SESSION 6
The Son of God
Is Tempted
Summary and Goal
Jesus demonstrated faithfulness in the wilderness of temptation. Unlike Adam and Eve in the garden
and unlike the children of Israel in the wilderness, Jesus refused to gratify His desires apart from God’s
will or to test God and His promises. Instead of taking the path of earthly exaltation, Jesus fixed His
eyes on the cross and triumphed over the temptations of the Evil One. As Christians, we can resist
temptation by trusting in the Savior who overcame temptation in our place.
Main Passage
Matthew 4:1-11
Session Outline
1. J esus is tempted to gratify His desires apart from God’s will (Matt. 4:1-4).
2. J esus is tempted to test God and doubt His promises (Matt. 4:5-7).
3. Jesus is tempted to exalt Himself apart from the cross (Matt. 4:8-11).
Theological Theme
In the wilderness, Jesus triumphs over temptation at the point that Adam and Israel failed.
Christ Connection
In order to undo the consequences of Adam’s sin, Jesus steps into our world and overcomes the
temptation to which Adam succumbed. In order to fulfill the purpose of His people, Israel, who
doubted God in the wilderness, Jesus overcomes temptation on behalf of His people. Jesus’ temptation
is connected to His cross, the place where He conquered sin as our Savior.
Missional Application
God calls us to resist temptation by resting in our identity in Christ, the One who overcame
temptation in our place.
Date of My Bible Study: ______________________
© 2017 LifeWay Christian Resources. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute within the license agreement with purchaser.
67
Session Plan
The Son of God
Is Tempted
Session 6
Points 1-3 Option
Prior to the group
meeting, enlist a couple
of volunteers to read and
study Deuteronomy 6–8
to help provide some
background information
for the Scriptures Jesus
quoted in His defense
against temptation.
Also ask the volunteers to
consider while they study
why Jesus might have
chosen to quote from this
portion of Scripture.
Point 1 Option
Ask groups of 3-4 to
spend a couple of minutes
comparing and contrasting
Jesus’ temptation in
the wilderness to turn
stones into bread with the
temptation experiences
of Adam and Eve in the
garden of Eden and the
Israelites in the wilderness
regarding food and
drink. Then allow the
groups to share some
of their conclusions.
Supplement responses
from the Leader content as
needed (leader p. 73).
Introduction
Draw the analogy between the spiritual life and a wilderness and what
temptation teaches us about faithfulness (leader p. 70; PSG p. 55).
What are some common temptations that Christians
struggle with today?
Why are these temptations so common?
Summarize this session on Jesus’ faithfulness in the wilderness of temptation
(leader p. 70; PSG p. 56).
1. J esus is tempted to gratify His desires apart
from God’s will (Matt. 4:1-4).
Connect this story of Jesus’ temptation with the previous story of Jesus’
baptism by mentioning Jesus’ identity as the Son of God and the role of the
Holy Spirit in both (you can make both of these connections by referencing
Pack Item 4: The Work of the Spirit). Then ask a volunteer to read
Matthew 4:1-4. Give background on what the wilderness means within
biblical history and the identity of God’s people (leader pp. 71-72;
PSG pp. 56-57).
When have you had a “wilderness” experience in your life
spiritually? Did it feel like a test? Why or why not?
Explain Satan’s strategy in attempting to lead Jesus to doubt His identity
and to indulge an earthly appetite. Calling attention to Pack Item 2:
Hearing the Old Testament in the New, point out that Jesus quoted
from Deuteronomy 8:3 to counter this first temptation (leader pp. 72-73;
PSG pp. 57-58).
Why would it have been wrong for Jesus to turn the stones
into bread?
What does Jesus’ answer teach us about the importance of
God’s Word?
68
Leader Guide
2. J esus is tempted to test God and doubt His
promises (Matt. 4:5-7).
Read Matthew 4:5-7. Comment on the location of Satan’s second
temptation—the pinnacle of the temple—and his altered method of attack—
quoting the Bible (leader p. 74; PSG p. 59).
Why is quoting Scripture not enough to determine what is
right and wrong?
How have you seen Scriptures get mangled in order to
justify sin?
Speak to Satan’s misuse of Psalm 91 and how Jesus responded with
Deuteronomy 6:16. Show how this informs our own struggle against
temptation—we need to know and rely on God’s Word (leader pp. 74-75;
PSG pp. 59-60).
When have you been tempted to put God to the test—
to see if He would keep His promise to you?
