(Tap footnote to read it. Old Testament quotations are underlined. "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.1"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love". However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior. It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings. (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".) Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé". Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing. It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )
Jesus’ Temptation
- Then Jesus was led up into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by the Accuser.1“Accuser” The Greek word used here is “διάβολος” (diabolos), and it’s the root of our English word “devil”. Much like “Christ” (see note on Matt 1:1) “devil” isn’t a name but a descriptive title.
- And having fasted2“fasting” doesn’t always refer to a complete denial of food. Long fasts were often done with little or unpleasant food. Jesus might not have forgone food and drink entirely, but rather was living on little or unpleasant food. forty days and forty nights, He was hungry afterwards.
- And having approached, the one tempting Him told Him; “If you are God’s Son, command these stones so they become bread.
- But answering, He said; “It is *written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every spoken word3“spoken word” the Greek word here refers only to words that are spoken, never to words that are written. proceeding from God’s mouth.”4quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 8:3
- Then, the Accuser takes Him to the holy city and stood Him on the pinnacle of the temple.
- And he tells Him; “If you are God’s Son, throw yourself down. For it is *written: “He will give orders to His angels concerning you.”5quotation/allusion to Psalm 91:11 Also, “They will raise you up on their hands, lest you stumble when your foot strikes against a stone.”6quotation/allusion to Psalm 91:12
- Jesus was declaring to him; “Again, it is *written: you shall not test the Lord your God.”7quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 6:16
- Again, the Accuser takes Him to a very high mountain and shows Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
- And he told Him; “I will give you all these things if, having bowed down, you worship me.”
- Then Jesus tells him; “Depart Satan! For it is *written: You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve Him alone.”8quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 6:13
- Then the Accuser leaves Him and behold, angels came and were serving Him.
- Now, because He heard that John was arrested, He went back into Galilee.
- And having left Nazareth, He came and settled down in Capernaum by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
- so the word spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, saying;
- “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way of the sea across the Jordan; Galilee of the gentiles.
- “The people sitting in darkness saw a great light. And to the men sitting in the land and shadow of death, a light rose on them.”9quotation/allusion to Isaiah 9:1-2
Jesus Begins Teaching and Healing
- From that time on, Jesus began to proclaim and say; “Repent!10“Repent” this Greek word doesn’t speak of remorse or guilt for wrong actions. Rather, it literally means to “think differently after” or to “reconsider”, with an assumed change in behavior. To both the Hebrews and 1st century Greeks/Romans, a change in mind was synonymous with a change in behavior; you couldn’t have the first without the second. All that meaning is captured by a single Greek word here. for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.”
- Now, while walking beside the Sea of Galilee He saw two brothers – Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother – casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
- And He tells them; “Come! Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.”
- And having immediately dropped the nets, they followed Him.
- And having gone forward from there, He saw others. Two brothers – James the son of Zebedee and John his brother – were in a boat with Zebedee their father adjusting their nets and He called them.
- And having immediately left the boat and their father, they followed Him.
- Further, He was going through all Galilee; teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every chronic disease and every sickness in the people.
- Now, the news about Him went out into all of Syria and they brought all the sick to Him: those having various chronic diseases, and persisting torments, and being demon possessed, and having seizures, and paralytics, and He cured them.
- Further, many crowds followed Him from Galilee, and the Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
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