.

III. LESSONS.

1. Temptations ply us through the constitutional avenues of our being.

2. Scripture may be misapplied to lead us into sin.

3. Resistance of temptation is aided by familiarity with God's Word.

4. A Divine peace follows the resistance of temptation.

(Sermons by the Monday Club.)

I. WHY our Lord was tempted.

1. "Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest," etc.

2. To convey to all His people an assurance that there is a limit to the power of Satan.

II. How our Lord was tempted.

1. The time selected.

2. The circumstances skilfully adapted to the temptation.

III. How TO OVERCOME temptations.

1. To have God's Word in our hearts.

2. To have God's fear before our eyes.

(D. Moore, M. A.)

I. THE PERSON TEMPTED.

1. See here the depth of our Lord's abasement.

2. See the height of His love.

II. THE PART WHICH GOD TOOK IN OUR LORD'S TEMPTATIONS. "Led by the Spirit."

III. THE TIME OF OUR LORD'S TEMPTATIONS.

1. It was immediately after God had put on Him special honour.

2. Just before He entered upon His great ministerial work.

IV. THE PLACE where the Lord Jesus was tempted. Look on the exalted Jesus as the once tempted Jesus.

(C. Bradley.)

I. The sons of God are NOT EXEMPTED FROM TEMPTATION. Many new converts cherish false expectations concerning the peace which, in the Word of God, is promised them.

II. Temptation is NOT THE SAME THING AS SIN. TO be tempted may cause us much pain and sorrow, but it is not sin.

III. Temptations are DIVINELY ORDERED, both as to time and measure (ver. 1; Job 1:12; Job 2:6).

IV. After a season of special grace, we may expect a season of special trial. "Then" (ver. 1). It is not the vessel in ballast. but the vessel richly laden that is in danger from pirates.

V. Satan ADAPTS HIS TEMPTATIONS to our character and circumstances. Hence our watchfulness must be intelligent and comprehensive.

VI. THE HOLIEST THINGS MAY BE PERVERTED BY SATAN into instruments of temptation (vers. 3, 4, 6).

VII. Though temptations are varied in form, they are FEW IN KIND. Jesus was tempted to three things. "Then the devil leaveth Him," because he had exhausted all his means of assault.

VIII. VICTORY ITSELF MAY EXPOSE "US TO ASSAULT. We must not think we are rid of him when we have beaten him off. Watch.

IX. In the Word of God we have A SUFFICIENT ARMOURY OF DEFENCE (vers. 4, 7, 10).

X. In the stress and agony of the conflict, when we are tempted to yield by the fear that resistance is hopeless, let us remind ourselves that GOD HAS PROMISED GRACE TO SUPPORT US in the struggle, and a glorious reward when the victory is won.

(Anon.)

I. The necessity for some moral testing at the outset of life.

II. Preparations for testing come in our outward circumstances.

III. Such testings, or temptings, take a great variety of forms.

IV. The essence of all such testing is the finding out whether we really mean to live for Self or to live for God.

V. The force to resist evil lies in having our will set on God.

VI. The weapons with which to resist evil are God's Word. Learn: —

1. Well-taught childhood prepares for the temptations of life.

2. Early decision for Christ is the best safeguard against the tempter's power.

3. Temptations come to men still in the same three forms as they did to Jesus (1 John 2:16).

4. We only conquer as we are strong in God and in His Word.

5. A first conquest of evil should not lead us to think that the Tempter is conquered, nor make us cease to " watch and be sober."

(W. O. Simpson)

I. BEGINNERS WITH DIFFICULTIES;

II. PROGRESSORS WITH LANGUOR. Satan makes out the way of holiness to be —

(1)Long;

(2)rough;

(3)uncertain;

III. THE PERFECT WITH SCRUPLES AND ANXIETIES. Satan destroys —

(1)Tranquillity of soul;

(2)All spiritual joy;

(3)All sense of progress. A scruple is metaphorically derived from a small stone, which, getting inside the shoe or sandal, causes pain to the feet at every step.

(James Marchant.)