Point 2 Option
Prior to the group meeting,
ask a volunteer to review
the article “The Top Ten
Bible Verses of 2015 and
More.” During the meeting,
have the volunteer share
the list with the group and
lead a discussion with the
following questions:
• What temptations might
these verses be used to
fight against?
• How could these
Scriptures be twisted
without their context in
order to tempt someone
to sin?
www.biblegateway.com/
blog/2015/12/the-top-tenbible-verses-of-2015-andmore-bible-gateways-yearin-review-is-here/
3. Jesus is tempted to exalt Himself apart from
the cross (Matt. 4:8-11).
Read Matthew 4:8-11. Highlight the direct nature of Satan’s final temptation.
When tempted toward self-exaltation, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:13
(leader pp. 75-76; PSG pp. 60-61).
In what ways do we face temptation to exalt ourselves
before others?
What kinds of temptations come with the desire for power?
Point out that Satan’s goal is to receive the worship and glory that is due God
alone. Victory only comes through relying on the Word of God and trusting
in the identity He has given us in Christ (leader pp. 76-77; PSG p. 61).
How does Jesus’ victory over temptation give you
confidence when you are in the wilderness?
Christ Connection:
In order to undo the
consequences of Adam’s
sin, Jesus steps into our
world and overcomes the
temptation to which Adam
succumbed. In order to
fulfill the purpose of His
people, Israel, who doubted
God in the wilderness,
Jesus overcomes
temptation on behalf of His
people. Jesus’ temptation is
connected to His cross, the
place where He conquered
sin as our Savior.
........................................................
Conclusion
Review how Jesus overcame each of Satan’s temptations (leader p. 77).
Emphasize that His victory is ours, so we should worship Him through
obedience (leader p. 77; PSG p. 62). Apply the truths of this session with
“His Mission, Your Mission” (PSG p. 63).
Missional Application: God
calls us to resist temptation
by resting in our identity
in Christ, the One who
overcame temptation in
our place.
Session 6
69
Expanded Session Content
The Son of God
Is Tempted
Session 6
Introduction
Voices from
Church History
“In each of the three neverto-be-forgotten pictures
which our Lord has given
us, the temptation of
Satan centers round this
point—‘You are the Son of
God, then do God’s work in
Your own way; assert Your
prerogative of Sonship.’
Jesus deliberately rejected
the suggested ‘short cut’
and chose the ‘long, long
trail,’ evading none of the
suffering involved.” 1
–Oswald Chambers
(1874-1917)
The spiritual life can be understood as a wilderness, as a journey
through the desert. The journey begins for us when we say yes to God,
when we make the difficult decision to respond to His extravagant
invitation to follow Him.
The journey continues through the wilderness of temptation. Many
followers are surprised when after they commit to Jesus, their temptations
seem to grow in intensity. The story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness
teaches us that struggle always follows commitment. Even more, struggle
is the test of faithfulness.
When the first disciples dropped their fishing nets to follow Jesus, they
never could have anticipated the struggles that would follow their response
to Jesus. Tradition says that all but one of the disciples would be martyred.
Saying yes to God came with a cost, and the same is true of us today.
Experiencing temptation and overcoming the Evil One is one of the ways
we become stronger—able to continue saying yes to the great cost and
great reward of following Christ.
What are some common temptations that Christians
struggle with today?
Why are these temptations so common?
Session Summary
In this session we witness Jesus’ faithfulness in the wilderness of
temptation. Unlike Adam and Eve in the garden and unlike the children
of Israel in the wilderness, Jesus refused to gratify His desires apart from
God’s will or to test God and His promises. Instead of taking the path of
earthly exaltation, Jesus fixed His eyes on the cross and triumphed over
the temptations of the Evil One. As Christians, we can resist temptation
by trusting in the Savior who overcame temptation in our place.
70
Leader Guide
1. Jesus is tempted to gratify His desires apart
from God’s will (Matt. 4:1-4).
Many of us approach our reading of the Bible as if it were medicine
we should take in small doses. We read a few verses or perhaps
a paragraph in the morning when we wake up or at night before we go
to sleep.
There is nothing wrong with reading the Bible in this way, but if
we only read the Bible in small blocks, we will never see the elegant
connections between the stories. You are only able to see the connections
when you read larger portions of Scripture in one setting.
