Matthew 4:1-11

The Temptation of Christ

The Son of God underwent temptation to defeat the devil and set us free.

Temptation is the devil's principal weapon for destroying people.

Temptation is anything that seduces you away from obedience to God's revealed will into sin.

Westminster Shorter Catechism Questions 39 and 14.

1 John 3:4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

The tempter works constantly to move God's people away from God's law and into sin.

The devil needed a special victory tempting Jesus Christ.

1 John 3:8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.

The temptation of Christ in the wilderness.

The Lord Jesus prepared for his ministry alone with God.

Satan's will: bread from stones; God's will: receive my word.

John 4:32 But He said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." [... ] John 4:34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.

Numbers 20:10-12 And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" [...]12 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them."

Satan's will: jump and trust; God's will: walk in your ways and I will keep you.

Psalm 91:10-12; 13

Satan's will: worship me; God's will: you shall have no other Gods before Me.

Satan is "the ruler of this world" John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11.

2Cor 4:4 "the god of this world"

Psalm 2:8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.

The Son of God underwent temptation to defeat the devil and set us free.

Jesus, our High Priest, sympathizes with our weaknesses.

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Psalm 119:95 The wicked wait for me to destroy me, But I will consider Your testimonies.

Psalm 138:3 In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul.

Desire to honor God more than to please yourself or others.

Romans 6:11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Satan opposes the Church relentlessly.

James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Revelation 3:10 "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.