Matthew 4 – JESUS THE CHAMPION -

MATTHEW 4

Jesus THE CHAMPION

FOES ARE FALLEN –

Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Jesus was “led up of the Spirit”. Before he officially starts his earthly ministry you will see “the testing of the king”.
Jesus didn’t want to just claim to be God, He wanted to PROVE IT!
He proves he is the CHAMPION by defeating the champion!
Just like David(a type of Jesus Christ) defeats Goliath, who is called a CHAMPION!(1 Samuel 17:4, 23,51)
David beat the CHAMP in his first fight. Just like Jesus Christ defeats the reigning champ in his first recorded “fight”.

Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

“The devil” is “Satan”. It shows us that in Matthew 4:10-11.
Notice how the Bible explains itself all the time.

Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

It let’s you know the devil is the dragon, that old serpent, the devil, Satan, and Matthew 4:2 calls him “the tempter”.
Imagine seeing Jesus Christ on one end of the ring and the devil on the other side.
Imagine hearing the announcer look over at Jesus and the light is so bright that it is blinding and he says In this corner you have “the son of DAVID , the son of Abraham, the man Christ Jesus, the chiefest among ten thousand, God manifested in the flesh, the avenger, the punisher, the saviour, the son of God, the Lamb of God, the WORD made flesh, He which is, which was, and which is to come, the alpha and omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the last, the king of kings, the LORD of LORDS, the almighty, the rose of Sharon, the LORD JESUS CHRIST!
The announcer would look over to the other corner where it was dark and gloomy and say “in this corner we have Lucifer, the hast been, which is, which is to be tormented, the tempter, the dragon, the accuser of the brethren, the crooked Serpent, that old serpent, the prince of the power of the air, Baalzebub, Lord of the flies, which is the devil and Satan”

Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Jesus went into the wilderness. Jesus and John were both “wilderness” preachers.
This shows it isn’t a sin to be “tempted”. Jesus was tempted but never sinned.

Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus faced every temptation that you would face and came out smelling like the rose of Sharon. He came out as the sinless saviour that he was.

Mar 1:12 And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

Jesus Christ always had the Spirit in the driver’s seat.

Mar 1:13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

He wasn’t out there without a threat. He had “wild beasts” with him out there.
This wasn’t the pansy Jesus that Hollywood pictures.
Mark seems to show that the temptation was the entire forty days of the fasting and not just afterward.

Luk 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

Luk 4:2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

So he ate NOTHING! The WORD was made flesh and showed you how to BEAT THE FLESH!
Another opponent the LORD put down was the “flesh”. He was “full of the Holy Ghost”. The spirit is willing and the flesh is weak. He had hunger, thirst, and fatigue in the flesh. But JESUS always got the best of it.

Mat 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

Mat 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

JESUS CHRIST is “the stone”(Daniel 2:34). He is the “bread”. (John 6:35)
Jesus was “tempted in all points like as we are”. Any kind of temptation you face, the LORD had to face it and defeat it.
He came out as the undefeated champion.

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

The devil trying to get Jesus to “command that these stones be made bread” is “the lust of the flesh”.
Because Jesus Christ was in flesh and was hungry! It wasn’t wrong for Jesus to turn the stone into bread. It would have been wrong for him to listen to the devil.
This temptation matches the one the serpent put on Eve in Genesis 3:6. When she saw the tree was “good for food”.
Jesus wasn’t worried about the “stones”. He is the stone of stumbling and rock of offense. He wasn’t worried about the bread. He is “the bread of life”.
He was perfectly content with just himself, like he had been in eternity past before he even formed the crooked serpent.

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

The LORD responds with SCRIPTURE!
He uses the weapon that He wants us to use.

2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Notice it says “casting down every HIGH thing that EXALTETH ITSELF against the knowledge of GOD”.
What did the devil do. He said “I will EXALT my throne ABOVE the stars of God I will be like the MOST HIGH”.
The LORD used the greatest weapon of spiritual warfare and casted down the HIGH THING!

