“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will give his angels orders concerning you, and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.” Then the devil left him, and angels came and began to serve him.” —Matthew 4:1-11
The offerings of temptation never stand up to the goodness and power of God.
Sin’s temptation offers what only
Sin tempts us to doubt
- God’s
- God’s
- God’s
“It was a temptation for Jesus to use his powers selfishly and for his own use, and that is precisely what Jesus always refused to do. There is always the temptation to use selfishly whatever powers Jesus has given us.” —William Barclay
God is always
God is the ultimate source of all we need. —Matthew 4:4
“for every animal of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and everything in it is mine.” —Psalm 50:10-12
We can trust God’s plan is perfect. —Matthew 4:7
“The LORD of Armies himself has planned it; therefore, who can stand in its way?” —Isaiah 14:27
Pursuing God’s kingdom wins in the end. —Matthew 4:10
“Jesus is just the savior that tempted people require. They will find his ear always ready to hear, and his heart always ready to feel. He can understand their sorrows.” —Matthew Ryle
For Further Study:
Scripture: II Chronicles 20, Deuteronomy 6-8, Isaiah 14:1-27
Resources: “The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 1” by William Barclay
To Prepare for Next Week:
Read and Meditate on Matthew 5