A great example is the story of Jesus’ baptism (which we studied in the
previous session) and the temptation of Jesus. Although we are studying
these two scenes over the course of two sessions, we realize that we cannot
properly understand one without the other.
At the baptism of Jesus, the Father affirmed the identity of Jesus as
His beloved Son, and the Spirit descended upon Him like a dove. That
same Spirit ties the baptism story to the temptation scene, where the Spirit
led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted. (And not surprisingly, the
first temptation has to do with Jesus’ identity as the Son of God—the
affirmation He just heard at His baptism.)
Keeping these two stories together in the way the Gospel writers
did, we notice the straight line from the Jordan River to the desert. The
baptism represents the door to the wilderness.
Then Jesus was led
up by the Spirit into the
wilderness to be tempted by
the devil. 2 And after fasting
forty days and forty nights,
he was hungry. 3 And the
tempter came and said to
him, “If you are the Son
of God, command these
stones to become loaves of
bread.” 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.’ ”
1
Further
Commentary
“The temptation of Christ
highlights numerous
parallels between
Jesus and OT Israel.
Deuteronomy 8:2-3 says
that the Lord led Israel
into the wilderness to
be tested for 40 years.
Similarly, ‘Jesus was led
up by the Spirit into the
wilderness’ to be tested
for ‘40 days.’ The three
temptations Jesus faced
parallel the tests Israel
faced in the wilderness,
and every Scripture that
Jesus quoted in response
to His temptations
were drawn from God’s
message to the Israelites
about their wilderness
test (Deut. 6–8). Israel
failed its tests, but Jesus
passed His and in doing so
‘fulfilled all righteousness’
(Matt. 3:15). Thus He is
qualified to create a new
spiritual Israel…During their
wilderness wanderings,
Israel failed to trust God
to provide food and water.
Jesus, the embodiment
of the new Israel, had
unwavering trust in God’s
care…His reference to ‘every
word that comes from the
mouth of God’ [Deut. 8:3]
recalls the OT theme that
God’s words are not idle,
but are to be received
as commands…The OT
text which Jesus quoted
teaches that obeying
God is more important
than being well-fed. Israel
struggled to learn this truth
(Ex. 16:3; Num. 11:4-5). In
contrast, Jesus hungered
for righteousness more
than bread and thirsted
for obedience more
than water. He urged His
disciples to have the same
priority (Matt. 5:6).” 2
–Charles L. Quarles,
HCSB Study Bible
Session 6
71
99 Essential
Christian Doctrines
40. Temptation and Sin
Temptation is not
the equivalent of sin.
Temptation can refer to
natural and good desires
that are twisted and
directed toward pleasing
of self rather than giving
glory to God. Jesus was
tempted like we are
(Matt. 4), and yet He
never sinned but faithfully
resisted temptation
and followed the will of
His Father. Knowing our
weakness, we are to be on
guard against temptation
that may lead us to sin
(Matt. 26:41), and we pray
for God to deliver us from
evil (Matt. 6:13).
Voices from
Church History
“The first Adam sinned by
eating. Christ prevailed
by self-control. He thus
teaches that there is no
need for us to stay far away
from God.” 3
–Theodore of Heraclea
(circa 328-355)
72
Leader Guide
The wilderness is the place God uses to establish our identity as
His sons and daughters. In the Old Testament, God called His people to
the wilderness so they could learn His worth and learn to truly
worship Him.
When Moses spoke to Pharaoh, he gave the mighty emperor
a message from God: “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my
people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness’ ” (Ex. 5:1;
cf. 3:18; 10:9). Eventually, the people were liberated from their slavery,
and they made their way to and through the Red Sea as God led them.
In the wilderness, Israel learned the words of God, and the prophet
Hosea would later write: “Out of Egypt I called my son” (Hos. 11:1). The
sonship of Israel was established in the wilderness.
The same can be said of the wilderness temptation of Jesus. This
sonship was declared by the Father at the Jordan River, and His relationship
with the Father was strengthened by Jesus’ obedience in the wilderness.
There Jesus demonstrated what it truly means to be a child of God.
The same is true for us. Sometimes we go from the mountaintop to
the valley, from the good times to the wilderness, because only there, in
the spiritual desert, do we learn the worth of God. Only there do we learn
how to trust Him when it is difficult. And there we demonstrate our
identity as His sons and daughters.
When have you had a “wilderness” experience in your life
spiritually? Did it feel like a test? Why or why not?
