Matthew 4

Isn’t it strange? Jesus goes from baptism—which today signifies the beginning of a new direction in life, rejecting sin and following Jesus—to temptation. Why this itinerary for Jesus? Why not skip the temptation and send him directly into ministry?

Matthew says the Holy Spirit “led Jesus into the badlands” (Matthew 4:1), which tradition says were the Judean ridge of hills that rise above the western side of the Jordan River Valley. How do you think the Holy Spirit does that kind of thing? Physical manifestation? Inside the head? Suggestion by someone else, such as John the Baptist?

Matthew says Jesus fasted for “40 days and 40 nights” (Matthew 4:2). An article in the 1997 issue of the British Medical Journal, by Michael Peele, says there are well-documented studies of people surviving hunger strikes for up to 40 days. A skinny Mahatma Gandhi at age 74 survived 21 days of complete starvation, drinking only sips of water. Do you think Luke literally meant 40 days, or was he using a round number to mean it was a long time—as in a couple of weeks or more?

Perhaps this is the most memorable line in the discussion between Jesus and Satan, when Satan is tempting him: “It takes more than bread to keep people alive. We devour every word God speaks” (Matthew 4:4). The New Testament wasn’t written yet, and Jews were still arguing over what books to include in their Bible, which Christians call the Old Testament. So what do you think Jesus meant by “every word God speaks”?

The message Jesus starts preaching is that people should repent of their sins. He says, “Reject your sinful way of living. The kingdom of heaven has come—and it’s here, right now” (Matthew 4:17). Some Bible versions say “the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” In either case, are you inclined to think he was talking about himself or perhaps the religious movement he was starting or maybe the Holy Spirit at work in the world or possibly the fact that there were true lovers of God all around the region?

As Matthew reports it, Andrew and his brother Simon, better known as Peter, instantly accepted the invitation of Jesus to become one of his disciples. “They didn’t hesitate. They left their nets and off they went, following him” (Matthew 4:20). Ditto for the brothers James and John (Matthew 4:21-22). Really? What would you guess is the backstory here? Why did these disciples drop everything and follow Jesus like it was some kind of emergency?

LIFE APPLICATION. The devil told Jesus to test God by taking one of God’s promises that was expressed in a metaphor and see if God would honor it literally. Jesus is to jump to his death and God’s angels will catch him. Jesus said, “Don’t mess around with the LORD your God by trying to test him” (Matthew 4:7). How do we test God? Have you known of people who tried to mess around with God in this way—putting him to the test, perhaps by taking a Bible promise written as poetry and expecting God to honor it literally?

LIFE APPLICATION. It seems interesting to many people that Jesus had a Bible verse to fight off every temptation that came to him. Do you think that would be helpful for us today to memorize Bible sayings? For example, if we find ourselves tempted with one particular behavior, could we latch onto Bible passages to help us overcome the temptation whenever it surfaces?

LIFE APPLICATION. Matthew says the devil came to Jesus and communicated with him in some way, perhaps talking out loud or maybe putting thoughts in the head of Jesus. Do you think Satan does this to people today? Or are we more likely to blame Satan for temptations that grow out of bad decisions we make on our own?