His —

I. POVERTY. He had nothing to offer Jesus Christ sufficient to allure Him.

II. IMPUDENCE. Repelled once, he returns to the attack. No sense of defeat or shame.

III. WEAKNESS. He did not cast our Lord down. He had no power to force.

IV. CRAFTINESS. He attacks our Lord's weakness by fasting. He graduates his temptations.

V. Is FALSE.

1. Promises that which he cannot give.

2. That which he has no intention of giving.

(Matthias Faber.)

1. Humility when most favoured by God; when most illumined and blessed by His Spirit.

2. The necessity of preparation for every work done for God, if that work is to be really fruitful.

3. All missionary and ministerial work is to be begun with self.

4. Preparation is necessary against the temptations of the Evil One.

(S. Baring. Gould, M. A.)

I. Temptations of Satan are to be FEARED:

(1)For the skill and method with which he tempts;

(2)Because his warfare is spiritual.

II. Temptations are SUCCESSIVE and variable. Satan

(1)changes the objects and manners of the temptation;

(2)Not tempting in more than one particular at a time.

III. Temptations are preserved by Satan in order and METHOD.

1. With pleasure, then with vainglory.

2. With riches and ambition.

IV. Temptations and their purposes are often HIDDEN. The serpent is seldom seen in its entire or full length.

V. Temptations are set LIKE SNARES. There are many social questions on which he suggests an inversion of God's moral laws.

VI. Temptations are often MADE IN SECRET. They lose their power if divulged. Many n plot is overthrown by discovery.

VII. Temptations are SUITED TO OPPORTUNITY. There are certain moral qualities nearly allied to certain vices; as harshness to cruelty and pride; as softness to luxury and dissipation.

VIII. Temptations have OPPOSITE METHODS. Gentle persuasion first, violent constraint afterwards.

IX. All temptations are ALIKE IN EFFECT.

1. Some strike the tempted one, laying him low by unexpected occurrences.

2. Others creep into the mind little by little, killing while resisting by soft suggestions.

X. Temptations are INTERMITTENT. The devil departs for a season, but returns to be victorious when least expected.

(Claude de Lingeirdes.)It is not enough for Him to fulfil the law, but He suffers Himself to be tempted to break it.

(Farindon.)

I. WE ARE ALL TEMPTED. Satan is behind all temptations.

II. SOME OCCASIONS ARE MORE SUITABLE TO THE TEMPTER'S PURPOSES THAN OTHERS. Moments of joy, sorrow, or unwatchfulness he often seizes.

III. THE TEMPTATION TO SIN FOR THE SAKE OF BREAD IS COMMON, and many are misled by it. Many who shrink from dark ways are guilty of distrust in their temporal circumstances. What an affluence of victorious power there is in that, "Hence, Satan."

(Dr. J. P. Lange.)

I. Though the devil come not in person to us, as he did to Christ, yet HE COMES BY HIS INSTRUMENTS. Balak sent to Balaam.

II. There be some that will say THEY WERE NEVER TEMPTED WITH KINGDOMS. It may well be, for it needs not, when less will serve. The devil need never carry us so high as the mount, the pinnacle is high enough; yea, the lowest steeple in all the town would serve the turn. Let us but stand in our window, or in our doors, if he will give us but so much as we see there, he will tempt us thoroughly. We will accept it, and thank him too.

III. In temptation there is BOTH FIRE TO CONSUME OUR FAITH, AND A DART TO WOUND OUR CONSCIENCES,

(Bishop Lancelot Andrewes.)

1. Succour.

2. Sympathy.

3. Example.

(T. McRae, M. A.)

1. Divinely permitted.

2. Humanly conditioned.

3. Diabolically caused.

4. Cunningly planned.

5. Successfully resisted.

(D. C. Hughes, M. A.)

Do not men tempt each other? Sinners entice. Some men are public tempters; tempters of a nation, of an age, to bad feelings, principles, and practices. A Voltaire is a tempter by his wit; a Hume, by his sophistry; a Rousseau, by eloquence; a Byron, by the splendours of poetic genius. Every bad man in an elevated situation is a public tempter.

(R. Watson.)

Green wood will not burn; dry wood soon takes fire; he then who, although he does not act the part of an incendiary, dries the wood in order that it may the sooner ignite, has a real share in the cause of the conflagration.

(W. H. Hutchings, M. A.)