The intent of Satan was revealed in the opening words of his first
assault: “If you are the Son of God…” If we are to understand the strategy
Satan used, we need to see that his opening move intended to lead Jesus to
doubt His identity and to indulge an earthly appetite.
Jesus had been fasting for 40 days, and Satan attacked Him at His
weakest moment. Can you imaging how consuming and overpowering
the thought of bread would be after 40 days of fasting?
Behind the temptation to turn the stones into bread was the
assumption that physical food is the most important nourishment we
need. Jesus’ response said otherwise. In each of the three temptations,
Jesus quoted from the Book of Deuteronomy. His reference here to
Deuteronomy 8:3—“Man does not live by bread alone”—was about the
Word of God.
Bread is one of the sustaining foods for physical life. More important
than bread, however, is the sustenance for the spirit. Our spiritual life is
sustained by the Word of God. As the Son of God, Jesus understood that
although His body was starving, He had feasted on God’s word spoken
over Him at the Jordan River: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am
well pleased” (Matt. 3:17). Jesus knew He was the Son of God—not
a starving beggar in the wilderness but a Son who delights in the word of
His Father.
Jesus’ triumph over the temptation to turn stones into bread brings
to mind two other biblical scenes. First, we see Adam and Eve placed in
a garden filled with all the food they would ever need. And yet, even in
that paradise, they were drawn by the serpent to the one tree that was
forbidden. In seeing that the tree’s fruit was good to eat, they disobeyed
God and were exiled from the garden into the wilderness.
Second, we see the children of Israel wandering in a literal wilderness.
Even there, God’s provision was everywhere. They were given manna
from heaven and quail to eat. They had water to drink, miraculously
provided from a rock in the desert. When their enemies threatened,
God intervened to protect His people. Even with all this provision and
protection, the Israelites grumbled against God, rejected His plan, and
were forced to remain in the desert instead of entering the promised land
flowing with milk and honey.
Like Adam and Eve and like the children of Israel, we too recognize
our tendency to be faithless in spite of all that God has given us. The
temptation of Jesus shows us the One who remained steadfast and
committed to trusting in the provision of God. We benefit from His
victory and now walk in His steps.
Voices from
Church History
“Satan doth not tempt
God’s children because
they have sin in them, but
because they have grace in
them. Had they no grace,
the devil would not disturb
them…Though to be
tempted is a trouble, yet to
think why you are tempted
is a comfort.” 4
–Thomas Watson
(1620-1686)
Why would it have been wrong for Jesus to turn the stones
into bread?
What does Jesus’ answer teach us about the importance of
God’s Word?
Session 6
73
Further
Commentary
“Satan tempted Jesus to
put on a sensational display
of power. Satan reminds
him that God would not
let his son be hurt (4:6;
Ps. 91:11-12). Instead he
would command his
angels to ensure his safety.
God is committed to the
protection of those who
trust him. Indeed, Jesus
himself would later affirm
that he could command
thousands of angels to
come to his aid at any
moment (26:53). But Satan
was seeking to create an
artificial crisis, and calling
on Jesus to put on a public
display of power in a selfgratifying manner. But such
behavior would amount
to putting ‘God to the test’
(4:7; see also Deut. 6:16).
We can trust God for safety
as we serve him obediently,
but sometimes his
purposes are best fulfilled
by allowing his servants to
undergo suffering. Jesus’
own commitment to the
cross is a prime example,
and many of his followers
since have honoured him in
suffering and even death.” 6
–Joe M. Kapolyo,
Africa Bible Commentary
Voices from
Church History
“What can the reason be
that with each temptation
the devil adds, ‘If you are
the Son of God’? He is
acting just like he did in the
case of Adam, when he
disparaged God by saying,
‘In the day you eat, your
eyes will be opened.’ ” 7
–John Chrysostom
(circa 347-407)
74
Leader Guide
2. Jesus is tempted to test God and doubt His
promises (Matt. 4:5-7).
The second temptation escalated the assault on Jesus. The Son of God
had stood firm in the area of His physical desires, so Satan’s strategy
shifted: he wanted Jesus to doubt God’s promises.
Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of
the temple 6 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,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ”
7
Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your
God to the test.’ ”
5
Satan transported Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple. Herod’s temple
was a marvel. One rabbi said, “He who has not seen Herod’s temple has
not seen beauty.” 5 The 35-acre complex was surrounded by a colonnade.
In the center of the splendor was the temple itself, fashioned from
glistening white marble and also crowned with a gold leaf. It was said that
when the sun shone directly on the temple, one had to look away because
of its brilliance.
