MATTHEW 4
JESUS TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL IN THE WILDERNESS
After being baptized, Jesus is led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where He fasts for forty days and forty nights. The devil, also called Satan, the enemy, the tempter, or the accuser, comes to Jesus to challenge Him.
Attempting to provoke Jesus and take advantage of His hunger, the devil questions Jesus’ ability to turn stone into bread. Jesus responds to the test of the enemy by quoting Scripture, saying that “Man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Deuteronomy 8:3).
The devil takes Jesus to Jerusalem and places Him on the highest point of the temple. Again the devil attempts to provoke Jesus, this time questioning His trust in God’s saving power. Quoting Psalm 91:11, the devil tells Jesus to throw Himself off the temple, for surely “God will send his angels concerning you.” Jesus responds, also quoting Scripture, saying that He will not put God to the test (Deuteronomy 6:16).
Jesus is able to combat the enemy’s attacks because of His knowledge of Scripture. It is important to note that the devil also knows Scripture and distorts it to challenge Jesus.
Both the enemy's attacks started with the phrase “If you are the Son of God…” bringing the identity and character of Jesus into question. One of the greatest strategies of the enemy is causing confusion and attacking identity.
The devil then takes Jesus to the mountain overlooking the kingdoms. Satan offers to give Jesus all the land and all their glory if Jesus will bow down and worship him. Once again, Jesus quotes Scripture, saying that He will worship God alone and only serve Him (Deuteronomy 6:13). Jesus knows that Satan was offering something that wasn’t his to give!
When Jesus declares His faithfulness to God, the devil leaves and angels come to care for Jesus. After His time in the wilderness, Jesus leaves Nazareth and lives near Capernaum. Jesus starts His ministry in Capernaum, fulfilling Isaiah 9:1-2, which says that Jesus would serve as a bright light among the people of the land near Galilee.
Along the Sea of Galilee, Jesus calls His first two disciples, Andrew and Simon. These two men are fishing, casting their nets outside their boats. Jesus tells them that they will no longer be fishermen but fishers of men, foreshadowing their spreading of the Gospel message.
Jesus performs miracles, healing the sick and afflicted. Because of His spectacular abilities, the news of Jesus spreads and attracts great crowds. People from all over come to Jesus for help and healing.
Matthew 4:17 – From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
