Paragraph 4:3–4
In this paragraph, Matthew reported the first way that the devil tempted Jesus. The devil tempted Jesus to perform a miracle by turning stones into bread to feed himself. The devil wanted Jesus to disobey God by not trusting God. If Jesus had turned the stones into bread at this time when he was fasting, it would have proved that Jesus did not trust his Father to take care of him and meet his most basic needs.
4:3a
The Greek of 4:3 begins with a word that is often translated as “And” (English Standard Version). This word indicates that the events in this paragraph occur after the events in 4:1–2. However, the Berean Standard Bible omits this word. In some languages, it may be natural to begin this paragraph with a time word or phrase. For example:
Then (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
After this
The tempter: The phrase The tempter refers to the devil (4:1b). Tempting people is one of his main activities. He is always trying to make people sin.
There are at least three ways to translate this phrase:
• Literally. For example:
The tempter
-or-
The one who tempts
If you choose this option, you may want to include a footnote indicating that The tempter refers to the devil. For example:
The phrase The tempter refers to the devil, the chief of demons. Tempting people is one of his main activities. He is always trying to make people sin.
• Literally, but with a word or phrase that makes clear that The tempter is “the devil.” For example:
The tempter (the devil)
-or-
The devil, the one who tries to make people sin
• Translate as your term for “the devil.” For example:
the devil (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Satan
-or-
The chief of demons
4:3b
If You are the Son of God: Satan said this clause to challenge Jesus to prove that he really was the Son of God. Satan knew that Jesus was the Son of God. He was not expressing doubt here. He was saying this to tempt Jesus.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
If you really are the Son of God (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
If it’s true that you are the Son of God
-or-
Prove that you are the Son of God
the Son of God: The phrase the Son of God is a title for Jesus. This title indicates that Jesus has the same nature and character as God. It also indicates that the relationship between God the Father and Jesus, his Son, is similar in some way to the relationship between human fathers and sons. God the Father does not have a physical body. He did not have a sexual relationship that resulted in Mary becoming pregnant and giving birth to Jesus.
For further information, see the note on “My…Son” at 3:17b.
4:3c
tell these stones to become bread: There is some implied information here. The devil wanted Jesus not simply to command the stones to become bread, but actually to turn them into bread. Then he wanted Jesus to eat the bread.
Here are some other ways to make this information explicit:
speak to these stones and cause them to become bread ⌊for you⌋.
-or-
change these stones into loaves of bread ⌊that you can eat⌋.
tell: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as tell is the same verb that usually means “say” or “speak/tell.” Here it is used in the sense of “order” or “command.”
Here are some other ways to translate this verb:
order (Good News Translation)
-or-
command (English Standard Version)
these stones: The phrase these stones probably refers to some stones that were near Jesus. The devil probably pointed at some of the stones, or perhaps picked up some of them, as he was talking with Jesus.
bread: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bread refers to pieces or units of bread. Loaves of bread were baked in a round shape and were flat.
In Jesus’ time, bread was the main food of the Jewish people. The bread that the Jews ate was made of wheat or barley flour.
If you do not already have a word for bread in your language, here are some other ways to translate this word:
• Use a generic term such as “food.” For example:
food
-or-
something to eat
-or-
that which you may eat
• Borrow the word for bread from the national language or major language in your area.
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