Royal authority and power characterize the King after God’s heart. Even though the Lord’s own people rejected Him, Matthew presents Him as the great King to lead Israel for the glory of God and as the great Teacher who instructs God’s people in His ways. The word “mountain” (Greek: óros) occurs 16 times in Matthew.¹ The number 16 (2x8) speaks of God’s testimony, as seen in the number 2, about His new order, which is represented by the number 8.

Let’s briefly look at the various mountains Matthew described in relation to the Lord Jesus.

1. The Mount Of Temptation. This mount is found in Matthew 4:8. Right before His public service started, the Devil tempted the Lord Jesus for 40 days (Lk. 4:1-2). These temptations were testings that God allowed in order to demonstrate Christ’s perfections in view of His public ministry and coming kingdom. The Lord passed these tests, always relying on God’s inerrant Word, which He quoted and trusted. In this context Christ was led to a very high mountain from where Satan showed Him all the kingdoms of the world with their glory, offering them to Jesus under the condition that He, Jesus, would worship him (Mt. 4:8-10). Of course, Jesus refused to do so. The three recorded temptations related to His body, soul and spirit. They summarize the 40 days and nights of terrible trials the Lord passed through but without any failure whatsoever. Praise Him!

2, The Mount Of Instruction. Here, the Lord Jesus proclaimed the so-called “Sermon on the Mount” (Mt. 5–7). He taught His disciples and equipped them for their tasks as His representatives, and He continued teaching them as seen in Matthew 10–11, 18–19 and 24–25. In nine short proverbs of blessing often called the “Beatitudes” (5:3-11) the Lord highlighted the qualities that all His disciples need in an environment opposed to Him. He challenged His disciples, then and now, to be as the salt of the earth and the light of the world (vv.13-16).

The next seven paragraphs (vv.17-48) are instructions about popular interpretations and traditions, but in conflict with what is needed to truly represent our Father in heaven. With many practical instructions (Mt. 6–7) the Lord encouraged all true disciples to hear and to be doers of God’s Word – building on the solid rock of obeying it rather than resting on the sand of human opinion.

3. The Mount Of Provision. Matthew then described 14 miracles (see chart). Jesus performed them to demonstrate that He was God’s promised Messiah, as He fulfilled many prophecies no one else could, such as Isaiah 35:5-6. Nevertheless, the Jewish leaders rejected Him and even attributed His last great miracle to Beelzebub (Satan) to influence the people against the Lord Jesus (Mt. 12:22-32). Despite this rejection, in eight parables the Lord instructed His disciples how to be His true followers (Mt. 13). On the mount of provision (14:14-21), the King after God’s heart not only taught but also cared for all who followed Him through a miraculous feeding of 5,000 men besides women and children. This event is mentioned in all four Gospels.

4. The Mount Of Prayer. Following the feeding of the 5,000 the Lord Jesus was alone on the mountain of prayer (Mt. 14:23; consider Jn. 6:15). This illustrates His present position of power at God’s right hand (Heb. 1:3), as He is making constant intercession for all the believers (4:14-16, 7:25). His personal care of them during the age of grace in which we live is a service that He will continue after the rapture for people who will be saved in the tribulation. However, His care never sets aside the need for personal faith and commitment, as illustrated in the story about Peter walking on the water (Mt. 14:24-33).

5. The Mount Of Compassion. After He had left the religious leaders alone, the King displayed His power on the mount of compassion (15:29). He showed His sympathy for the many needy ones among those who followed and surrounded Him. Even though He was rejected by His own people, who did not believe (Isa. 53:1), the Canaanite woman put her trust in Him, and her daughter was healed (Mt. 15:21-28). Jesus continued His ministry, walking by the Sea of Galilee. He then went up on the mountain and sat down, showing His position of authority. Great crowds came to Him, bringing and putting at His feet many lame, blind, crippled and mute people. He healed them all. The crowds wondered and glorified the God of Israel (v.31).

Next, in His great compassion, Jesus cared for the people, knowing they had been three days without food. The disciples brought seven loaves and a few small fish to Him, which was all they could provide. Then the Lord ordered the crowds to sit down that He might feed them. After He had given thanks to God, He fed and satisfied the needy multitudes by miraculously multiplying the loaves and fish, an illustration of the coming millennial blessings (read Ps. 132:13-18). The seven baskets in which the remaining broken pieces were picked up illustrate the fullness of His provisions and care. They also display the resources the Lord has made available for the period of grace we live in, much like the seven years of great abundance of food during Joseph’s reign over Egypt (Gen. 41). What a great God we have! Spiritually speaking, since the ascension of our Lord Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit, we live in the days of grace and of great abundance, as God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ (Eph. 1:3)!

6. The Mount Of Transfiguration. This is a remarkable highlight in Matthew’s gospel. “After six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light ... When they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only” (Mt. 17:1-2,8). In the middle of this account we read: “Behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’” (v.5 NKJV). This impressive event is about the glory the Lord Jesus will display in the world to come, a preview of His coming glory that was shown to the disciples before He entered His sufferings as God’s supreme sacrifice. That foretaste of public glory to come strengthened their faith, as they had already seen the glory that would follow the Lord’s agonies and death.

Luke’s parallel account (9:28) mentions that it was about eight days “after these sayings” that the transfiguration took place. The number eight emphasizes a new order of things, whereas “after six days” as Matthew recorded indicates that the number of man had passed.

