Matthew 4:1-11

DAY 17

Date: 9-15-24

The Temptation of Jesus

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Read scripture: 

(NIV) 1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Pray

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,

and they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

OVERVIEW of PASSAGE

1. FOCUS of TODAY’S PASSAGE
   1. This passage primarily applies to Jesus’ role as Messiah and Savior, it also helps us to think correctly about how Satan temps us, and how to fight it. AND about how to think correctly about Jesus, and what He has done for us, as well as how to think correctly about who we are.
   2. Satan tempts us by getting us to question our identity and God’s protection and support (does He really love and and will He really take care of us? Is He really for us?) We must always remember who we are, WHOSE we are, who He is. Satan is ALWAYS trying to blur and distort those truths. 
   3. Jesus knows who He us, AND who His Father is.
   4. Satan misuses scripture, using it INCORRECTLY.
   5. Jesus uses scripture to fight/resist/defeat temptation, using it CORRECTLY. 
   6. Finally, God is always with us, never leaves us, and is always in COMPLETE control.
2. GENERAL APPLICATION of TODAY’S PASSAGE
3. (Holman Commentary-pg 40) ‘Jesus’ preparation for ministry involved a combination of pleasant experiences (the affirmation at his baptism) and unpleasant experiences (his fasting and temptation). God uses the same pattern in our lives, and we should be surprised at neither great outward blessing nor great trials in our lives.’

The MAIN POINT(s)

• KNOW SCRIPTURE
• USE SCRIPTURE (correctly!)

1. In a primary sense,Jesus Temptations were Messianic in nature and were very unique to Him and His mission.
2. In another, secondary sense, they were a part of Jesus modeling “how to live” for us. We have temptations. God has answers. TRUST HIM. 
3. Satan is real, and HE HAS BEEN DEFEATED!

Today’s verses:

Before we look at our first verse today, let’s go to Matt 6:13 for a look at that verse, to get a perspective on temptation. 

Verse 6:13 says, “(NIV) 13 And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.’”

What do you think “lead us not into temptation” means? 

Why do you think that is in the “very significant” Lord’s Prayer?

Why would we pray that our Father in Heaven would NOT lead us into temptation?

I think the only reason to ask Him NOT to lead us into temptation is because He can, and sometimes, does. 

Why would He do that? See James 1:2-4 for the answer. See also 1 Peter 1:6-7.

As one commentator says,”(Bible Speaks Today) Temptation builds spiritual muscle.”

Q: How can a person avoid being led into temptation? 

A: By being obedient to God’s commands and by being self-controlled (which is actually “Spirit-controlled.”)

V. 1. (NIV) 1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Thoughts: 

1. Scripture is the master of understatement. Very little is dramatized, and nothing is over-dramatized. 
2. It is interesting that immediately after Jesus’ inauguration into public ministry, the first thing that he does is go head to head with Satan. The Two Camps. 

Q: This verse tells us WHAT is happening, WHERE it is happening, and WHO is doing it. 

What are “WHAT, WHERE and WHO?”

A: What: Jesus is led by the Spirit

Where: into the wilderness

Who: Satan is doing the tempting, but who is really in charge here?

APPLICATION: Follow the Holy Spirit’s leading.

Relevant Verses: Heb 2:17-18;  Heb 4:15

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Today’s verses:

Vs. 2-4. (NIV) 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Q: What stands out in this verse?

A: Satan tries to get us to doubt God’s Word, and our true identity (We are beloved children of the King) and to doubt God’s love and protection for us.

APPLICATION: Memorize scripture so that you can use it when you need it. And you will need it!

Relevant Verses: 

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Today’s verses:

Vs 5-7.  (NIV) 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,

and they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Q: What stands out in this verse?

A: (pg 41) (Holman Commentary) Again Satan used a conditional statement, If you are the Son of God (see 4:3). Again, he was not challenging Jesus’ sonship*, but he was using it as a basis to argue to a false conclusion—that it is appropriate to “force” God into supernatural demonstrations of his faithfulness to intervene for our good. In this temptation Jesus was tempted to exercise improper dependence to “force” divine intervention. That is sin.

*Commentators have various opinions about this. I also believe Satan was trying to get Jesus to question His identify. 

Remember – 

1. He is fully human
2. He is in the desert
3. He is HUNGRY.

APPLICATION: Memorize scripture so that you can use it when you need it. And you will need it!

Relevant Verses: 

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Today’s verses:

Vs 8-10.  (NIV) 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

Q: What is Satan tempting here?

