Matthew 4
Matthew 4:1 NIV
[1] Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Satan tempted Jesus when he was tired, hungry and alone. I find that being tired or weakened is usually the time when I am tempted. Jesus was able to withstand the temptation by relying on the word of god. Memorizing scripture is a good way to prepare to overcome temptation.
Three times Satan tempts Jesus. The first two times the temptation begins “if you are the son of god…”. A prideful person would want to prove that they were indeed the son of god but Jesus resists.
Satan tempted Jesus by asking him to produce a miracle for himself – turn stones into bread, to test god by jumping off a tower and have angels rescue him, and with power over the world. I am not tempted by these things as they are completely unrealistic for me. Satan tempts me with things that are more realistic and more in line with my current life.
Matthew 4:6 NIV [6] “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ”
Satan also quotes scripture so knowing scripture does not make us a follower of Christ. We must live the scripture and believe that Jesus Christ is our lord and savior and the true son of god.
Matthew 4:18-19 NIV
[18] As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. [19] “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
Usually the students would come to the teachers but Jesus went looking for his disciples. As he called them they left everything for him. I wonder if he calls me will I be ready to leave everything?
Matthew 4:23 NIV
[23] Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
There was no dispute about the miracles that Jesus was performing.