QT 04/02/2026 Wed. Matthew 4. Christ Triumphant in the Wilderness: Priest, Prophet, and King 基督在旷野得胜：祭司、先知与君王

QT 04/02/2026 Wed. Matthew 4. Christ Triumphant in the Wilderness: Priest, Prophet, and King
READ http://www.esv.org/matthew4

In Matthew 4, Jesus’ replies to the devil are all grounded in Deuteronomy, the covenantal “constitution” preached by Moses to Israel in the very same setting—the wilderness (Matt. 4:1) more than 1000 years before Jesus’ time. What Israel failed to live out then, Jesus faithfully fulfills in Matthew 4.

Matthew 4:4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (ESV)

Matthew 4:7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (ESV)

Matthew 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” (ESV)

Deuteronomy laid out God’s expectations for Israel’s priests, prophets, and kings—offices that would emerge throughout Israel’s history. In the wilderness temptation, Jesus stands as the true and obedient Priest, Prophet, and King, succeeding where Israel fell short.

(1) As Priest

As Priest, Jesus shows that true life-giving service flows from devotion to God’s Word. “Man shall not live by bread alone” (Matt. 4:4; Deut. 8:3). The priest’s calling is not merely to intercede on behalf of the people for forgiveness or for provisions to satisfy physical hunger or live comfortably, but to minister the Word that gives real life.

We cannot dismiss the need that students need pocket money in school and travel, toddlers need milk powder that don’t come cheap nowadays and adults need cash to pay for the roof over our heads or interest on the mortgage that funded that purchase. However, Jesus’ replies taught that  Obedience to God sustains the soul more deeply than bread sustains the body.

(2) As Prophet

As Prophet, Jesus refuses to misuse divine power for spectacle or self-promotion. He will not test God by forcing a dramatic display (Matt. 4:7; Deut. 6:16). The prophet’s role is not to impress others with divinely supplied sustenance, insights or opportunity, but to faithfully point others to God’s glory and truth, trusting God rather than manipulating appearances.

(3) As King

As King, Jesus rejects the temptation to seize power, prestige, and possessions apart from obedience to God (Matt. 4:10; Deut. 6:13). True kingship is not about grasping the glory of the world’s kingdoms, but about stewarding God-given authority to enable others to worship Him. Jesus will reign, but only through humble obedience and the way of the cross.

Because Jesus faithfully fulfills these three offices, He is fully qualified to call disciples (Matt. 4:18–22). His authority is not self-made; it is covenantally grounded and divinely proven. From Galilee to Jerusalem, Judea, “beyond the Jordan,” and even Syria, His mission reaches outward toward the nations.

Where Israel failed in the wilderness, Jesus triumphed. And because He did, He now calls us to follow Him—not in our strength, but in His victory.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for sending into the world your precious son Jesus Christ, our true Priest, Prophet, and King. Teach us to hunger for Your Word, to seek Your glory rather than our own, and to serve Your kingdom with humble obedience. In Jesus' name. Amen.

QT 04/02/2026 星期三. 马太福音4. 基督在旷野得胜：祭司、先知与君王
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/mat/4/

在马太福音第四章中，耶稣对魔鬼的回应皆根植于《申命记》——这本由摩西在同样的旷野环境（太4:1）向以色列宣讲的立约“宪章”，距耶稣降生已逾千年。以色列当年未能践行的应许，耶稣在马太福音第四章中忠实地成就了。

马太福音4:4  
耶稣回答：“经上记着：‘人活着，不是单靠食物，更要靠　神口里所出的一切话。’”

马太福音4:7
耶稣对他说：“经上又记着：‘不可试探主你的　神。’”

马太福音4:10  
但耶稣说：“撒但，走开！经上记着：‘当拜主你的　神，单要事奉他。’”

《申命记》阐明了神对以色列祭司、先知和君王的期望——这些职分将在以色列历史中陆续出现。在旷野受试探时，耶稣作为真实顺服的祭司、先知与君王，成就了以色列未能达成的使命。

(1) 作为祭司

作为祭司，耶稣彰显出真正赋予生命的服务源于对神话语的敬虔。“人活着不是单靠食物”（太4:4；申8:3）。祭司的呼召不仅是为百姓代求赦免，或祈求满足肉体饥渴、安逸生活的供应，更是要传讲赐予真实生命的道。

我们不能忽视学生在校需零用钱、出行需交通费，幼儿需如今昂贵的奶粉，成人需现金支付房租或偿还购房贷款利息的现实需求。然而耶稣的回应教导我们：论滋养身心灵的健康而言，顺服上帝来得比只关注用食物滋养身体来得更有效。

(2) 作为先知

作为先知，耶稣拒绝滥用神迹来博取收视率或自我标榜。祂不会通过强行制造戏剧性场面来试探神（太4:7；申6:16）。先知的使命不在于用神赐的供应、洞见或机遇取悦世人，而在于忠心指向神的荣耀与真理，信靠神而非操纵表象。

(3) 作为君王

作为君王，耶稣拒绝了背离顺服上帝而夺取权柄、尊荣与财物的诱惑（太4:10；申6:13）。真正的君王之道不在于攫取世俗国度的荣耀，而在于管理上帝所赐的权柄，使人得以敬拜祂。耶稣必掌权，但唯有通过谦卑顺服与十字架的道路。

因耶稣忠实地履行这三职，祂完全有资格呼召门徒（太4:18-22）。祂的权柄并非自创，乃立于盟约根基，经神明证。从加利利到耶路撒冷、犹太全境、“约旦河外”，乃至叙利亚，祂的使命向万国延伸。

以色列在旷野失败之处，耶稣得胜。正因如此，祂如今呼召我们跟随——不是凭我们的力量，而是倚靠祂的得胜。

祷告：

亲爱的天父，感谢祢差遣祢珍贵的儿子耶稣基督降世，祂是我们的真祭司、先知与君王。求祢教导我们渴慕祢的话语，寻求祢的荣耀而非自己的荣耀，并以谦卑顺服的心事奉祢的国度。奉耶稣的名求。阿们。