A: Satan is essentially tempting Jesus to “write His own ticket,” so to speak, by-passing God’s very specific plan and by-passing the cross. (Satan does this to us as well.) He is again trying to get Jesus to doubt God and His Word.

Q: What is wrong with with that?

A:  God’s plan for the salvation of His chosen elect, established before the foundations of the earth, IS PERFECT IN EVERY WAY. Jesus knows this. He was there. Jesus also knows that God’s plan involves HORRIFIC physical and emotional pain, and Satan is tempting Him with a way to by-pass the pain and suffering. 

Q: Had Jesus fallen for Satan’s temptation, and “written His own ticket,” what would have happened to God’s perfect plan of redemption? 

A: The plan would have failed.  The penalty for sin would not have been paid. And the wrath of God would not have been appeased, and the righteousness of Christ would not have been applied to our account. In short, there would be no atonement.

(See R. C. Sproul’s article on Expiation and Propitiation on the 

Ligonier web site – Expiation and Propitiation Explained .)

APPLICATION: Memorize scripture so that you can use it when you need it. And you will need it!

Relevant Verses: Rom 12:21 “(NIV 1984) 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Interestingly, this is not a suggestion or a platitude or just an encouragement. It is a command of God. And God never commands anything we cannot do – IN HIS STRENGTH and POWER. Now, after having studied Matt. 4:1-11, this verse in Romans is significant in that Jesus – IN HIS HUMANITY – did this in resisting Satan’s temptations. He did it by the power of the Holy Spirit, the very same Holy Spirit that we have living in us. 

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Today’s verses:

A: Very interestingly, Satan immediately obeyed Jesus and left. So, what does this say about Jesus? What does this say about Satan?

Q: What about the angels? What comfort can we get from this?

A: 1 Cor 10:11-13 

APPLICATION:

Relevant Verses: 

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APPLICATION 

Overall application for this passage:

1. KNOW THE WORD OF GOD.

1. Think about your identity:
   1. Who you are. 
   2. Are you a child of the King? 
   3. If so, what does that mean?
2. Think about the importance of knowing and CORRECTLY understanding scripture.
   1. Think about how easy it is to twist scripture (and so many people to it to their own advantage!). 
   2. Think about how easy it is to be deceived into thinking incorrectly about scripture, and who God really is. And remember, Satan is the master deceiver. 
   3. Think about how to use scripture correctly. Heb 4:12; 2Tim 2:15
3. Think about using scripture to correctly defend against temptation.
4. Think and meditate on God’s sovereign control over all things (including Satan) and His unending love for you.
5. USE SCRIPTURE (LIVE OUT THE WORD OF GOD. USE SCRIPTURE correctly!)

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After class notes

Notes: It is important to note that while this passage can and should be instructive in how we should battle in spiritual warfare, this passage is not primarily about us. It is not primarily about how we can resist Satan for the sake of Christ, or for the cause of Christ. And how we fight. It is not primarily about how we can defend ourselves. It is not primarily about how we should deal with our temptations, although that is certainly helpful and very importan. It is not primarily about us at all. It is primarily about Jesus. It is about Jesus and what He did. It is about Jesus and what He went thru. For us. It is about Him. Look at Jesus in this passage. Watch Him. Get to know Him from keeping your eyes and your focus on Him rather than yourself. Learn about Him and who He is. And, what He has done on our behalf.

Make a table or a chart of:

• The temptation
• The problem. The ways those temptations manifest themselves in our lives; how the play out, and thd problems they cause.
• The solution

SATAN’S TEMPTATION	OUR PROBLEM	JESUS’ SOLUTION
“If?” Who/Whose you are. What we need/want/deserve. Serve yourself. Focus on the “material.”	We don’t have what we want. Focus is on me. It is all about me. We are ignorant of scripture,  and easily deceived.	Scripture. Focus on the spiritual. The Word of God is true life.  God is enough
“If?” God cannot be trusted. Make Him prove it.	We don’t trust God with our needs.  We take it as upon ourselves to get what we want/what we THINK we need.	Scripture. Trust God
“If?” Idols? Covetousness?  Fame? Power? Control? By-pass the cross.	Autonomy. I want to be the king of my castle, the captain of my soul, the ruler of my destiny. I want to be the God of my life.	Scripture. Serve/worship God/others. Move being self focused/self-centered to being other focused/other-centered. Die to self. Take up your cross daily!