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Explanation for:
Matthew
4
:
1
Then Jesus was led by the spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the devil.
11
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"It is certain that He is resurrected by the Holy Spirit, as the following words indicate: For temptation from the devil. He is led away, not under compulsion or force, but willingly, possessing the strength to resist."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"When did this event take place? After the Holy Spirit descended and the voice from above declared, \\"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.\\" Remarkably, as the evangelist recounts, Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit. Christ undertook everything He faced to instruct us. Even now, He willingly enters into the wilderness and battles against the adversary, so that anyone baptized does not find themselves bewildered by additional trials that may arise post-baptism. Instead, they should face every trial with courage, recognizing these challenges as a normal part of the faith journey. You have been equipped not for idleness, but for combat, which is why God permits temptations to come your way. First, He allows them to reveal your strength; second, to keep you humble amidst the gifts you receive, as hardships have a way of grounding us; third, to persuade the evil one, who still questions your fidelity, of your complete departure from him as he witnesses your endurance through trials; fourth, to transform you into something more resilient than iron; and fifth, to affirm the invaluable treasures entrusted to you. Indeed, the devil would not approach you if he did not perceive the high honor you have received. This was precisely why he rebelled against Adam, seeing him in his glory. Similarly, he conspired against Job when he recognized him as favored by the Almighty. You may ask, how can it be that we are advised to “pray that ye enter not into adversity” (Matthew 26:41)? The evangelist clarifies that Jesus did not enter the wilderness by His own will, but under divine guidance, indicating that we should seek to avoid temptation yet stand firm when we find ourselves in it. Notice where the Spirit directed Him—not to a city or public place, but to the wilderness. It seems He purposefully sought out the devil, inviting temptation through solitude and hunger, for the enemy often strikes when we are alone with our thoughts. In the beginning, he approached Eve when she was by herself. However, he is less bold when we are surrounded by others, making it essential for us to gather frequently, to avoid falling easily into his snares."},{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Why did the adversary not tempt Him until He reached the age of thirty? Given that there was no evident manifestation of His divine nature from the heavens and that He appeared in a lowly state like any ordinary man, lacking grand declarations among the people, Satan chose to postpone his temptations until these truths were made known. When he heard the proclamation, \\"Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world\\" (John 1:29), he was filled with astonishment but still awaited His baptism to discern whether He would approach it as one needing baptism Himself. Yet, upon witnessing the brilliant light above the waters and hearing the voice from heaven, he realized that Christ entered the water not out of necessity but to fulfill righteousness. Reflecting on this, he thought to himself, \\"If I do not engage Him in battle and temptation, I cannot truly know who He is.\\" Additionally, it transpired as well because the Benefactor did not need to fend off the urging of the tempter. Otherwise, the tempter would not have dared to approach Him or lead Him, as he lacked the understanding to tempt Him effectively. \\n\\nAs soon as Satan approached to tempt Him, the Lord prepared Himself for the confrontation, donning the armor of the Spirit. \\"The Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil,\\" which He chose not to resist out of custom, lest those who learned of it run away, believing that His inability to confront the tempter indicated He could not prevail against him. This was especially to ensure that no unbelievers could claim the Spirit was subordinate or later than the Son. Had He been raised solely to contend and battle without also being exalted and at peace, the disputers might have raised legitimate concerns. But if the Spirit were inferior to the Son, one must question why the Spirit possessed the power to uplift Him in the wilderness. \\n\\nHe demonstrated such authority when He was led into the wilderness. The Spirit's guiding Him there for the purpose of facing temptation aligns with the Scripture that states, \\"No man can enter into the house of the strong man and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house\\" (cf. Matt. 12:29). Thus, He first bound the strong man and conquered him in his own domain, before He commenced His ministry. Furthermore, He provided us with the pathway of fasting so that through it we might triumph over the seductions of Satan. In the manner of the three immersions that marked the Savior's baptism, He was also tempted thrice."},{"author-name":"Anonymous Commentary (Opus Imperfectum)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":4,"exegesis-text":"By stating “to be tempted of the devil,” the evangelist illustrates that the Lord was guided by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness, but this was neither in the manner of a younger following the elder's command nor the elder responding to the younger's request. The term “raised up” or “led” can denote both being directed by another's authority and the individual responding to a rational urging. This is exemplified in the account of Andrew, who discovered his brother Simon and declared, “We have found the Messiah, which is Christ,” and brought him to Jesus (John 1:41-42). Therefore, he did not compel Simon; rather, he persuaded him through reason. This is akin to a military leader advising a king facing tyranny: “Speak out against him; the entire region is in danger, for your honor surpasses my own authority.” In this scenario, while the king is indeed influenced by the commander, he does not diminish in stature. In the same way, Jesus was led into confrontation with the tempter; however, the devil ventures to tempt mankind rather than the reverse. Thus, the adversary could not approach Christ to tempt Him, as Christ actively confronted the devil."