Since we believe that every word of Scripture is inspired and inerrant, we must not overlook a word.
In studying again the temptation of Christ in Matthew 4:1-11, I noticed that the passage begins with the word, “Then.” It is actually a continuing conjunction. This indicates to us that Matthew’s account is chronological, in contrast to Luke’s which gives the temptations in a different order.
“Then” also indicates that a comparison is being made between the temptation and what has gone before. Before Jesus was tempted, He was baptized and the Holy Spirit came upon Him. This suggests that often the times of greatest temptation and testing come after times of highest spiritual experience.
After the baptism, the battle; after the dove, the devil; after the ecstasy, the agony! Don’t overlook the words in the Word!