Matthew 4

The Temptation of Jesus

Matthew 4:1–11 NKJV

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him 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 shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ” Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

In Hebrews we get a better understanding of the purpose of Jesus being taken into the wilderness to be tempted.

Hebrews 2:17–18 NKJV

Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Jesus “suffered” temptation.

Temptation is a testing, that causes us to suffer because it requires us to examine our thoughts and hearts.

I suffers us in the issues of our weaknesses. Jesus was alone and hungry

The spirit of God lead Jesus into the wilderness, like the Hebrews were lead into the wilderness before they entered the promise land.

Just as the Hebrews wondered for 40 years in the wilderness Jesus fasted for 40 days.

Where Adam failed to pass the test in the Garden of Eden Jesus overcame temptation in the wilderness… breaking the curse of man. leading us in the way of freedom and life, by delivering us from sin!

The Spirit Lead Jesus into the desert to be tempted

Matthew 4:1 NKJV

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

The Spirit will lead us into wildernesses to bring to light impurities in us that need to be dealt with.

Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights

Jesus was hungry

Matthew 4:2 NKJV

And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.

Jesus fasted as a form of denying the desires of the flesh to prepare to accomplish the will of God

1- Circumstantial Temptations/ Entitlement Temptations.

Matthew 4:3 NKJV

Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

I am the Son of God! I am hungry I need food....

1- The Trap:

Jesus “the word” isn’t enough

Matthew 4:4 NKJV

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

2- Intelectual - Emotional Temptations

Matthew 4:5 NKJV

Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,

Matthew 4:6 NKJV

and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

God will protect me from every hurt. So throw yourself over

Matthew 4:7 NKJV

Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”

2- The Trap:

We can self inflict injury in our lives and blame God for not sparing us the consequences.

3- Promise Temptation

Matthew 4:8 NKJV

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

Matthew 4:9 NKJV

And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

This is what God wants for me, so I am taking it.

Matthew 4:10 NKJV

Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

3- The Trap:

We can worship the promise over the promise giver God!

There are no shortcuts to the promises of God!