1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempteda by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’b ” (Matthew 4:1-4)
Thoughts: Right after Jesus declared his ministry beginning He took time out to pray and get His heart right. This passage tells us that the Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be tempted. Jesus asked His disciples to pray, "And lead us not into temptation." Maybe that prayer came from this experience. It was obviously not a pleasing experience to Jesus.
This temptation was to use His power to magically satisfy His own needs. This was to elevate His needs over the glory of God. Jesus showed later He had this kind of power. He turned the water into wine. He fed the 5,000+ with just a few loaves and fishes. But Jesus would rather be uncomfortable than to tarnish the glory of God to make His hunger go away.
Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 8 in refuting and resisting this temptation. We should know scripture that well. Psalm 119:9-11 says, "How can a young person keep their way pure?...By taking heed according to your Word. I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you." We can resist sin by putting God's Word in the forefront of our minds.
This temptation was to use His power to magically satisfy His own needs. This was to elevate His needs over the glory of God. Jesus showed later He had this kind of power. He turned the water into wine. He fed the 5,000+ with just a few loaves and fishes. But Jesus would rather be uncomfortable than to tarnish the glory of God to make His hunger go away.
Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 8 in refuting and resisting this temptation. We should know scripture that well. Psalm 119:9-11 says, "How can a young person keep their way pure?...By taking heed according to your Word. I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you." We can resist sin by putting God's Word in the forefront of our minds.
Prayer: Lord, do not lead me into temptation. But when I am tempted, help me resist.
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