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The devil puts himself up pretty high.
That is why he is about to take him to a “HIGH place” on a pinnacle of the temple. That is why he is referred to as “SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES”.

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

the LORD “answered”. He is our EXAMPLE.

1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Jesus was quoting scripture.

Deuteronomy 8:3 “…that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.”

He said “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word”.

Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

The LORD JESUS CHRIST used the phrase “it is written”. I put the words up very HIGH.
These words were written by the LORD Himself.
The LORD did a lot of writing.

Exodus 24:12 “…I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.”

Exodus 31:18 “And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.”

Jos 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

The SWORD proceeded out of the mouth of the LORD and put the devil against the ropes.
He tries to throw another punch…

Mat 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

Like I said he likes to hang around “HIGH PLACES”.
The devil is now going to tempt the LORD again.
This time the temptation will be about “the pride of life”.

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

This will match the temptation the devil presented to Eve when she saw “a tree to be desired to make one wise”.

Mat 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

The devil says “IF thou be the son of God”. A temptation would be to show the devil he is GOD and just float off the temple.
The LORD doesn’t have to prove anything to the devil. He just quotes scripture again…

Mat 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Deu 6:16 Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.

Notice that the devil quoted scripture as well…

Psa 91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

Psa 91:12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

The devil left out the part about “to keep thee in all thy ways”. So the angels were already with the LORD, he didn’t have to jump to prove it.
This one guy told me one time that every time he gets on a high balcony or drop off that something tells him to JUMP!
Guess who tells him that! Remember the devil is called “YOUR” adversary.
Just because he can’t be everywhere at once doesn’t mean he doesn’t GET AROUND!

Mat 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Jesus quickly throws the devil back on the mat with another verse of scripture.
Jesus knows he has to be “tempted in all points like as we are” so he lets him get back up AGAIN!
He is “making a shew of him openly triumphing over him”.

Mat 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

Up into a “high” mountain because they devil loves “high” places.
He shews him “all the kingdoms of the world”.
Luke explains how quickly the devil does it..

Luk 4:5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

Mat 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

The devil’s pathetic attempt at a comeback victory is a complete failure.
Why would Jesus fall down and worship him to get the kingdoms if he knows he is ALREADY GOING TO GET THEM!

Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

The devil offering these kingdoms was the temptation of “the lust of the eyes”.

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

This matches the devil tempting Eve because she saw the tree was “pleasant to the sight” (Genesis 3:6)

Mat 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

I believe the devil would have given them to the LORD if he agreed to the deal.
Satan can give fame, power, authority, fortunes in exchange for worship.

2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

If you want temporary pleasure that only lasts for a little while than choose the devil.
If you want eternal riches than choose GOD.

Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

The LORD tells the devil “get thee hence” just like you would a stray dog that came in your yard.
Once again the LORD quotes scripture.

Exo 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

Mat 4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

See the angels came and ministered unto the LORD anyway. He didn’t have to jump off the pinnacle of the temple for that.

Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

The devil leaves the arena with his long red tail between his legs. (And yes he has a red tail Revelation 12:3-4)
The reigning champ now has a big fat “L” on his record.
Imagine the angels gathering around the saviour just like fans would the winner of a fight.

Jesus is the reigning champ. Every foe that came against him is fallen.

Jesus Christ is a champion because he…

FULFILLED THE FACTS –

Everything that needed to be fulfilled at his first coming was accomplished by Him.

Mat 4:12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;

Notice it doesn’t stop him from preaching. It probably just made him BOLDER!

Php 1:14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more boldto speak the word without fear.

Persecution actually makes people stronger, tougher, braver, bolder, and more confident.
Joseph, John, JESUS, Paul, Silas, Peter, and all kinds of great men are arrested in the Bible.

Mat 4:13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

Mat 4:14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

Mat 4:15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

“Esaias the prophet” is Isaiah the prophet.
Notice how precise and amazing the scriptures are.
They even record the LORD’s change of residence.
Such a detail proves the Bible is right.
How could one man fulfill all these prophecies in ONE LIFE TIME!

