What does Matthew 4:9 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 4:9 depicts a moment during Jesus’s forty days and nights in the wilderness, where Satan, the tempter, seeks to lure Jesus away from His mission through an offer of worldly power.

Satan presents to Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, proposing a transaction where Jesus could receive these if He would bow down and worship Satan.

This verse captures the essence of temptation, not just the lure of material wealth and power, but the deeper challenge to Jesus's obedience to God and His divine purpose. It raises profound questions about the nature of devotion, worship, and the price of earthly authority and influence.

Historical Context

The verse is a part of the narrative in the Gospel of Matthew that describes the temptation of Jesus by Satan, which occurs after Jesus's baptism by John the Baptist.

The period when Matthew wrote his Gospel is estimated to be around 70–110 AD.

This event is significant within the early Christian communities as it both exhibits Jesus’s humanity, being subjected to temptation, and His divinity, overcoming these temptations by adhering strictly to God’s will.

At that time, the allure of political power and worldly kingdoms would have been particularly poignant against the backdrop of Roman occupation and the Jewish hope for a messianic deliverer who would establish an earthly kingdom.

Theological Insights

Different theological views focus on various aspects of this verse:

• Traditional Christian View: This scene is a pivotal demonstration of Jesus's rejection of earthly power and reaffirms His dedication to His messianic mission which is bound to the worship of God alone.
• Christus Victor Model: Some theologians may interpret this as a moment of victory over the powers of evil, prefiguring the ultimate triumph of Jesus through His death and resurrection.
• Moral Influence Theory: The emphasis here could be on the example Jesus sets for believers to resist worldly temptations and remain faithful to God.

Practical Applications

This verse offers several practical applications in daily life:

• Resisting Temptation: Individuals can draw strength from Jesus’s example to resist temptations of material gain or unethical compromises for power or advancement.
• Prioritizing Devotion to God: The verse underscores the importance of placing one's worship and devotion to God above all else, especially when faced with attractive alternatives.
• Spiritual Discernment: It urges believers to cultivate discernment to recognize when offers of wealth or status might be diverting them from their core values.

Cross-References

• Luke 4:5-8: A parallel account of this temptation with Jesus's response, "Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."
• Deuteronomy 6:13: “Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.”
• Philippians 2:9-11: Discusses how, because of Jesus’ obedience, God exalted Him and gave Him a name above all names, that every knee should bow to Him.

Language Study

The original Greek text for key terms in Matthew 4:9 includes:

• προσκυνήσῃς (proskynēsēis): Translated as “worship”, meaning to fall down and pay homage or to express reverence or adoration.
• δώσω (dōsō): Translated as "I will give", implies the act of giving or bestowing something.
• πεσὼν (pesōn): Translated as "fall down", indicates a physical bowing or prostrating oneself, which can symbolize submission.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This verse can be compared to other ancient traditions where deities offer kingship or power in exchange for allegiance or worship, such as the promises of patronage from Roman or Greek gods to their devotees.

The motif of testing by a divine or semi-divine being also finds parallels in other religions, such as the Islamic narratives of the prophets or the trials of characters in Hindu scriptures.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives might offer psychological insights into the nature of temptation, the human desire for power, and the mechanisms of self-control.

From a sociological standpoint, the verse might be analyzed in terms of power dynamics and the ethical implications of leadership that is won through compromise rather than integrity.

Commentaries

Different biblical scholars and theologians have provided varied commentaries on Matthew 4:9:

• William Barclay: Suggests that this temptation represents the lure of achieving good ends through unworthy means, emphasizing Jesus’s refusal to compromise His mission.
• John Calvin: Views this as a temptation to overturn the ordination of God by gaining dominion through worship of Satan rather than adherence to God’s providence and timing.

Commentators generally agree on the significance of this event as a rejection of Satan's power and the affirmation of Jesus's commitment to His Father's will and His kingdom.