Matthew 4:1-4
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness 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 shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Matthew 4:1-4: Verse-by-Verse Analysis
Verse 1: Jesus, being led by the Spirit, willingly went into the wilderness to face temptation from the devil. This shows Jesus’ obedience to God’s will and his willingness to face challenges in order to fulfill his purpose.
Verse 2: Jesus fasted for forty days and nights, showing his dedication to prayer and spiritual discipline. Despite his physical weakness from fasting, Jesus remained steadfast in his faith.
Verse 3: The devil, recognizing Jesus’ hunger, attempted to tempt him by suggesting that he use his power to turn stones into bread. This was a test of Jesus’ identity as the Son of God and his reliance on his own power.
Verse 4: Jesus responded to the devil’s temptation by quoting scripture from Deuteronomy 8:3, affirming that true sustenance comes from God’s word rather than physical food. This demonstrates Jesus’ reliance on God’s truth and his refusal to give in to the devil’s deceitful tactics.
In these verses, we see Jesus’ unwavering faith, obedience to God, and reliance on scripture to overcome temptation. It serves as a powerful example for believers to trust in God’s word and resist the temptations of the enemy.