The “high mountain” where the disciples were “by themselves” (Mt. 17:1) in the Lord’s presence reminds us of the very high mountain of temptation where the Lord had been alone with the Tempter (4:8). There and elsewhere, the Man Christ Jesus never failed. Now, on another high mountain they saw Him in the ultimate glory where His faithfulness to God had brought Him. Later, Peter testified to what had taken place on that mount of transfiguration, “We ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with Him on the holy mountain” (2 Pet. 1:18 ESV). The word “transfigured” (Mt. 17:2) means a radical change in physical appearance, a “metamorphosis,” an inward change, morally (Rom. 12:2), as well as an outward one, physically (2 Cor. 3:18).

Christ’s resurrection body represents and demonstrates a new order of things, subject to different laws, as we see with our risen Lord. He could enter through a closed door to visit the disciples, eat with them, and then suddenly disappear (Jn. 20:19-20; Lk. 24:30-31,36-51). This new resurrection order is entirely beyond our understanding because it requires a complete change in condition (1 Cor. 15:50). It is like the difference between a seed and the full fruit, which we cannot fathom by just looking at a tiny seed. Yet, wonderfully, nothing can separate us from Him (Rom. 8:34-39). Praise God! As to His body in the present heavenly glory we are taught that our bodies will be transformed accordingly, outwardly and inwardly (Phil. 3:20-21). Amazing! Meanwhile we may be “with Him” and enjoy His fellowship on the way, in the valley, on the mount, in the garden, by the cross, by the tomb, in the upper room, or wherever we find Him. We are to learn from Him, to be in His presence, and as His witnesses.

7. The Mount Of Prophecies. The Mount of Olives is mentioned three times in Matthew. It is the mount of prophecies (Mt. 21:1-10, 24:3), where the Lord Jesus had often been with His disciples. He had spoken with them about His coming glory which would follow His sufferings. From the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of His disciples to ask the owner of a donkey and its foal to make both available to the Lord, which the owner did. Having untied them, the disciples brought both animals to Him. He sat on them (21:7) and entered Jerusalem, being greatly honored while fulfilling one of the many prophecies about Him: “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey’” (v.5 NKJV). The interesting details as found in verses 1-17 are written for our encouragement, and I leave them to your own study.

A few days after His glorious entrance we find Jesus on the same mountain. “As He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’” (24:3). In what is often called the Olivet Discourse the Lord gave many details about prophetic events related to Him, His people, Jerusalem and the world to come. First, however, Jesus with the disciples present was in prayer and agony in the garden of Gethsemane on that mount; there He would be arrested (26:30-57).

Many prophecies have been fulfilled already – to the letter – which indicates that the prophecies not yet carried out will certainly be accomplished. It is very important to understand that the present period of grace during which the Lord is absent from this scene – but crowned with glory and honor (Heb. 2:9) – is not part of these prophecies. Other portions of the New Testament make this abundantly clear, such as 1 Thessalonians 4:14-5:10 and Revelation 1:19.

One more point: the Mount of Olives is where the Lord introduced His disciples to His coming sufferings (Mt. 26:30-32). Peter did not yet understand (v.33), as Jesus showed the intimate link between His sufferings and the glories that would follow (see 2 Pet. 1:16-21). On the day the Lord went to heaven, 40 days after His resurrection, the angels confirmed to the disciples that He would come back on that same mount in the same way He had ascended (Acts 1:10-11).

8. The Mount Of Appointment. During the days following His resurrection the Lord Jesus introduced a new order of things in anticipation of His coming millennial reign. “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them ... And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age’” (Mt. 28:16,18-20 ESV). Matthew’s eighth mountain presents the risen Lord in view of the world to come, closely linked to His disciples who were placed in a new relationship with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This relationship could only be established because of the Lord’s finished work and His resurrection.

Luke’s gospel is closely linked with Acts and with Paul’s ministry for the present age of grace in which we live – a people taken out, or separated, for Him. Matthew 28 anticipates the nations of this earth, with the whole realm of His public rule in view, under Christ’s coming blessed reign. Today we already enjoy His presence in grace, submitting to Him in faith and love. But in the world to come His presence will imply enforced, public submission (Phil. 2:9-11).

9. The Mount Of The Ascension. This mount is not mentioned in Matthew because the Lord remains with His disciples until the completion of the age (Mt. 28:18-20), meaning until the end of the millennial reign.² Mark 16, Luke 24 and Acts 1 refer to this mountain and His ascension with the purpose of introducing a new order of things, characteristic of the age of grace. Christianity has both perspectives in view and does not set aside the one to prefer the other, or vice versa. However, we need the light of the Epistles to learn and grasp the full impact of what is new, as revealed especially in Paul’s ministry (for example, Eph. 3). All that Paul shared is in full harmony with the other apostles (1 Jn. 1:1-4, 4:6).

Concluding Remark
The mountains in Scripture represent important moral principles and help us to see God’s greatness and the glories of our Lord Jesus. May we be with Him on the mountain as Moses was or in prayer as the disciples were, and may we learn of Him!

ENDNOTES
1. Matthew 4:8, 5:1,14, 8:1, 14:23, 15:29, 17:1,9,20, 18:12, 21:1,21, 24:3,16, 26:30, 28:16.
2. From a human perspective, this is beyond our grasp, because other Scriptures show the Lord Jesus ascended (Mk. 16:19). In Matthew, He is always with His people, because He is God, Immanuel, “God with us” (1:23).

By Alfred Bouter