A champion fighter has many men predicting that he will take home the victory.
A true champion doesn’t disappoint.
Jesus Christ had all of these prophecies to fulfill and he came through on every one.

Here are many of the prophecies JESUS fulfilled at his first coming

Genesis 3:15 (Jesus, the promised seed)
Numbers 24:17, Genesis 12:3 , Genesis 17:19 (Comes through Abraham)
Isaiah 9:6 (unto us a son is given)
2 Samuel 7:8-12 (prophecy on his birth)
Numbers 24:17 (Comes from Israel)
Isaiah 11:1 (Comes out of DAVID)
Isaiah 7:14 (Born of a virgin)
Isaiah 7:14 (called Immanuel)
Micah 5:2 (Born In Bethlehem)
Jeremiah 31:5 (massacre of children happens at his birth place)
Deuteronomy 18:15 (would be a prophet)
Isaiah 60:3 (wise men coming to him)
Psalm 34:13 (he has no guile)
Genesis 49:10 (tribe of Judah)
Daniel 9:25 (Exact date of his birth)
Isaiah 40:3 (A voice cries to prepare his way)
Isaiah 9:6-7 (God in the flesh)
Hosea 11:1 (Would spend time in Egypt)
Zechariah 9:9 (enters JERUSALEM on the foal of an ass)
Psalm 69:4 (hated without a cause)
Psalm 41:9, Zech 11:12-13 (betrayed by a friend)
Zechariah 13:7 (disciples leaving him)
Psalm 38:11 (friends and family leave him)
Psalms 109:2 (lies said against him)
Zechariah 11:12 (sold for thirty pieces of silver)
Psalms 35:11 (false witnesses stand up against him)
Isaiah 53:4 (bears the sins of the world)
Isaiah 50:6 (spit on him and pull out his beard)
Isaiah 50:6 (gave his back to the Smiters)
Psalm 69:21 (given gall and vinegar to drink)
Psalm 22:1 (my god my god why has thou forsaken me)
Psalms 22:18 (cast lots for his garment)
Micah 5:1 (smitten on the cheek)
Isaiah 53:9-12 (numbered with the transgressors)
Job 16:10 (hit in the face)
Job 30:22 (lifted up on the cross)
Job 30:28 (sun refuses to shine from the 6th to the 9th hour)
Job 30:29 (pays the price in hell)
Psalms 22:16 (nails in hands and feet)
Psalm 34:20 (none of his bones were broken)
Zechariah 12:10 (they pierced him)
Zechariah 13:6 (wounds in his hands)
Psalm 109:4 (prays for his enemies)
Psalms 31:5 (into thy hands I commend my spirit)
Isaiah 53:9 (buried with the rich)
Psalm 16:10 (resurrection)
Psalm 24:7-10 (ascends into heaven)
Psalms 110:1 (sits at his right hand)

How would an ordinary man fulfill all these truths in the scriptures in one life time perfectly?
He has to be GOD!

Mat 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

This is quoting the prophecy from Isaiah 9:1-2.
Your “in the dark” until you meet Jesus Christ.

Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son

Jesus Christ is LIGHT! The devil tried to “knock his light out” but the LORD will “knock your dark out”.
The only time “darkness falls” around him is when he punches it.
And when he took the sin and darkness of man on him at the cross to defeat it once and for all.
Before you were saved you had the “shadow of death” hovering over you like a giant death cloud.
Like a alien mothership covering a city and turning it dark.
Which, some people say the “shadow of death” in the trib is going to be a giant, iron m, death cloud thing.
The wrath of God was abiding on you and you were a dead man walking.
Then you got saved and Jesus Christ SPRUNG UP in you.

Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Now JESUS begins his earthly ministry. Being about 30.
He was preaching “the kingdom of Heaven”. This is about a coming physical kingdom where he would be the KING on the throne and reigning from JERUSALEM.

