Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness

Matthew 4:1-11 (KJV)

After Jesus was baptized, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan.  Jesus was hungry for he had fasted forty days and forty nights.

On two occasions, Satan confronted Jesus with the words--"If thou be the Son of God" in an attempt to get Him to prove that He is the Son of God.  Satan wanted miracles from Jesus for proof.  Instead of resorting to performing the miracles that Satan wanted, Jesus turned to the Word of God.

Satan wanted Jesus to command stones to be made into bread.  Jesus said, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."  Jesus could have given in to temptation so easily since He was hungry; however, He followed His own wise words and lived by the Word of God to ultimately overcome Satan in the wilderness.

Satan took Jesus to Jerusalem to set Him on 'a pinnacle of the temple' (v. 5).  Satan said to Jesus, "...[C]ast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone" (v.6).  Jesus replied, "It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God" (v. 7).

You can see how important it is for us to study and "[l]et the word of Christ dwell in [us] richly..." (Colossians 3:16) because Satan knows the Word also and will attempt to get us to use the Word of God unwisely against God.  From verses six and seven, we realize that we are to never intentionally place ourselves in harm's way to test God.

Satan finally took Jesus to "...an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and glory of them; [Satan said,] All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.... [Jesus said,] Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve" (vs. 8-10).  After these words, the devil departed and angels came to minister unto Jesus.