As when a ship nears land, various pilots are sometimes seen to approach and bid for her guidance; then one, and then another, comes up to the vessel till the terms are settled, after which the successful applicant may be watched as the ship is towed out of the channel into the river. So the soul must agree to accept some guiding influence amongst the different ones which beset her, and to be controlled and conducted afterwards by it.

(W. H. Hutchings, M. A.)

This mingling of contraries runs through all our history. The scenery of a human life, like the scenery of nature, has its fertile plains, its grim ravines, its bleak and barren hills. Now it is bathed in the sunlight of a great joy, again it is overcast and saddened by the sorrows whose memory will never fade.

(H. Shaw.)Close to those sunlit heights there yawn downwards at our feet black and awful precipices, and one false step may be fatal.

(G. S. Barrett, B. A.)

The smallest bird can pick off the blossoms of a tree; if that blossom be not nibbled away, but grow a fair apple, the hurt is small that the fowls of the air can do unto it: so the firstlings of a godly life are in the greatest danger; Satan wants no sagacity to observe his advantages, but is aware that if the camp put their spade into the ground for a few days, and cast their trenches, they will hardly be displanted.

(Hacket.)Christ is no sooner out of the water of baptism than He is in the tire of temptation.

(Burkit.)

Ministers should not only be men of science, but of experience.

(T. Manton, D. D.)

This is not without the good providence of God, who hereby will prove His servants, to whom He will commit some special work.

(T. Manton, D. D.)

If Satan can foil the leaders, the bands are soon overcome; smite the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; cast down cedars, and they will crush many shrubs with their fall.

(T. Taylor.)

Jesus was not less the well-beloved Son of God in the wilderness of Judaea, than when He had just come up out of the waters of Jordan.

(D. Bagot, B. D.)

The unfurnished house is safe; danger is to be apprehended only when the dwelling is well-stocked with money, plate, or jewels. The traveller may proceed with immunity, whose empty purse presents no attraction to the robber.

(T. Smith.)

The bird that is captured by the fowler's snare, or overspread by his net, is unaware of her thraldom so long as she ties still, or continues feeding on the earth; but no sooner does she try to soar aloft and seek the heavens, than her perplexity begins, and the more she strives, the more she feels herself ensnared.

(T. Smith.)

No man was ever worth much who did not pass through some severe ordeals. A mushroom or a cucumber may be raised in the summer-house: not so the oak. When you want that to grow you plant it on the mountain slope, where it strikes its roots deeper into the soil, and becomes more compact in its fibre, because of the resistance it offers to the passing storm. The human frame, if it is to acquire strength, must not be wrapped for years in swaddling clothes, but trained to run in the race, and wrestle in the strife. The good soldier is not made in time of peace.

(Dr. Landels.)

Put a burning match to tinder or gunpowder, and it will kindle presently; but put it to water, and it will quench it straight: so it fareth in temptations. Our corrupt hearts, like tinder, do easily suffer corruption to kindle in us; but Christ's most holy heart did presently quench the evil of Satan's motions. And thus we see how Christ was tempted, and yet without sin.

(W. Perkins, D. D.)

The lonely tree stands more exposed to the tempest than that which is encircled by its fellows.

(W. Perkins, D. D.)

The pebble cannot be polished without friction, nor can the graces of the Christian be fully developed without trials.

(L. H. Wiseman.)A Christian tempted in business is like a ship in a gale; occupation and necessary, duties are the friendly windward headlands which break the force of the gale, under whose shelter the vessel may ride in safety; but he who is tempted in solitude is like the ship which has to encounter the full fury of the hurricane in the unsheltered open sea.

(L. H. Wiseman.)

We read that when King Richard I. had been on the sea near Sicily like to be drowned, he recalled that ancient and barbarous custom whereby the goods of shipwrecked men were escheated to the crown, making provision that those goods should be preserved for the right owners.

(Dr. Taylor.)

If we had no enemies to batter down our wails and holds without us, we have inward and domestic rebels and traitors which continually betray us.

As a cunning thief, if he can find room but for the point of a wrenech, will quickly make strong doors to fly open.

(T. Taylor, D. D.)