},{"author-name":"Isidore of Pelusium","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88d94130e668938c9ae9d_Isidore%20of%20Pelusium.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"If Christ, who is God incarnate for our sake, was taken into the wilderness to face temptation, why are you astonished that you find yourself contending with temptation in your own wilderness? Therefore, focus solely on the triumph of Christ, which He secured through His victory over vanity, the suppression of pride, the annihilation of greed, and the shaming of the enemy, who cannot harm you with his attacks. You, too, must exhibit true courage and, having attained a state of spiritual resilience, conquer the wounds inflicted on your soul. Following this battle, the angels will attend to you not as those bound to fulfill a duty to God alone, but as those who honor you as a conqueror, for this is the reward bestowed upon those who bravely accomplish great deeds."},{"author-name":"Gregory the Great","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88c2b032f5f6e5effaa54_Gregory%20the%20Great.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":6,"exegesis-text":"There are those who often question the spirit by which Jesus was guided into the wilderness, as it is also stated, “Then the devil took Him to the holy city,” and again, “The devil took Him to a very high mountain.” However, it is clear and without bias that He was indeed led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit so that His own spirit could guide Him away from the place where the evil one had found Him to tempt. Yet, when it is mentioned that the God-Man was taken to an exceedingly high mountain or brought into the Holy City by the devil, many find themselves perplexed, and the ears of humanity hesitate to accept this truth. Nonetheless, we do not find it improbable, especially when reflecting on other occurrences in His life. It is understood that the devil is the chief of all evildoers, and his followers are those who commit wickedness. Was not Pilate one of his followers? Were not the Jews who opposed Christ and the soldiers who executed Him also members of his rank? Therefore, it is not surprising that He who permitted the devil to take Him to the mountain also allowed his minions to bring about His crucifixion. Thus, it is fitting for our Redeemer that He chose to be tempted as He approached His death. It was just for Him to conquer our temptations through His own, as He came to defeat our mortality through His death. We must acknowledge that temptation manifests in three forms: through incitement, allure, and agreement. When we face temptation, we often succumb to pleasure or even to agreement because, stemming from our sinful nature, we inherently carry the reasons we must endure this struggle. In contrast, God, who was made flesh in the womb of the Virgin and entered into the world without sin, possessed no contrary inclinations. Consequently, while He could be tempted through instigation, the allure of sin could not harm His soul. Therefore, none of the temptations presented by the devil from without ever reached within Him."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"In instructing us that following baptism we should anticipate temptation above all else, Jesus was guided by the Holy Spirit, as He acted solely through the Spirit's influence. He was taken into the wilderness to teach us that the enemy seeks to tempt us when we find ourselves isolated and without support from others. Thus, we should be open to the counsel of those around us and not depend solely on our own strength. The adversary, often referred to as the slanderer, earned this name because he misrepresented God to Adam, suggesting that God was jealous of him. Even today, he continues to defame what is virtuous."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Upon His incarnation, He engaged in and accomplished all that was necessary for instructing humanity. Following His Baptism, He was surrendered to the Holy Spirit, who guided Him according to divine will and led Him into the wilderness to confront the adversary. After Baptism, it is essential not to rely on your own understanding but to be directed by the Spirit, and not to be disheartened when trials arise post-Baptism. This is the reason you are equipped for battle. Consequently, God does not spare you from adversities; first, to reveal the strength of the armor bestowed upon you; second, to teach you to contend; third, to lead you to glory; and lastly, to remind you of the immense treasure entrusted to you. If this were not the intention, the enemy would not engage you without cause. Where there is treasure, there he positions his forces. He stood firm in the wilderness, a place that was daunting. Mark notes that He was there with the wild beasts (Mark 1:13), indicating that the struggle was indeed more significant. The devil intensifies his assault, especially when he observes that man stands alone and devoid of support."