Matthew 4: Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:1-11

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. Matthew 4:1-11

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.'" 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.'" Matthew 4:1-11

7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Matthew 4:1-11

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Matthew 4:1-11

10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. 10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Matthew 4:1-11

How Shall We See Jesus? Challenges: 1. To be aware of our ‘filters of the familiar.’ 2. To free ourselves from ‘the familiar.’

1. Preliminary Considerations a. What purpose was served by Jesus’ going into the wilderness? b. Our framework of the familiar has: (1) This was a period of transition for Jesus. (2) This was a period of final preparation for ministry. (3) This was a period to be alone with God.

One thing wrong with the familiar: It ain’t there!

(1) Jesus went into the wilderness for warfare with Satan. (2) It was a difficult experience for Jesus. (3) It was more difficult for Satan. 2. Battle lines are drawn: a. The Prince of the Powers of the Air. b. The Prince of Peace.

THINKING THINGS THROUGH A. From where does this account come? 1. Matthew, Mark, Luke record it. 2. John does not. 3. Who was with the Lord in the wilderness? 4. Why even consider this? a. There is something important revealed here. b. Jesus wants us to under- stand this encounter. A. From where does this account come? 1. Matthew, Mark, Luke record it. 2. John does not. 3. Who was with the Lord in the wilderness? 4. Why even consider this? a. There is something important revealed here. b. Jesus wants us to under- stand this encounter.

Matthew 4:1 “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

1. This wilderness warfare was not Jesus’ initiative. 2. The purpose: “to be tempted by the devil.” a. Luke 4:1 – 2 b. This was not Satan’s first efforts against Jesus. c. This was to be a ‘different’ effort. d. FOR THOUGHT: What was Satan’s ‘appearance?’ (1) Mark 1:12 – “and immediately the Spirit (EKBALLEI) impelled Him to go out into the wilderness.” (2) Matthew 4:3 – “the tempter came to Him.” 1. This wilderness warfare was not Jesus’ initiative. 2. The purpose: “to be tempted by the devil.” a. Luke 4:1 – 2 b. This was not Satan’s first efforts against Jesus. c. This was to be a ‘different’ effort. d. FOR THOUGHT: What was Satan’s ‘appearance?’ (1) Mark 1:12 – “and immediately the Spirit (EKBALLEI) impelled Him to go out into the wilderness.” (2) Matthew 4:3 – “the tempter came to Him.”

C. Of interest is Jesus’ spiritual disci- pline regarding fasting for strength. 1. Matthew 4:2 – “And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.” 2. Mark 1:13 -- “He was in the wilder- ness forty days being tempted by Satan, and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.” C. Of interest is Jesus’ spiritual disci- pline regarding fasting for strength. 1. Matthew 4:2 – “And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.” 2. Mark 1:13 -- “He was in the wilder- ness forty days being tempted by Satan, and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.”

III. The Tripartite Temptation A. Matthew 4:3 – 4 -- “And the tempter came and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’ But He answered and said, ‘It is written, “MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.”’”

1. Jesus was hungry. 2. The struggle was for Jesus to trust in self. 3. Matthew 3:17 – Jesus was endorsed by the Father. a. Immediately Jesus was ‘forced’ into the wilderness. b. Satan’s strategy is interesting: (1) Satan tells the truth! (2) Matthew 4:3 – “If [since] You are the Son of God.” 4. The temptation may have been between the assertion of rights and the submission of one’s will. 1. Jesus was hungry. 2. The struggle was for Jesus to trust in self. 3. Matthew 3:17 – Jesus was endorsed by the Father. a. Immediately Jesus was ‘forced’ into the wilderness. b. Satan’s strategy is interesting: (1) Satan tells the truth! (2) Matthew 4:3 – “If [since] You are the Son of God.” 4. The temptation may have been between the assertion of rights and the submission of one’s will.

a. Assertion of rights brought down Satan. b. Jude 6 5. Jesus’ first line of defense was Scripture! THE POINT: It is better to listen to and trust God than to satisfy a natural, but temporary, urge to eat. a. Assertion of rights brought down Satan. b. Jude 6 5. Jesus’ first line of defense was Scripture! THE POINT: It is better to listen to and trust God than to satisfy a natural, but temporary, urge to eat.

B. Matthew 4: “Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand 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 WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’; and ‘ON THEIR HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’” Jesus said to him ‘On the other hand, it is written, “YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.”’”

1. Jesus is dared to trust in the spectacular. 2. Satan is recorded telling the truth – again – Matthew 4:6. 3. Satan knows Scripture! a. Matthew 4:6 b. Psalm 91 c. Learn from Satan! Do not take Scripture out of context! 4. Jesus is tempted to doubt God; to experiment with Him. 5. Jesus’ defense is Scripture. 1. Jesus is dared to trust in the spectacular. 2. Satan is recorded telling the truth – again – Matthew 4:6. 3. Satan knows Scripture! a. Matthew 4:6 b. Psalm 91 c. Learn from Satan! Do not take Scripture out of context! 4. Jesus is tempted to doubt God; to experiment with Him. 5. Jesus’ defense is Scripture.

C. Matthew 4:8 – 10 – “Again the devil took Him to a very 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.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go, Satan! For it is written, “YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.”’”

1. What a sight this must have been! 2. QUESTION: What was shown to Jesus? Be sure to step away from the ‘framework of the familiar’ to “see” Jesus! a. Jesus was shown “all the kingdoms of the world.” b. Jesus was shown “the glory” of all those kingdoms. c. QUESTION: Whose dominion was represented in what Jesus was shown? 1. What a sight this must have been! 2. QUESTION: What was shown to Jesus? Be sure to step away from the ‘framework of the familiar’ to “see” Jesus! a. Jesus was shown “all the kingdoms of the world.” b. Jesus was shown “the glory” of all those kingdoms. c. QUESTION: Whose dominion was represented in what Jesus was shown?

d. Matthew 4:9 – “All these things will I give you!” (1) This is not merely Satanic rhetoric. (2) Satan’s greatest desperation is here portrayed. (3) These were the kingdoms of Satan. (4) Jesus came to gain sovereignty over these kingdoms. His agenda involved a cross. d. Matthew 4:9 – “All these things will I give you!” (1) This is not merely Satanic rhetoric. (2) Satan’s greatest desperation is here portrayed. (3) These were the kingdoms of Satan. (4) Jesus came to gain sovereignty over these kingdoms. His agenda involved a cross.

(5) Satan’s temptation of Jesus was to ignore God and trust in a shortcut. 3. Jesus’ counter-attack involved Scripture! a. Jesus was tempted to trust in self. b. Jesus was tempted to doubt God. c. Jesus was tempted to ignore God. d. Satan has used the same strategem from the beginning – Genesis 3:1 – 7. (5) Satan’s temptation of Jesus was to ignore God and trust in a shortcut. 3. Jesus’ counter-attack involved Scripture! a. Jesus was tempted to trust in self. b. Jesus was tempted to doubt God. c. Jesus was tempted to ignore God. d. Satan has used the same strategem from the beginning – Genesis 3:1 – 7.

CONCLUSION 1. How much a temptation for you is self-reliance; how deep is your confi- dence in God; how long have you ignored God? 2. Jesus won in the wilderness – for you! 1. How much a temptation for you is self-reliance; how deep is your confi- dence in God; how long have you ignored God? 2. Jesus won in the wilderness – for you!