Matthew 4:1-11
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.
3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become
bread.”
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY
WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’”
5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple,
6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written,
‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’; and ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR
YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’”
7 Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL 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
glory;
9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus *said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD,
AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’”
11 Then the devil *left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.
I.
The temptation to distrust God’s faithfulness and to use Jesus’ power to serve his own interest and so
rebel against the will of God.
(1:3-4) 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these
stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON
BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF
GOD.’”
People will do anything for food. Some will go to the extent that they will do bad things just to
secure food for themselves and for their family. Food, which is one of our basic needs can be use by
Satan to turn us away from our trust and commitment to God.
1. The goal of Satan: For Jesus to doubt and not submit to the will of the Father regarding his
physical need. To violate God’s will in order to satisfy his need.
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A. To make Jesus use his power by performing a miracle to satisfy his hunger: Satan was trying
to persuade Jesus to use his power apart from the will of God the Father. For Jesus to violate
the plan of God to set aside Jesus’ privileges as God during his time here on earth.
B. To make Jesus act independently from God by using his power apart from the will of God.
C. To make Jesus use his “rights” as the Son of God to use his power even apart from the will of
God.
D. To make Jesus doubt the will, love, and provision of God.
E. To make Jesus do in his power what seems to be ignored by God regarding his physical need.
F. To make Jesus use his power for his personal benefit.
G. To make us say Deut. 8:17 “otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the
strength of my hand made me this wealth.”
2. How Jesus responded:
A. By referring to the Word of God, He quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 implying that we are to
completely trust and depend on God for our provision than to become independent from
Him.
B. Deuteronomy 8 reminds us of the words of Moses to the Israelites as they enter the promise
land. That they are to remember that it was God who has provided everything they need to
live during their wilderness experience. They were humbled by God by allowing them to be
hungry so that they will know that “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that
comes from the mouth of God.”
C. What does it mean? It means that our life and existence does not depend on our own power
and effort, but by the word or decree of God that we will be well provided. They ate manna
for forty years as God decreed it for their sustenance.
3. Application
A. No matter how urgent or important our need seems to be, we are to wait for God’s provision,
knowing that pride and self-effort will only harm us and dishonor God.
B. God did not give us talents, skills, education, resources to become independent from Him.
We are to use our capabilities according to God’s will and timing.
C. We must not doubt God’s love, promise, and provision for our physical needs that we
selfishly provide for ourselves in ways that disobey or in any way compromise His Word.
D. Our physical welfare is not our greatest priority in life. God has already decreed by his
promises that he will provide. So why focus on these things when God already promised to
provide?
E. Obey without reservation the command of Jesus to “seek first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness” and to believe without reservation His promise “and all these things will be
added to you.”
F. Trust that God is capable to provide, and his timing is perfect.
G. Philippians 4:19 “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in
Christ Jesus.”
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II.
The temptation to test God’s love and power by assuming that God will still help even in times when
we are doing something that is outside his will.
(4:5-7) 5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the
temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘HE
WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’; and ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL
BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’” 7
Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR
GOD TO THE TEST.’”
To test God is a manifestation of unbelief.
1. The goal of Satan: for Jesus to prove that he is the son of God by testing God the Father.
A. Because Satan was not able to make Jesus satisfy his physical need through his own power to
rebel against the will of God, he is now tempting Jesus to do something for his Father to
fulfill a promise.
B. If Jesus will not meet his need personally, then Satan is telling him to let his Father do it.
C. By jumping from the peak of the temple and be protected by the angels from dying, Jesus
will prove that indeed he is the Son of God.
D. Satan quoted Psalm 91:11-12 and he is tempting Jesus to make His Father fulfill it, by testing
Him.
E. Satan is telling Jesus to put himself in a situation where he can prove that God will do what
he said.
2. The possible outcome:
A. If Jesus followed Satan’s temptation, he would have provided a sure proof of his messiahship
or deity.
B. That is what many false prophets and Christs are doing. They wanted to show a proof that
they are deity.
 Theudas – claimed to split the Jordan river and failed. His followers left him.
 Simon the magician in Acts 8:9 – tradition holds that he wants to prove his powers
that he jumped off the top of the temple and died. His followers left him.
C. Matt. 24:24 “false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and
wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.”
D. Matt. 12:39 “an evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign.”
E. People will look for a sign, but in their hearts is unbelief.
F. The miracles of Jesus are intended to increase the faith of the believers and hardened the
unbelievers.
3. How Jesus responded:
A. By using the Scriptures: “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested him
at Masah.” Deut. 6:16 (see Ex17:1-7)
B. Exodus 17:1-7 shows us the attitude of the Israelites when they reached Rephidim.
 There was no water, and the people were thirsty.