Satan took Jesus to the top of this magnificent building, and he altered
his attack by adopting Jesus’ method of warfare. Here Satan also quoted
the Bible—Psalm 91:11-12, which refers to God’s tender provision of
protection to the ones He loves.
Why is quoting Scripture not enough to determine what is
right and wrong?
How have you seen Scriptures get mangled in order to
justify sin?
Satan intended for Jesus to understand these two verses in isolation,
that is, apart from the larger context of the psalm. But Psalm 91 speaks
of a person who rests in faith and trusts in the Almighty. The psalmist
wrote about why he was not afraid and why he had made the Lord his
refuge. In short, the song is from someone who has put his total trust
in God.
Trust in God? That is not how Satan wanted the verses to be
understood. Lifted from its context of trust, the verses Satan quoted were
mangled into an invitation to distrust God. For Jesus to throw Himself
from the temple roof would be to test His Father. It would mean that Jesus
was demanding a sign regarding His identity as God’s Son. It would mean
that the Father’s affirmation at the baptism was not enough and that God
would have to prove the truth of His earlier statement. Again, Jesus turned
to Deuteronomy in response: “You shall not put the Lord your God to
the test” (Deut. 6:16; cf. Matt. 4:7).
Jesus’ experience helps us understand our own struggle against
temptation in our personal wilderness. God’s Word provides the basis of
our confidence. Our faith and trust in that Word provides the strength to
resist Satan’s continual lies. If Jesus needed to rely on the Word of God,
how much more should we?
Satan (the “accuser”) is always seeking to plant doubts in our
minds—doubts that say God is not trustworthy. Jesus’ life and obedience
is a constant reminder that the Father can be trusted in every situation.
Satan sows seeds of condemnation and confusion, but God’s Word is rich
in encouragement and clarity. Satan knows that if he can introduce the
smallest doubt, he will have his foot in the door. But if we continue in
fellowship with God and walk with Jesus in the light of His Word, Satan
is already defeated.
When have you been tempted to put God to the test—
to see if He would keep His promise to you?
3. Jesus is tempted to exalt Himself apart from
the cross (Matt. 4:8-11).
With the final temptation, Satan provided a shortcut for Jesus to arrive
at exaltation—through bowing down and worshiping him instead of
choosing to fulfill His calling as the Messiah.
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all
the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these
I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 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.’ ”
11
Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering
to him.
8
Further
Commentary
“Ironically, Jesus would
receive this glory anyway
after his death and
resurrection; but here
the devil tries to seduce
him with instant power,
authority, and wealth apart
from the way of the cross.
Satan regularly tempts
Christians in the same way—
with the success syndrome,
empire building, or alleged
guarantees of health and
wealth…Jesus rightly rejects
the devil’s offer and quotes
Deuteronomy for a third
time (Deut. 6:13). Only one
is worthy of worship, the
One who redeemed Israel
from Egypt, the Lord God
Yahweh himself. Jesus’
insistence on worshiping
God alone makes the
characteristic Matthean
theme of worshiping
Jesus (e.g., 2:2; 8:2; 9:18;
14:33; 15:25; 20:20; 28:17)
all the more significant as
evidence for his divinity.
With this rebuke the devil
departs, but he will resume
similar temptations at the
beginning of the next key
stage of Jesus’ life (16:21-23).
The very help Jesus had
rejected when it would have
put God to the test now
makes itself available as
angels arrive to serve him…
Interesting parallels emerge
between Jesus’ three
temptations and those of
Eve and Adam in the garden
(Gen 3:6)…Both of these
triads seem to parallel
John’s epitome of human
temptation…(1 John 2:16,
RSV)…Jesus’ temptations
therefore illustrate the
precious truth that he was
indeed tempted in every
way common to human
experience (Heb. 2:17-18;
4:15). This does not mean
that he underwent every
conceivable temptation but
that he experienced every
major kind.” 8
–Craig Blomberg
Session 6
75
Voices from
Church History
“Three times during the
Wilderness Temptation
when Satan came against
Him, Jesus, the submissive
Son of Almighty God, filled
with the Holy Spirit, took
the sword of the Spirit
which is the Word of God
and ran him through with
the Word.” 9
–Adrian Rogers (1931-2005)
Voices from
Church History
“With human power having
been disdained and with
worldly ambition being
held of little account, we
also should remember that
our Lord and God alone
must be adored, especially
when the devil’s honor
has become the common
business of every age.” 10
–Hilary of Poitiers
(circa 300-368)
76
Leader Guide
Jesus was taken to a high mountain. Mysteriously, here Jesus is given
a glimpse of all the kingdoms of the world at once. Satan’s goal was for
Jesus to worship him in order to receive power.
