Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led 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.

• Jesus was "led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil".

• The Greek word for temptation means to put someone to the test to make clear that persons character.

• Any situation that presents an opportunity to sin also presents the opportunity for obedience to God.

• Jesus was confronted by the devil in a way that challenged him and His trust in God.

Putting God's Word first

Matthew 4:3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

• The first temptation was food. Jesus had been fasting for 40 days, He was tired and hungry.

• This temptation tested Jesus to see if He would put His own needs ahead of the will of God.

• Jesus often preached that spiritual needs are more important that physical needs. He was "talking the talk and definately walking the walk" here when he resisted this temptation.

Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

• Jesus responded by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3 which was the reminder to the Children of Isreal that their survival in the wilderness depended upon God. The daily manna that God provided from heaven was a daily reminder of God's care and provision for them.

• God's promise to care for the needs of His people is still in effect, and Jesus' response to this temptation demonstrated the trust in God we should show.

• Jesus was pointing out that our needs are more than just physical. People need to know the love of God. They need to experience the joy of living in the center of God's will.

• People need the hope and courage that only faith in God can bring.

Never tempting God

Matthew 4:5-7 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "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."

• If Jesus would have done this, Jesus could have quickly become very popular because people would have seen his miracle. Satan was tempting Jesus to take a shortcut rather than to follow God's plan for reaching people.

• The devil was quoting Psalm 91:11-12, but using scripture for a wrong purpose. The devil was also leaving some of the scripture out because the scripture says that all who trust in God have nothing to fear, even in dangerous circumstances. Satan failed to mention that a person must first follow God's will. He said only a certain part of the psalm.

• Todays scriputures are often misquoted and taken out of context. History is full of examples of cults and sects which used only part of the bible.

• Knowing scripture is a vital part of the struggle against Satan. We can then recognize when others use scripture incorrectly.

"Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

• Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:16. In that verse the children of Israel are instructed to refrain from telling God what to do.

Worshipping only God

Matthew 4:8-10 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you, " he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."