Some deny the existence of Satan. He knows that he can often work most effectually where his presence is least suspected. As a perfect orator wholly forgets himself, being absorbed in his subject, so Satan, as a consummate tempter, is willing to be himself forgotten, if his ends be accomplished, A thief never wishes to make himself conspicuous. Accordingly, the most subtle and dangerous temptations are precisely those which we least imagine come from the devil.

(L. H. Wiseman M. A.)

Andrew, Isaiah, James, Jesus, John, Naphtali, Nephthalim, Peter, Simon, Zabdi, Zabulon, Zebedee, ZebulunCapernaum, Decapolis, Galilee, High Mountain, Jerusalem, Jordan River, Judea, Nazareth, Sea of Galilee, Syria, Wilderness of JudeaCarried, Desert, Devil, Evil, Led, Order, Spirit, Tempted, Tested, Waste, Wilderness1. Jesus, fasting forty days,
3. is tempted by the devil and ministered unto by angels.
12. He dwells in Capernaum;
17. begins to preach;
18. calls Peter and Andrew,
21. James and John;
23. teaches and heals all the diseased.

Matthew 4:1

     3045   Holy Spirit, sovereignty
     3263   Holy Spirit, guidance
     3269   Holy Spirit, in Christ
     4018   life, spiritual
     4195   spirits
     4230   desert
     6250   temptation, sources
     8401   challenges
     8735   evil, origins of

Matthew 4:1-2

     1654   numbers, 11-99
     2033   Christ, humanity
     5338   holiday
     5773   abstinence, discipline
     5901   loneliness

Matthew 4:1-3

     5564   suffering, of Christ

Matthew 4:1-4

     4438   eating

Matthew 4:1-10

     6252   temptation, and Christ
     8225   devotion

Matthew 4:1-11

     2078   Christ, sonship of
     2372   Christ, victory
     4122   Satan, tempter
     4126   Satan, resistance to
     5214   attack
     5598   victory, over spiritual forces
     5804   charm
     5828   danger
     6022   sin, causes of
     6030   sin, avoidance
     8729   enemies, of Christ

Temptation
Eversley, 1872. Chester Cathedral, 1872. St Matt. iv. 3. "And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." Let me say a few words to-day about a solemn subject, namely, Temptation. I do not mean the temptations of the flesh--the temptations which all men have to yield to the low animal nature in them, and behave like brutes. I mean those deeper and more terrible temptations, which our Lord conquered in that great struggle with …
Charles Kingsley—All Saints' Day and Other Sermons

The victory of the King
'Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungred. 3. And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4. But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5. Then the devil taketh Him up into the holy city, and setteth Him on a pinnacle …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Springing of the Great Light
'Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, He departed into Galilee; 13. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: 14. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15. The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16. The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Early Welcome and the First Ministers of the King
'From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 18. And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19. And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20. And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him. 21. And going on from thence, He saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Interpretation of Holy Scripture. --Inspired Interpretation. --The Bible is not to be Interpreted Like any Other Book. --God, (Not Man,) the Real Author of the Bible.
It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. IT is impossible to preserve exact method in Sermons like these, uncertain in number, and delivered at irregular intervals. It shall only be stated that, having already spoken at considerable length, of the Inspiration of Holy Scripture;--not, one part more, one part less, but every part equally inspired throughout; not general, (whatever the exact notion may be of a book generally inspired,) …
John William Burgon—Inspiration and Interpretation

July the Thirteenth Plain Glass
"They were fishers." --MATTHEW iv. 12-22. And so our Lord went first to the fishing-boats and not to the schools. Learning is apt to be proud and aggressive, and hostile to the simplicities of the Spirit. There is nothing like plain glass for letting in the light! And our Lord wanted transparent media, and so He went to the simple fishermen on the beach. "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world." And by choosing labouring men our Master glorified labour. He Himself had worn the workman's …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Light for those who Sit in Darkness
From the text it appears that some are in greater darkness than others; and that, secondly, for such there is a hope of light; but that, thirdly, the light which will come to them lies all in Christ; and, fourthly (joyful news!) that light is already sprung up all around them: they have but to open their eyes to delight in it. I. SOME SOULS ARE IN GREATER DARKNESS THAN OTHERS. It appears from the text that it was so in Christ's days, and certainly it is so now. Divine sovereignty runs through all …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