FOLLOWERS ARE FISHERMEN –

Jesus Christ is a CHAMPION and you can tell by his followers
the men who followed Jesus Christ were rough manly men.

Mat 4:18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

These we’re rough fishermen that worked with their hands. That is the followers that Jesus Christ wants.

Eph 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

1Th 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

Mat 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Jesus knew the best workers for him would be men that were already working.
He knew they were already catching fish, and they could transition into catching men.

Soul winners are fishers of men because we are “under water”.

Psa 18:16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.

Psa 148:4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.

Don’t forget about the sea of glass up there.
When God uses a man to win a soul, he looks down through that sea of glass and sees you “take the bait.”

Mat 4:20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

They “straightway” like “immediately” left their nets.
The church of Ephesus is rebuked because they “left their first love”, the LORD and his word.
Be like the disciples and “leave your first love” according to the flesh. They “left their nets”.
You couldn’t get a lot of men to lay down the remote, video game controller, or fishing rod.
You “follow JESUS” today when you follow his word. 1 Peter 2:21 says to “follow his steps”.
The word is the LORDS mind. We need to especially follow what Paul wrote to the church. Paul said…

1Co 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Mat 4:21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

These two were such rough necks that he named them “sons of thunder”.

Mar 3:17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:

John is called “the disciple whom JESUS loved”.
The LORD trusted Him with the care of his mother after he died on the cross. What Jesus trust you with his mother?

Joh 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

Mat 4:22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

These we’re men that could be under the authority of their father.

Eph 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

It doesn’t seem that they even “looked back.”

Luk 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Just like DAVID had “mighty men” that followed him, the LORD had rough fisher men that followed him.
Why would Peter, James, and John follow a weak effeminate man?

1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

FAME SPREAD FAR –

JESUS CHRIST is champion and his FAME SPREAD FAR.
I would say he was on the cover of every magazine, but the world hated him.
Watch out for a preacher who is placed in a good light on late nite talk shows and magazine covers.

1Jn 3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

The world hated him but he still had people that loved him.
The people who hated him couldn’t stop talking about him.
The people that loved him wanted to meet him and get close to him.

Mat 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

The LORD “made a name for himself” going around teaching and preaching.
Sometimes a great fighter or champion can keep people amazed just by the things he says outside of the ring!
Jesus could lay a man down flat just with his words!!

Joh 18:4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

Joh 18:5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.

Joh 18:6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

Men we’re ASTONISHED at his words!

Mat 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

Mat 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

He confirmed these word with the sign gifts.
He could heal any sickness or disease.

Mat 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Mar 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Jesus was preaching the “gospel of the kingdom” to Jews.
He did all the signs and miracles to confirm what he was saying to the Jews.

1Co 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

The “gospel of the Kingdom” was about Jesus Christ being king and ruling on the throne in Jerusalem with Israel as the head of the nations.
Signs followed the preaching of this gospel.

Mat 4:24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

You couldn’t have COVID around Jesus Christ. You could touch his garment and be healed.
He didn’t follow health safety guidelines when he healed.
He got spit and clay on his fingers and rubbed it in a blind man’s eye and healed him.

Joh 9:6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

He showed no fear of devils. As the champ his “foes were fallen”.
Men would bring those who were “possessed with devils” and the LORD would get rid of the unclean spirits.

the devil may be “made without fear”(Job 41) but the devils “tremble” and fear JESUS CHRIST.
he had complete power over unclean spirits. Jesus had no fear of them.
you check under your bed for the boogie man but unclean spirits check under their bed for JESUS CHRIST.
the Lunaticks would even come to get healed. That was people who were “affected with madness” that was caused by the moon.
Some people call them “moon struck”.
If werewolves were real the LORD could have taught them to play dead, fetch, and bring him his newspaper.
He could have went out during a full moon, in a werewolf pack, and all you hear is yelping.

Mat 4:25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

He would have billions of followers on social media today if he didn’t get banned first.
People who hate him would follow him to criticize what he says.
People who love him would follow him because they would worship him.