Matthew 4:8

Wednesday, 18 September 2024

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. Matthew 4:8

“Again, the Traducer, he takes Him to a mountain – exceedingly high – and shows Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus shut down the second temptation of the Traducer by citing Scripture in the proper context. Now, still determined to retain his kingdom, uninterrupted by the ministry of the Messiah, it next says, “Again, the Traducer, he takes Him to a mountain.”

The debate about what mountain this is or even where its location is fails to take into consideration that no such mountain as is being described actually exists. Thus, the mountain is being used as a descriptor for something else.

Throughout Scripture, the mountain carries a particular typological meaning, it is synonymous with a large but centralized group of people. This is seen in typology throughout the Old Testament. As Matthew is writing his account to a Jewish audience based on Jesus’ ministry being the fulfillment of the Old Testament law and prophets, that view must be taken into consideration.

As such, this mountain is typological of the gentile nations of the world. Even though as individual nations, they are not centralized, they actually are centralized under one head, as will be seen in the next verse, and even more especially in Luke 4:6. For now, this mountain is said to be “exceedingly high.”

In other words, it is a large but centralized group of people that is immense in population and power. This mountain would not include Israel because Israel has been redeemed by God as His own. What He chooses to do with Israel during times of disobedience does not negate that they are His people, purchased from among the nations.

As for the view from this mountain that He was taken to by the Traducer, it next says, “and shows Him all the kingdoms of the world.”

The word translated as “world” is kosmos. It is a word that is variously translated and understood. Context will determine what is being referred to. For example, in John 3:16, it mentions God’s love for the world. In that case, it refers to the people of the world.

HELPS Word Studies says of this word, “properly, an ‘ordered system’ (like the universe, creation); the world.” It is where our term cosmos is derived from which refers to the universe. It is also the root of cosmetics, a substance that treats the face as a whole in which women, in particular, apply stuff to it for various reasons, many of which men may or may not fully understand.

Strong’s defines the word as, “Decoration; by implication, the world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively (morally).” As for this presentation of the world to Jesus, Luke’s gospel continues by saying it is “in a moment of time.”

In other words, a view of all of the nations was brought before Jesus in an instant. Again, this shows us that what is being seen is something supernatural in nature. This doesn’t mean it is not real, but it is on a level that transcends our normal understanding of how things work.

The book of Acts shows various dreams and visions of people, such as Peter, Paul, Cornelius, and Ananias. These things are not normal, and yet they actually occurred. Thus, there is a realm of understanding that the spiritual word contains and which can be revealed to man at times and for various reasons. As for these kingdoms, it next says, “and the glory of them.”

The temptation would be immense for any human. Israel was a tiny sliver of land, very barren and dry in many parts of it. There was subjugation by Romans, there were limited traditions, a set amount of wealth and diversity, and so forth.

Seeing all the peoples of the world, the immense palaces, harems filled with the choicest women, heaping amounts of various types of wealth, the adornments of cities and streets in an almost unlimited number of ways, etc., would be a tantalizing and unimaginable temptation to someone raised in Israel and who had hardly peeked beyond its border except when looking to the surrounding lands on clear days.

Life application: Jesus was given the chance to appease His natural cravings, something we all face in innumerable ways. He was given the chance to exalt Himself and be exalted by others. He was given the opportunity to receive all of the nations of the world without going through the tedium of an ongoing human life. And more, He could avoid the inevitable terrifying ordeal of the week of the Passion, culminating in the cross.

And yet, He was willing to go through those things rather than to enjoy the pleasures of this life in a way that would fail to honor His Father. We, too, must make many choices in our lives when temptations arise. Will we hold fast to what is good in God’s eyes, meaning what is morally correct, or will we compromise or fall to our weaknesses?

Let us endeavor to glorify God in all ways. When we fail, let us return our minds to the Lord, reconsider our ways, and live for Him through His strength and in His wisdom. This is the right and proper path. May it be so for each of us as we live in the presence of our great and glorious Creator throughout all our days.

Lord God, thank You that Jesus prevailed for us. He has done what we could never do. But now, in our times of weakness, we can trust that His strength will carry us through. Thank You for the promise of eternal life because of Jesus. Yes, O God. Thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.