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"West of Jericho, amid the desolate mountains of Judea, stands the stark and rugged Mount of Temptation. Its steep inclines are marked by numerous caves where, during the flourishing period of Christian asceticism, the monastic fathers engaged in fasting and prayer. It was in this desolate wilderness that our Lord Jesus Christ dedicated forty days to fasting and prayer after receiving the baptism from John. The holy Evangelist Matthew recounts, \\"JESUS WAS LED BY THE SPIRIT,\\" not by His own choosing, but as a Man submitting to the Spirit of God, which had visibly descended upon Him at the Jordan, into this wilderness to face the temptations of the devil. St. John Chrysostom notes that \\"He was led away by the Spirit into the wilderness,\\" instructing us not to venture into temptation presumptuously. Similarly, the Apostle Paul, fully surrendering himself to the Spirit's guidance, stated, \\"And behold, now I, being drawn by the Spirit, go to Jerusalem\\" (Acts 20:22). \\n\\nTo all who have been baptized in the name of Christ, it is essential to yield to the will of God and not be disheartened when faced with temptation, as this preparedness equips you for the battle. Do not seek out temptation yourself, but when it arises with God's allowance, confront it with fortitude. God permits these trials so that you may remain humble, experience His assistance, strengthen your faith, and gain your reward. After the momentous event of His baptism, our Lord recognized, due to His humanity, a profound need for solitude. Anyone who has been gifted by God, after earnest prayer, with a sense of something new and joyous understands the value of peace and solitary contemplation. Thus, it was vital for Jesus to withdraw from the crowd, seeking solitude in the wilderness to commune with His Heavenly Father, relying on prayer and fasting to prepare for His impending suffering and trials for our salvation.\\n\\nAs a Man, our Lord comprehended the significant challenges ahead and felt the necessity to express before His Heavenly Father the vulnerabilities of His incarnated nature, alongside a deep love and gratitude for the experience at the Jordan. St. John Chrysostom observes how the Spirit directed Him, not into the city or the marketplace, but into the wilderness, where the devil could tempt Him in solitude. The devil particularly seeks to ensnare us during our solitary moments, often when we rely solely on our own understanding. Eve, for instance, was approached by the devil while she was alone, without Adam. It is noteworthy that the first Adam faced temptation from the devil in a beautiful paradise, leading to his exile and bringing God's curse upon creation, as seen in the desolate landscapes that now reflect man's fall. In contrast, the second Adam, our Lord Jesus Christ, confronted the devil in the wilderness, triumphed over him, and restored paradise to humankind.\\n\\nIn the wilderness, wild beasts, once under the dominion of man, sought refuge from their greatest enemy. Yet, the Savior, as the God-Man, entered this wilderness free from the age-old animosity toward the mute creatures, allowing them to gather around Him without fear, submissive to Him as they had once been to Adam in the earthly paradise. The evangelist Mark poignantly notes, \\"and He was ... with the beasts\\" (Mark 1:13). Satan tempted the forefathers in paradise with three forms of sinful desires: the desire of the flesh, \\"the tree is good for food\\"; the desire of the eyes, \\"it is pleasant to the eyes\\"; and the pride of life, \\"you will be like gods\\" (Genesis 3:5-6). In a similar fashion, he assailed the Lord. Focused on prayer and the monumental service that awaited Him, Jesus, in His humanity, became oblivious to food. However, after forty days of rigorous fasting, He felt the pangs of hunger."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Following the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus at His baptism, which occurred immediately rather than at a later moment as some might believe, the emphasis rests on the Holy Spirit rather than on Jesus' personal spirit or that of the tempter (cf. Lk. 4:1). After His baptism, Jesus submits Himself to the Holy Spirit, allowing Himself to be guided by Him wherever He leads, ultimately finding Himself in the wilderness to confront the devil (Euph. Sig., cf. Chrysostom and Theophilus). \\n\\nThe term \\"wilderness\\" refers to a location believed to be where the Lord faced temptation, situated to the west of Jericho, identified as the forbidding and uninhabitable forty-day (Quarantania) wilderness, a place frequented by wild animals and brigands (alternatively known as the wilderness of Jericho - Num. 16:1). \\n\\nTo tempt generally denotes a process of testing or examining, and in a more specific context, it can imply enticing individuals toward malicious actions, revealing either the strength of moral goodness within them or highlighting its absence. In this instance, temptation refers to a trial to ascertain whether Jesus is truly the Messiah, using the allure of sin to challenge Him. \\n\\nThe devil, regarded as a deceiver, an opponent, or an enemy, is portrayed in Scripture as a fallen angel who rejected goodness, embodying the essence of evil and opposing all that is good, particularly the salvation of humanity. The Gospels do not specify how he appeared to the Savior. It may not have been in an overtly corporeal manner, aligning more with the nature of subsequent actions; however, it is clear that he was not merely a manifestation of Jesus' own tempting thoughts, as some have suggested. It was ultimately the spirit of evil that confronted the Savior in some form."},{"author-name":"Kochomski S.W.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Following this, Jesus was carried by the Spirit into the desert. The descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus at His baptism (Matthew 3:16) represented more than just a physical manifestation of the Third Person of the Holy Trinity; the Holy Spirit truly settled upon Jesus, bestowing His gifts to guide and fortify His human nature as He faced the formidable ministry ahead. The first action Jesus took thereafter was to enter the wilderness, revealing the Spirit’s guidance present within Him. It is widely believed that this wilderness refers to the area between Jericho and the Dead Sea. Jesus sought solitude, fasting, prayer, and contemplation in this place; however, He understood that it would also serve as the battleground for the devil to unleash every conceivable temptation against Him. The Evangelist Matthew highlights this anticipated outcome of His retreat into the wilderness as part of His mission, stating, ‘He was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.’"}]}
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