Bible Discussion Thread

Matt.4:1-2 "The Number Forty"

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil./And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.(vv.1-2)

'Then' refers to the descent of the Spirit in the form of a dove in the preceding passage.(3:16) Lucan gospel informs us that Jesus was tempted for forty days of the devil.. St Matthew lays emphasis on the manner the tempter would try to trip him up. Mark merely mentions it as matter-of-factly as a anecdote. "And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness./And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him".( Mark 1:12-13). John left it out altogether. Before we go on with his ministry we present the four gospels relate to one another inextricably as the Logos aspect of the Son of man is bound with God which was with the Word. The "Word was God" ( John 1:1)

The Spirit uses 40 days to indicate the sovereignty of the Word as the Son of man handled. Four refers to cardinal directions and whether east or west south or north the Word of God stood on a firm foundation."Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his."(2 Ti.2:19) In the case of Jesus in his humanity needed preparation so he was led by the Spirit during 40 days (4x10). Before he began his ministry the same number of days as well as he was seen for 40 days by his disciples in his risen body. In short the number lays down it as a tag and applies to anyone who is taken into service. The life of Moses is tagged likewise."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." (Ex.34:28) Before Moses could serve the nation the number serves as a diploma of having been found adequate to serve. It is thus the Spirit led Jesus into wilderness.