How to Become Fishers of Men
Note, next, that we are not made all that we shall be, nor all that we ought to desire to be, when we are ourselves fished for and caught. This is what the grace of God does for us at first; but it is not all. We are like the fishes, making sin to be our element; and the good Lord comes, and with the gospel net he takes us, and he delivers us from the life and love of sin. But he has not wrought for us all that he can do, nor all that we should wish him to do, when he has done this; for it is another …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 32: 1886

Christ's First and Last Subject
IT SEEMS from these two texts that repentance was the first subject upon which the Redeemer dwelt, and that it was the last, which, with his departing breath, he commended to the earnestness of his disciples. He begins his mission crying, "Repent," he ends it by saying to his successors the apostles, "Preach repentance and remission of sins among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." This seems to me to be a very interesting fact, and not simply interesting, but instructive. Jesus Christ opens his …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 6: 1860

Twenty-Fourth Day. Firmness in Temptation.
"Jesus saith unto him, Get thee hence, Satan."--Matt. iv. 10. There is an awful intensity of meaning in the words, as applied to Jesus, "He suffered, being tempted!" Though incapable of sin, there was, in the refined sensibilities of His holy nature, that which made temptation unspeakably fearful. What must it have been to confront the Arch-traitor?--to stand face to face with the foe of His throne, and His universe? But the "prince of this world" came, and found "nothing in Him." Billow after …
John R. Macduff—The Mind of Jesus

Eighth Day. Submission to God's Word.
"Jesus said unto him, It is written."--Matt. iv. 7. We can not fail to be struck, in the course of the Saviour's public teaching, with His constant appeal to the word of God. While, at times, He utters, in His own name, the authoritative behest, "Verily, verily, I say unto you," He as often thus introduces some mighty work, or gives intimation of some impending event in His own momentous life, "These things must come to pass, that the Scriptures be fulfilled, which saith." He commands His people …
John R. Macduff—The Mind of Jesus

Knox -- the First Temptation of Christ
John Knox, the great Scottish reformer, was born at Giffordgate, four miles from Haddington, Scotland, in 1505. He first made his appearance as a preacher in Edinburgh, where he thundered against popery, but was imprisoned and sent to the galleys in 1546. In 1547 Edward VI secured his release and made him a royal chaplain, when he acquired the friendship of Cranmer and other reformers. On the accession of Mary (1553) he took refuge on the Continent. In 1556 he accepted the charge of a church in Geneva, …
Various—The World's Great Sermons, Volume I

The Temptation in the Wilderness.
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, if thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, …
George MacDonald—Unspoken Sermons

Thoughts Upon the Appearance of Christ the Sun of Righteousness, or the Beatifick vision.
SO long as we are in the Body, we are apt to be governed wholly by its senses, seldom or never minding any thing but what comes to us through one or other of them. Though we are all able to abstract our Thoughts when we please from matter, and fix them upon things that are purely spiritual; there are but few that ever do it. But few, even among those also that have such things revealed to them by God himself, and so have infinitely more and firmer ground to believe them, than any one, or all their …
William Beveridge—Private Thoughts Upon a Christian Life

Christ, the Great Teacher
Scripture references: Matthew 4:23; 5:1,2; 7:29; 13:54; 26:55; 28:19,20; Mark 1:21,22; 4:1,2; 6:6; Luke 5:3; 11:1; 19:47; John 6:59; 7:14; 8:28. THE FOUNDER OF CHRISTIANITY The heart of the Christian religion is found in Jesus Christ. If we desire to know what Christianity is and of what elements it is composed we must look to Him and His teachings. He is the great source of our knowledge of what God, man, sin, righteousness, duty and salvation are. Our interest in the books of the Old Testament …
Henry T. Sell—Studies in the Life of the Christian

Jesus Sets Out from Judæa for Galilee.
Subdivision A. Reasons for Retiring to Galilee. ^A Matt. IV. 12; ^B Mark I. 14; ^C Luke III. 19, 20; ^D John IV. 1-4. ^c 19 but Herod the tetrarch [son of Herod the Great, and tetrarch, or governor, of Galilee], being reproved by him [that is, by John the Baptist] for Herodias his brother's wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done [A full account of the sin of Herod and persecution of John will be found at Matt. xiv. 1-12 and Mark vi. 14-29. John had spoken the truth to Herod as fearlessly …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

