December 7th – Matthew 4:1-11
Spend some time meditating on the temptation of Jesus. Then, come back and read the commentary, my verse, and my response to God.
- Request God’s help.
- Read Matthew 4:1-11
- Record a verse that stands out to you.
- Respond to God.
Come back and read the commentary when you’re done…
Who, what, when, why, where, and how are all the questions that pop up in my mind when I read about the temptation and testing Jesus endured after He was baptized. Questions like, “What is happening here?” and “Why is Jesus talking to the devil?” are at the top of the list. However, I’m missing the point. Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (NIV).
The other thing I noticed was the number forty. Why forty days and forty nights in the desert? It may have mirrored the forty years Israel spent wandering in the desert after walking through the Red Sea and before entering the Promised Land. However, in contrast to Israel, Jesus endured the test in the desert and remained faithful and obedient to His Father.
Interestingly, the devil said, “If you are the Son of God…” Talk about goading! Jesus knew precisely Who He was, yet Satan was prodding Him to prove it. In other words, he said, “I dare you to use Your divine power to do Your own will.” This is the same tactic the enemy uses on believers today. “If you are a child of God, you can do (fill in the blank) and you will be forgiven,” etc. But Jesus never sinned! Instead, He used the sword of the Spirit, breathed out the Word of God, and commanded the devil to flee from Him.
How have you used the Word of God to thwart the arrows of the enemy?
My Verse: Matthew 4:4 “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (NIV).
My Response: Man does not live on bread alone because man is not only physical, but he also has a spirit and a soul. Bread only feeds the body, but God is the One Who sustains us. Our Spirit is fed by God’s Word, and we are revived in our soul (heart, mind, and will) by the Spirit. Yet, the devil always appeals to the flesh because he knows if we are weak in our Spirit, he can captivate our souls through the flesh.
Father, please keep me from the devil’s schemes. Help me be aware, prepared, and wise as a serpent but gentle as a dove (Matthew 10:16). Amen.
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ne of my favorite Bible verses that I use as a weapon against the enemy is 1 John 4:18: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” Whenever I am fearful I recite this verse and then am reminded where that fear is coming from and can rebuke it and nestle back in to God’s perfect love.
Also, one of my favorite Bible verses that I use as a weapon against the enemy is 1 John 4:18: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” Whenever I am fearful I recite this verse and then am reminded where that fear is coming from and can rebuke it and nestle back in to God’s perfect love.