What does Matthew 4:2 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 4:2 speaks of Jesus Christ's period of fasting in the Judaean Desert, which lasted for forty days and forty nights.

This verse emphasizes the humanity of Jesus by noting that after this prolonged period without food, He felt the natural human sensation of hunger. The number forty is significant in the Bible and often represents a period of testing or trial.

The verse also sets the stage for the temptations that Jesus is about to face from Satan, as the subsequent verses detail. This preparation through fasting is indicative of spiritual readiness and discipline.

Historical Context

This verse is situated at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, immediately following His baptism by John the Baptist.

The context of 1st-century Palestine was steeped in Jewish traditions, where fasting was commonly practiced as a means of spiritual cleansing and preparation for encountering God.

The desert, traditionally a place of danger and desolation, was also seen as a place for spiritual encounters and testing, like with the Israelites’ forty-year journey through the wilderness.

Theological Insights

Different denominations and theologians might draw varying insights from this verse:

• Trial and Preparation: It's seen as a preparation period before Jesus begins His ministry, akin to Moses and Elijah's experiences, who also had significant encounters with God after periods of fasting.
• Jesus' Humanity: This verse highlights the full humanity of Jesus.

Despite being divine, He experienced human needs and limitations.

• Spiritual Discipline: It underscores the importance of spiritual discipline and the role of fasting in seeking a closer relationship with God.
• Victory over Temptation: The fasting is viewed as fortification for the upcoming spiritual battle, suggesting that spiritual preparation is key to overcoming temptation.

Practical Applications

This verse can be applied in various aspects of daily life:

• Embracing Spiritual Disciplines: As Jesus fasted, individuals can adopt practices such as fasting, meditation, or prayer to prepare for their own spiritual tests.
• Enduring Hardship: The verse can be seen as encouragement to endure through difficult periods, maintaining faith that they serve a higher purpose.
• Empathy for the Physical Needs of Others: Recognizing Jesus’ hunger can lead to empathizing with those who are physically needy, and it can inspire acts of charity and service.

Cross-References

• Exodus 34:28: "And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water.

And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments."

• 1 Kings 19:8: "And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God."
• Luke 4:1-2: "And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil.

And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered."

Language Study

• Fasted (νηστεύω): Its origins lie in the Greek word νηστεύω (nésteuó), meaning to abstain from food.
• Forty Days and Forty Nights: The phrase is symbolic in Jewish literature, often marking a time of testing.
• An hungred (ἐπείνασεν): The Greek word used is ἐπείνασεν (epeínasen), which is the third-person singular aorist active indicative of πεινάω (peináō), meaning he became hungry or felt hunger pains.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This verse can be compared to other cultural and religious fasting practices:

• Islam: During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until dusk, which could be likened to Jesus' fast, both serving as times for spiritual reflection and physical restraint.
• Buddhism: Some Buddhist monks and nuns observe intermittent fasting as a means of discipline and mindfulness, similar to the discipline shown by Jesus.
• Judaism: The Jewish tradition of Yom Kippur involves a 25-hour fasting period for atonement, showing a parallel in the idea of fasting for spiritual purposes.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the human body can survive for an extended period without food, relying on stored fat and muscle for energy.

While 40 days is an extreme duration, cases of medically monitored fasts and hunger strikes have shown that, under certain conditions, humans can survive for such lengths of time.

The verse's reference to hunger indicates Jesus endured a physiologically taxing experience, consistent with human biology's limitations.

Commentaries

• John Gill's Exposition of the Bible: Suggests the fast was voluntarily undertaken by Jesus and relates it to Moses and Elijah's long fasts.

Gill emphasizes Jesus' hunger as proof of His being in a real human body.

• Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: Discusses how Christ's fast was an act of obedience and part of His sufferings for mankind, making a connection between Jesus' hunger and His ability to empathize with human weaknesses.
• The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges: Considers the fast a spiritual exercise and preparation for the commencement of Jesus’ ministry, particularly highlighting the fact that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.