JESUS … TEMPTED / MATTHEW 4:1-11

(KJV) Matthew 4:1-11

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. ² And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. ³ And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. ⁴ But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. ⁵ Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, ⁶ And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. ⁷ Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. ⁸ Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; ⁹ And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. ¹⁰ Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. ¹¹ Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Satan tempted Jesus in an attempt to draw Him away from the path of perfect obedience to God’s will (His plans, desires, purposes, ways). All of Satan’s efforts appealed to the human desire to satisfy or lift up self. Notice that in each temptation, Jesus relied on and submitted Himself to the authority of God’s written Word rather than yielding to the suggestion of Satan (Matthew 4:4, 7; Matthew 4:10). Since all believers are tempted in the same way, there is much we can learn from the temptation of Christ:

1. Satan is our greatest enemy. We must constantly be aware that we are engaged in spiritual warfare with unseen but very real powers of evil (Ephesians 6:12). These powers want to change the course of God’s plans, destroy lives and make sure that people remain in spiritual darkness and are condemned for eternity (John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:8).
2. Without the Holy Spirit and the proper use of God’s Word, we cannot consistently overcome sin and temptation. However, there are things we can do to help us learn how to use God’s Word in overcoming temptation: 

1. Realize that through the Word you have the power to resist any appeal Satan can make (John 15:3,7).
2. Get the Word of God into your heart and make it active in your life by constantly meditating on it (reading and pondering over and over what it means and how it can apply to specific situations in your life, Deuteronomy 6:6, Psalms 1:2; Psalms 119:47-48)
3. Fill your mind with God’s Word by memorizing as much of it as possible (James 1:21).
4. Quote memorized passages to yourself and to God the instant you are tempted (Matthew 4:4, 7; Matthew 4:10).
5. Recognize and respond to the Holy Spirit as He inspires you to obey God’s Word (Romans 8:12-14; Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:18).
6. Pray for God’s help and understanding (Ephesians 6:18).

Some key passages to memorize in facing temptation include: 

1. general encouragement on overcoming sin and living in the power of God’s Spirit (Romans 6 and 8); 
2. specific passages concerning immoral behavior and lifestyles (Romans 13:14),
3.  lying (John 8:44; Colossians 3:9),
4.  gossiping (James 4:11), 
5. Disobeying parents (Hebrews 13:17),
6. Discouragement (Galatians 6:9),
7. Fear of the future (2 Timothy 1:7),
8. Lust (Matthew 5:28; 2 Timothy 2:22),
9. Desire for revenge (Matthew 6:15),
10. Neglect of God’s Word (Matthew 4:4), 
11. Worry over finances (Matthew 6:24-34; Matthew 6:24; Philippians 4:6).

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1. THE TRINITY IN EXAMPLE / MATTHEW 3:17
2. SPIRIT … ON HIM / MATTHEW 3:16
3. JESUS … BAPTIZED / MATTHEW 3:13
4. WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / MATTHEW 3:11
5. FRUIT IN KEEPING WITH REPENTANCE / MATTHEW 3:8
6. PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES / MATTHEW 3:7
7. KINGDOM OF HEAVEN – REPENT / MATTHEW 3:2
8. WARNED IN A DREAM / MATTHEW 2:22-23
9. ESCAPE TO EGYPT / MATTHEW 2:13
10. CHIEF PRIESTS AND TEACHERS OF THE LAW / MATTHEW 2:4
11. HEROD – MAGI / MATTHEW 2:1
12. NO UNION WITH HER UNTIL / MATTHEW 1:25
13. VIRGIN … GIVE BIRTH TO A SON / MATTHEW 1:23
14. JESUS / MATTHEW 1:21
15. MARY … JESUS / MATTHEW 1:16
16. CHRIST – SON OF DAVID / MATTHEW 1:1
17. GENEALOGY OF JESUS CHRIST / MATTHEW 1:1-16
18. I AM WITH YOU / MATTHEW 28:20
19. KILL ALL THE BOYS / MATTHEW 2:16
20. FORGIVENESS OF SINS / MATTHEW 26:28
21. SATAN / MATTHEW 4:10
22. DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS / MATTHEW 25:41
23. MONEY / MATTHEW 6:24
24. GO … MAKE DISCIPLES … BAPTIZING / MATTHEW 28:19
25. SALT OF THE EARTH / MATTHEW 5:13
26. YOU ARE WORTH MORE / MATTHEW 10:31
27. GUIDED BY GRACE HOME

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Summary

Article Name

JESUS ... TEMPTED / MATTHEW 4:1-11

Description

Satan tempted Jesus in an attempt to draw Him away from the path of perfect obedience to God’s will (His plans, desires, purposes, ways).

Author

Margarita Crews

Publisher Name

Guided By Grace

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