Matthew 4:1-11--Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness

Desert Temptation Reveals Christ's Total Reliance on God the Father

Jul 15, 2009

The Biblical account of Jesus' temptation in the desert in Matthew 4 and Luke 4 gives readers insight into Jesus' dependence on God for strength in his time of weakness.

Matthew's account of Jesus' temptation starts at the beginning of chapter 4, with Jesus being led by the spirit to be tempted immediately following His forty days and forty nights of fasting. "And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, 'If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.'" (vs. 2-3)

Significance of the First Temptation of Jesus

From the account in Revelation 12 and numerous other texts, it is clear that Satan was well aware of who Jesus was, so the request for proof of His divinity was really just a cover for what was really going on. He was trying to catch Jesus at His weakest point and attack Him.

After forty days of fasting, Jesus was very weak and hungry, and Satan was reminding Him that it was well within His power to do something about it.

Significantly, Jesus declined to use His power for His own benefit, creating a pattern He would consistently follow in His public ministry. Instead, He responded with a reference to Deuteronomy 8:3. Deuteronomy 8 opens with Moses reminding the Israelites to remember that it was God who had protected them through their forty years in the desert, saying "God led you all the way...to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart." (Deuteronomy 8:2)

In His wilderness temptation, Jesus was going through that same kind of test, and His reference to Moses' words reveals that He, too, was aware of His need for God's help in enduring this temptation.

Significance of the Second Temptation of Jesus

"Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, 'If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you, in their hands they should bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'" (Matthew 4:5-6)

Once again, Satan was really tempting Jesus simply to use His own divine power rather than abide by the will of God. Additionally, it is interesting to note the abridgement of Scripture Satan employed.

He was quoting a portion of Psalm 91:11-12. Verse 11 in its entirety reads, "For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways."

With the additional portion, the passage reads differently in its meaning, emphasizing general angelic protection for believers and not the ability to tempt death. In fact, Psalm 91 as a whole is a study in counting on God for protection, not on one's own power or even the power of angels. Verse 2 reads, "I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.'"

Significance of the Third Temptation of Jesus

"Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, 'All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.'" (Matthew 4:8-9) At this point, it was clear that the devil would not be able to trick Jesus by twisting Scripture passages. Clearly, in His incarnation as a man, Jesus had extensively studied Scripture in the time prior to His public ministry.

Recall His trip to Jerusalem as a twelve-year-old pictured in Luke 2:41-50, and in particular His statement in verse 49 for additional contextual evidence. His response to Satan's offer further solidified His standing as one prepared to do His Father's will (Matthew 4:10), and again referenced the book of Deuteronomy, this time 6:12-14, another reminder of God's protection over His people followed by a command to trust in Him and no one else for protection.

While enduring his temptation in the wilderness pictured in Matthew chapter 4, Jesus was determined to rely completely on God and not on Himself to withstand the devil. His example here and throughout the Gospels validates His claims as the Son of God, and lends weight to His admonitions to believers to also rely on God and surrender to His will in their lives.

The copyright of the article Matthew 4:1-11--Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness in Bible Studies is owned by Jim Whitton. Permission to republish Matthew 4:1-11--Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.