Earlier, we mentioned that the wilderness is the place where we learn
what true worship is all about. Jesus had been in the wilderness for 40 days
and nights. So here, Satan abandoned his tactic of quoting Scripture,
which he had used as a ploy. This time he chose to go direct. The final
temptation included the serpent’s hiss: “All these I will give you, if you will
fall down and worship me” (v. 9).
But Jesus knew who He was. He knew that His kingdom would be
centered on a cross. He knew that His kingdom would be based on His
self-sacrifice, not His self-exaltation. He knew that His glory would flow
from His identity as the Son of God. And so, once again, He quoted
Deuteronomy 6:13 in verse 10: “It is the Lord your God you shall fear.
Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.”
In what ways do we face temptation to exalt ourselves
before others?
What kinds of temptations come with the desire for power?
Jesus’ sonship had been declared at His baptism and now was
demonstrated in the wilderness. In the desert, the Son of God displayed
the ultimate worth of God the Father. In the desert, the Son trusted in
God and fed on His word. Matthew tells us that after this defeat, the
Devil left Him. Luke added that his departure was “until an opportune
time” (Luke 4:13).
So yes, the battle was over, for the moment. Angels came and
served Jesus. In the Gospel of Matthew, these angels are described in
military terms (e.g., Matt. 26:53). Here they are “a company,” the armies
of the heavens. At the birth of Jesus, the angels praised God for His
goodness. In this scene, they do not fight for Jesus but feed Him and
minister to Him. We will not hear more of angels until Jesus is in the
garden of Gethsemane and a solitary angel comforts Jesus in His agony
(Luke 22:43).
Jesus’ struggle in the wilderness is our struggle, and His victory there
can become ours too. As we study the Scriptures, we come to realize that
the hunger of temptation in the wilderness can only be satisfied truly by
trusting in the promises of God’s Word. The identity we have received
from God, as His sons and daughters, must be stronger than the false
identities that Satan and the world may offer us.
Satan’s ultimate goal is to receive the worship and glory that is due
God alone. Jesus’ triumph in the wilderness proves that victory over the
Evil One is possible. But victory only comes through relying on the Word
of God and trusting in the identity He has given us in Christ.
How does Jesus’ victory over temptation give you
confidence when you are in the wilderness?
Conclusion
The wilderness temptation represents an all-out assault on the identity
of Jesus, which was revealed at His baptism. It was a threefold attack.
First, Satan sought to tempt Jesus to satisfy His desires apart from the will
of God. The temptation was to make Him rely on Himself apart from the
Father in sustaining His own life with physical bread. Jesus triumphed
when He spoke of relying on the word of God for life.
Second, Satan sought to tempt Jesus to doubt God’s protection and
to test that promise by jumping from the roof of the temple. Once more,
Jesus displayed His total trust in the Father.
Third, the Devil tempted Jesus to abandon the identity the Father
bestowed upon Him at the Jordan, the radical identification with the
world that would finally lead Him to the cross. Jesus’ final triumph in the
wilderness occurred when He determined to serve and worship the Father
alone and triumphed over the temptation of Satan.
This is not simply an ancient story of a struggle between good and evil.
It is a battle plan for those who long to remain obedient to God. Jesus’
victory in the wilderness matters because it is a foretaste of the victory He
will achieve for the world on the cross. He is always the pattern and the
paradigm. We have failed to engage or understand this narrative if we
have not realized that His victory can be echoed in our own experience.
His victory is ours! In light of Christ’s work, our appropriate response is
following His pattern of obedience as worship.
Voices from
the Church
“The devil is working hard
here to make sure Jesus
doesn’t suffer…It’s pretty
interesting here that
every attack from what’s
evil is not built around
absolute wickedness but
more comfort.” 11
–Matt Chandler
CHRIST CONNECTION: In order to undo the consequences
of Adam’s sin, Jesus steps into our world and overcomes
the temptation to which Adam succumbed. In order to fulfill
the purpose of His people, Israel, who doubted God in the
wilderness, Jesus overcomes temptation on behalf of His people.