General Account of Jesus' Teaching.
^A Matt. IV. 17; ^B Mark I. 14, 15; ^C Luke IV. 14, 15. ^a 17 From that time Jesus began to preach [The time here indicated is that of John the Baptist's imprisonment and Jesus' return to Galilee. This time marked a new period in the public ministry of Jesus. Hitherto he had taught, but he now began to preach. When the voice of his messenger, John, was silenced, the King became his own herald. Paul quoted the Greeks as saying that preaching was "foolishness," but following the example here set by …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness.
^A Matt. IV. 1-11; ^B Mark I. 12, 13; ^C Luke IV. 1-13. ^c 1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, ^b 12 And straightway the Spirit driveth him forth ^c and ^a 1 Then [Just after his baptism, with the glow of the descended Spirit still upon him, and the commending voice of the Father still ringing in his ears, Jesus is rushed into the suffering of temptation. Thus abrupt and violent are the changes of life. The spiritually exalted may expect these sharp contrasts. After being …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus' Temporary Residence at Capernaum.
^A Matt. IV. 13-16. ^a 13 And leaving Nazareth [This expression means that Jesus now ceased to make Nazareth his home. For description of Nazareth, see page 60], he came and dwelt in Capernaum [See page 119. Capernaum means city of Nahum, or village of consolation. Its modern name, "Tel-Hum," means hill of Nahum. The word "dwelt" means that Jesus made this town his headquarters. He owned no house there (Matt. viii. 20). He may have dwelt with some of his disciples--for instance, Simon Peter--Matt. …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him.
(Sea of Galilee, Near Capernaum.) ^A Matt. IV. 18-22; ^B Mark I. 16-20; ^C Luke V. 1-11. ^a 18 And walking ^b 16 And passing along by the sea of Galilee [This lake is a pear-shaped body of water, about twelve and a half miles long and about seven miles across at its widest place. It is 682 feet below sea level; its waters are fresh, clear and abounding in fish, and it is surrounded by hills and mountains, which rise from 600 to 1,000 feet above it. Its greatest depth is about 165 feet], he [Jesus] …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Makes a Preaching Tour through Galilee.
^A Matt. IV. 23-25; ^B Mark I. 35-39; ^C Luke IV. 42-44. ^b 35 And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose up went out [i. e., from the house of Simon Peter], and departed into a desert place, and there prayed. [Though Palestine was densely populated, its people were all gathered into towns, so that it was usually easy to find solitude outside the city limits. A ravine near Capernaum, called the Vale of Doves, would afford such solitude. Jesus taught (Matt. vi. 6) and practiced solitary …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Second visit to Cana - Cure of the Nobleman's' Son at Capernaum.
THE brief harvest in Samaria was, as Jesus had indicated to His disciples, in another sense also the beginning of sowing-time, or at least that when the green blade first appeared above ground. It formed the introduction to that Galilean ministry, when the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did at Jerusalem at the Feast.' [2013] Nay, in some respects, it was the real beginning of His Work also, which, viewed as separate and distinct, commenced when the Baptist was cast into …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Second Journey through Galilee - the Healing of the Leper.
A DAY and an evening such as of that Sabbath of healing in Capernaum must, with reverence be it written, have been followed by what opens the next section. [2299] To the thoughtful observer there is such unbroken harmony in the Life of Jesus, such accord of the inward and outward, as to carry instinctive conviction of the truth of its record. It was, so to speak, an inward necessity that the God-Man, when brought into contact with disease and misery, whether from physical or supernatural causes, …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Temptation of Jesus
The proclamation and inauguration of the Kingdom of Heaven' at such a time, and under such circumstances, was one of the great antitheses of history. With reverence be it said, it is only God Who would thus begin His Kingdom. A similar, even greater antithesis, was the commencement of the Ministry of Christ. From the Jordan to the wilderness with its wild Beasts; from the devout acknowledgment of the Baptist, the consecration and filial prayer of Jesus, the descent of the Holy Spirit, and the heard …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

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