Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Luke: Chapter 4].
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4:1 {Full of the Holy Spirit} (\pl•r•s pneumatos hagiou\). An
evident allusion to the descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus at
his baptism (Lu 3:21f.). The distinctness of the Persons in the
Trinity is shown there, but with evident unity. One recalls also
Luke's account of the overshadowing of Mary by the Holy Spirit
(1:35). Mt 4:1 says that "Jesus was led of the Spirit" while
Mr 1:12 states that "the Spirit driveth him forth" which see
for discussion. "Jesus had been endowed with supernatural power;
and He was tempted to make use of it in furthering his own
interests without regard to the Father's will" (Plummer). {Was
led by the Spirit} (\•geto en toi pneumati\). Imperfect passive,
continuously led. \En\ may be the instrumental use as often, for
Mt 4:1 has here \hupo\ of direct agency. But Matthew has the
aorist passive \an•chth•\ which may be ingressive as he has \eis
t•n er•mon\ (into the wilderness) while Luke has \en t•i er•m•i\
(in the wilderness). At any rate Luke affirms that Jesus was now
continuously under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Hence in this
same sentence he mentions the Spirit twice. {During the forty
days} (\h•mer•s tesserakonta\). Accusative of duration of time,
to be connected with "led" not with "tempted." He was led in the
Spirit during these forty days (cf. De 8:2, forty years). The
words are amphibolous also in Mr 1:13. Mt 4:2 seems to imply
that the three recorded temptations came at the close of the
fasting for forty days. That can be true and yet what Luke states
be true also. These three may be merely specimens and so
"representative of the struggle which continued throughout the
whole period" (Plummer).
4:2 {Being tempted} (\peirazomenos\). Present passive participle
and naturally parallel with the imperfect passive \•geto\ (was
led) in verse 1. This is another instance of poor verse
division which should have come at the end of the sentence. See
on ¯Mt 4:1; Mr 1:13 for the words "tempt" and "devil." The devil
challenged the Son of man though also the Son of God. It was a
contest between Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, and the slanderer
of men. The devil had won with Adam and Eve. He has hopes of
triumph over Jesus. The story of this conflict is given only in
Mt 4:1-11; Lu 4:1-13. There is a mere mention of it in Mr
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/LU4.RWP.html (1 of 16) [28/08/2004 09:05:04 a.m.]
Word Pictures in the New Testament
(Luke: Chapter 4)