Jesus’ temptation is connected to His cross, the place where He
conquered sin as our Savior.
Session 6
77
Additional Resources
The Son of God Is Tempted
References
1. Oswald Chambers, in The
Quotable Oswald Chambers,
comp. and ed. David McCasland
(Grand Rapids: Oswald Chambers
Publications Association,
2008) [eBook].
2. Charles L. Quarles, in HCSB Study
Bible (Nashville: B&H, 2010), 1615,
n. 4:1-2; n. 4:3; n. 4:4.
3. Theodore of Heraclea,
Fragment 22, quoted in
Matthew 1–13, ed. Manlio Simonetti,
vol. Ia in Ancient Christian
Commentary on Scripture: New
Testament (Downers Grove: IVP,
2014) [WORDsearch].
4. Thomas Watson, “To Think Why
You Are Tempted Is a Comfort,”
A Puritan Golden Treasury
[online], 2016 [cited 2 August
2016]. Available from the Internet:
thomaswatsonquotes.com.
5. Paul Barnett, Jesus & the Rise of
Early Christianity (Downers Grove:
IVP, 1999), 76.
6. Joe M. Kapolyo, Africa Bible
Commentary, ed. Tokunboh
Adeyema (Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 2010) [eBook].
7. Chrysostom, Homilies on the
Gospel of Matthew, 13.4, quoted in
Matthew 1–13, ed. Manlio Simonetti,
vol. Ia in Ancient Christian
Commentary on Scripture: New
Testament [WORDsearch].
8. Craig L. Blomberg, Matthew,
vol. 22 in The New American
Commentary (Nashville: B&H,
2003) [WORDsearch].
9. Adrian Rogers, “How Can
I Overcome Temptation?” Love
Worth Finding [online], 1 July 2015
[cited 2 August 2016]. Available
from the Internet: www.lwf.org.
10. Hilary of Poitiers, On Matthew,
3.5, quoted in Matthew 1–13, ed.
Manilo Simonetti, vol. Ia in Ancient
Christian Commentary on Scripture:
New Testament [WORDsearch].
11. Matt Chandler, “Luke–Part 11:
Temptation 2000 Years Later,”
The Village Church [online],
20 January 2008 [cited 2 August
2016]. Available from the Internet:
www.thevillagechurch.net.
78
Leader Guide
Get expert insights on weekly studies through Ministry
Grid at MinistryGrid.com/web/TheGospelProject.
Grow with other group leaders at the Group Ministry
blog at LifeWay.com/GroupMinistry.
Study Material
-- “Wrestling with Demons: Why Temptation Matters”—Chapter 1 from
Tempted and Tried by Russell D. Moore
-- “Jesus Christ’s Temptation”—Article by John E. McKinley; find a link to
this article at GospelProject.com/AdditionalResources
-- Previous Biblical Illustrator articles, including “Jesus as the Son of God,”
can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter, at
LifeWay.com/BiblicalIllustrator. Look for Bundles: The Gospel Project.
Sermon Podcast
D. A. Carson: “The Temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11)”
Find a link to this at GospelProject.com/AdditionalResources
Tip of the Week
A Missional Attitude
A group seeking to be missional and an international missionary have
something in common: an assignment to reach a “people group.” What
people group is the mission of your group? All adults? Senior adult
men? Empty-nest married couples? Forty-something single adults?
Nearly-weds and newlyweds? Parents? College students? High-school
boys? Middle-school girls? Preteens? First through third graders?
Preschoolers? Babies? A group with a missionary mentality thinks like
a missionary, asking the question “What can we do to serve and reach
those in our community?” What can you do to help your group have an
attitude—a missional attitude?
About the Writers
Unit 1:
Michael Card has recorded over 37 albums, authored over
The Gospel Project®
Adult Leader Guide ESV
Volume 5, Number 3 Spring 2017
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25 books, hosted a radio program, and written for a wide range
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“Love Crucified Arose,” and “Emmanuel.” He has sold more
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Unit 2:
D. A. Horton currently serves as a pastor at Reach Fellowship,
a church plant in Los Angeles, California, and as the Chief
Evangelist for UYWI. He is also working toward his PhD
in Applied Theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological
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Special Session—Easter:
Richard R. Melick Jr. serves as a Distinguished Professor of
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which he also contributed the volume Philippians, Colossians,
Philemon. He and his wife, Shera, coauthored Teaching That
Transforms. They have three children and eight grandchildren.
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