Matthew 4:3

"When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward."

Key Reflection

In first-century Jewish culture, fasting was a significant practice often associated with repentance, prayer, and preparation for divine revelation. The narrative of Jesus' forty-day fast in the wilderness would have resonated deeply with his audience, evoking memories of Moses' own forty-day fast on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:28) where he received the Ten Commandments. This context highlights Jesus' identification with both the law and divine mission, underscoring his unique role as a prophet and messiah.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 3. The tempter. The devil, or Satan. See Mt 4:1. If thou be the Son of God. If thou art the Messiah--if God's own Son--then thou hast power to work a miracle; and here is a fit opportunity to try thy power, and show that thou art truly his Son. Command that these stones, etc. The stones that were lying around him in the wilderness, No temptation could have been more plausible, or more likely to succeed, than this. He had just been declared to be the Son of God, (Mt 3:17) and here was an opportunity to show that he was really so. The circumstances were such as to make it appear plausible and proper to work this miracle.

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