In Matthew 4:1-11 we witness Jesus being tempted by the devil.  The main lessons we learn from the text are found in the three references that our Lord made to the scriptures.  Jesus used the best defense possible when dealing with Satan—the Word of God.  Let’s see what He said.

First, Satan tempted our Lord by appealing to His physical appetite.  After Jesus had gone forty days and nights without eating, the devil told Him to turn some stones into bread.  He knew that the round stones that were indigenous to that wilderness resembled bread and would incite the hunger in Christ even more.  What the devil really wanted was to get Jesus to doubt the provisions of His Father.  This first temptation was an effort to persuade Jesus to stop relying on His Father.    But Jesus was not fooled.  He simply turned to the Word of God.

Matthew 4:4 (ESV)
⁴  But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

While eating bread (bread stands for food in general), is necessary for our physical well-being, satisfying the soul by obeying God is more important.  We can go to heaven on empty stomachs, but those who starve their souls will end up in a devil’s hell.   We better take care of our souls.  Why?  Because man cannot live by bread alone.

Next, Satan appealed to personal gain.  He took Jesus to a high pinnacle in the temple and told him to throw Himself down, knowing that God would send angels to catch Him and save Him from harm.  Again, there was something more than the obvious regarding this temptation.  Taking Jesus to the temple would make this a public scene.  Not only could Jesus prove that His Father would protect Him from harm, but it would also be a demonstration of His Messiahship.  He could instantly prove that He was the Christ.  All He had to do was jump.  How did Jesus respond?

Matthew 4:7 (ESV)
⁷  Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Jesus knew that to test God in such a way would have shown a lack of faith.  It would have been equivalent to saying, “Father, I don’t believe your word; you must prove it to me.”   Jesus knew such a thing to be wrong so He resisted the temptation and battered the devil with another “it is written.”

If you ever find yourself saying to God in prayer, “God, if you do this, I’ll _____ (fill in the blank), you are testing God.  Learn from Jesus, and do not make that mistake.

Finally, the devil appealed to personal possessions.  He took Jesus to a high mountain and promised to give Him all the kingdoms of the world.  Satan has always been successful in tempting man to worship him by way of earthly riches; so, he thought it would work with Jesus.  Instead, Jesus just threw more scripture at him.

Matthew 4:10 (ESV)
¹⁰  Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”

Notice, in this temptation, Satan was not trying to win the loyalty of Christ.  He knew that such would never happen.  He simply wanted Jesus to worship him once and all the kingdoms of the world would be His.  First, he was lying.  The kingdoms of the world were not Satan’s to offer.  More importantly, Jesus knew that it was sinful to worship anyone but God, so, He told the devil to get lost.  Let’s learn from Jesus and not give in to any kind of idolatry.  Remember, anything we put before God becomes an idol to us, and the devil tempts us to do so regularly.  Like Jesus, let’s tell him to get lost.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.