1. Matthew 4:5 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why is Jerusalem called the “the holy city” in Matthew 4:5?

Matthew 4:5 (ESV)

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple

In short

There are two possible reasons for Matthew calling Jerusalem the holy city:

  1. Jerusalem is the location of the temple (see Isaiah 48:2, Isaiah 52:1; Revelation 11:2; Revelation 21:2, Revelation 21:10).

  2.  Jesus’ success in resisting temptation would be part of his mission to restore Jerusalem’s holiness.

Interpretation 1:

Jerusalem is called the holy city because of the presence of the temple there (see Isaiah 48:2, Isaiah 52:1; Revelation 11:2; Revelation 21:2, Revelation 21:10).1

Interpretation 2:

Jerusalem is called the holy city in light of the nature of the temptation Jesus is experiencing in the wilderness. What was happening here, through divine intervention, would have a tremendous effect upon the center of national holiness.2