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The people quarreled with Moses and demanded for water.
They demanded, grumbled, and said “is the Lord among us, or not?” unbelief
4. Application:
A. No matter what our reasons are, to test God is to doubt God.
B. Take God at His word. What he said or promised is trustworthy.
C. Do not presume that you can place yourself in a situation and then demand that God will
help, enable, provide, and bless you. You are testing God and it is basically a manifestation
of doubt.
D. We don’t need proofs of God’s faithfulness, instead we need to show ours.
E. Trust God to decide and provide for your needs in His timing.
III.
The temptation to fulfill God’s plan Satan’s way.
(4:8-10) 8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of
the world and their glory; 9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down
and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus *said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL
WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’”
1. The Goal of Satan: To cause Jesus to grab immediate control(fulfill mission) of the whole
world Satan’s way.
A. Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their glory…all these I will give you.
 He is the “ruler of this world” John 12:31
 “god of this world” 2 Cor. 4:4
 “The whole world lies in his power 1 Jn.5:19
 Demonic power controlled the kingdom of Persia called prince of the kingdom of
Persia. Dan. 10:13
B. Satan understood that Jesus had the divine right to all kingdoms because Jesus was
proclaimed the King of kings.
C. The Temptation: Why wait for God’s timetable for you to get full control of the world when
you can get it now and immediately my way? Satan
 Satan appeals to our needs, ambitions, and desires.
 You deserve it now! Why submit to God’s plan and timing?
 I am only offering you what God has already promised, but my way not His.
D. Satan’s goal was to disqualify Jesus from inheriting and ruling the whole world. God’s
purpose for testing Jesus was to prove his worthiness to be the ruler of the whole world.
E. Satan is tempting US in that same way today:
 He tells us that we can have all that we desire, we can fulfill our fantasies and lusts,
and we can be somebody only if we pursue them Satan’s or the world’s way.
 We are tempted to think that we deserve it because we are God’s children, and he has
promised it to us. The problem is we fulfill it not God’s way but Satan’s.
F. The condition: “If you fall down and worship me”
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Jesus is tempted to the “self” first by bowing to Satan so that he can get what he
wants.
 Satan tempts us to bow to him so we can easily get and fulfill our selfish desires and
ambitions.
G. Example: Abraham who tried to fulfill God’s promise Satan’s way. The result was a tragedy,
and it will always be like that once we disobey God’s ways.
H. REMEMBER:
 Satan is a counterfeit – his offer is almost like God’s but cheaper. If God requires
honesty, he demands half honesty and half dishonesty. He will give you prosperity
sooner and cheaper without any hard work or obedience to God.
 Satan is the father of lies – he seems to demand only our worship but ultimately, he
wants our soul. He will not reveal to you the real price you have to pay.
I. How Jesus responded:
1. Scriptures: Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR
GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’”
A. Go – (imperative, aorist, active) even at this point we will observe that Jesus had the
authority above Satan. This implies that while he had the temporary authority and title
as the god of this world, he is soon to be defeated and dethrone by Jesus Christ.
 Jesus had the authority over Satan and that authority is the target of Satan for
Jesus to misuse.
B. You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only
 Satan still wants to fulfill his plan to be above God. He fulfills that by taking
man’s worship and service from God to himself.
 He tempts or deceive man by promising them immediate prosperity, position,
and power but conceals the real consequences of worshiping him.
 To worship and serve God is to submit to his plan, ways, and timing.
2. God promise his children good things.
A. Matthew 7:11 “If you then, being evil, know how to give food gifts to your children,
how much more shall your Father in heaven give what is food to those who ask Him”
 We can have the happiness that God promise, but through Satan’s way.
 Let us not settle for the cheap substitute Satan is offering us.
 If we want success, then be successful in living righteously and morally for
God.
3. Then the devil left him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to him.
A. The devil left him: James 4:7 “Resist the devil and he will flee from you”
B. 1 Cor. 10:13
C. Jesus who was tired and hungry this time waited for the perfect timing of God to
provide for his needs. God’s provision came after the temptation.
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4. Hebrews 4:15 “for we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our
weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, bit without sin.”
5. Hebrews 2:18 “For since He himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is
able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”
6. Application:
A. Identify who your God really is. You will worship and serve your God.
B. Decide to worship and serve God only.
C. Trust the Lord’s plan and timing about his promises and plans for your life.
IV.
General Applications:
1. Counter temptation through God’s word: Jesus relied on Scriptures so are we.
a. We are to read, study, meditate, and memorize Scriptures.
b. Set time to do it daily.
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