Matthew 4:1
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Then Jesus
The word "Then" indicates a sequence of events, connecting this passage to the preceding chapter where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. This baptism marked the beginning of His public ministry. "Jesus" is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yeshua, meaning "The Lord is salvation." This name is significant as it encapsulates His mission on earth—to bring salvation to humanity. The use of "Jesus" here emphasizes His humanity and His role as the Messiah.

was led by the Spirit
The phrase "was led" comes from the Greek word "anago," which means to lead up or bring forth. This indicates that Jesus did not go into the wilderness by His own initiative but was guided by the Holy Spirit. "The Spirit" refers to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who plays a crucial role in the life and ministry of Jesus. This leading by the Spirit underscores the divine orchestration of events and Jesus' submission to the Father's will.

into the wilderness
The "wilderness" is a significant location in biblical narratives, often symbolizing a place of testing and preparation. In the Old Testament, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years, a period of testing and reliance on God. The Greek word "eremos" used here can mean a solitary, desolate place. This setting highlights the isolation and the harsh conditions Jesus faced, emphasizing His humanity and the reality of His temptations.

to be tempted
The Greek word for "tempted" is "peirazo," which can mean to test or to try. This indicates that the purpose of Jesus being in the wilderness was to undergo a period of testing. This testing was not to induce sin but to prove His righteousness and obedience. It reflects the trials that believers may face, serving as a reminder that temptation itself is not sin, but rather an opportunity to demonstrate faithfulness to God.

by the devil
"Devil" comes from the Greek word "diabolos," meaning accuser or slanderer. This title reveals the nature and intent of Satan, who seeks to oppose God's work and lead people astray. The presence of the devil in this narrative highlights the spiritual battle that Jesus was engaged in, a battle that would ultimately lead to His victory over sin and death. This encounter sets the stage for Jesus' ministry, demonstrating His authority over evil and His role as the Savior who overcomes the powers of darkness.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
The central figure of the New Testament, the Son of God, who is about to begin His public ministry. In this passage, He is led into the wilderness to face temptation.

2. The Spirit
Refers to the Holy Spirit, who guides Jesus into the wilderness. This highlights the divine purpose and necessity of the upcoming temptation.

3. The Wilderness
A desolate and isolated place, often associated with testing and spiritual encounters in the Bible. It serves as the setting for Jesus' temptation.

4. The Devil
Also known as Satan, the adversary who seeks to tempt Jesus and derail His mission. His role is to challenge Jesus' identity and mission.

5. Temptation
The event where Jesus is tested by the devil, which serves as a precursor to His ministry and a demonstration of His sinlessness and obedience to God.
Teaching Points
The Role of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit's leading of Jesus into the wilderness shows that God sometimes leads us into challenging situations for growth and preparation.

The Reality of Temptation
Temptation is a universal experience, even for Jesus. Recognizing this helps us understand that being tempted is not a sin, but how we respond is crucial.

Preparation for Ministry
Jesus' time in the wilderness was a period of preparation. Similarly, we may go through seasons of testing to prepare us for future service.

Victory Over Temptation
Jesus' victory over the devil provides a model for us. By relying on Scripture and the Holy Spirit, we can overcome temptation.

Spiritual Warfare
The passage reminds us of the reality of spiritual warfare and the need to be spiritually vigilant and equipped with God's word.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the Holy Spirit's role in leading Jesus into the wilderness challenge or affirm your understanding of God's guidance in difficult times?

2. In what ways can Jesus' response to temptation serve as a model for handling your own temptations?

3. How does the setting of the wilderness in Jesus' temptation relate to the concept of spiritual testing in your life?

4. What parallels can you draw between Jesus' temptation and the experiences of the Israelites in the wilderness?

5. How can understanding Jesus' victory over temptation encourage you in your personal spiritual battles?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 3
The temptation of Adam and Eve by the serpent in the Garden of Eden contrasts with Jesus' temptation, highlighting Jesus as the second Adam who overcomes where the first Adam failed.

Hebrews 4:15
This verse emphasizes that Jesus was tempted in every way, just as we are, yet without sin, underscoring His ability to empathize with our weaknesses.

Deuteronomy 8:2-3
The Israelites' testing in the wilderness parallels Jesus' experience, emphasizing reliance on God's word and provision.
Analogy Confirm the Doctrine of a TempterR. Watson.Matthew 4:1
Christ TemptedW.F. Adeney Matthew 4:1
Christ Tempted in the WildernessC. Bradley.Matthew 4:1
Christ Tempted of the Devil in the WildernessD. Moore, M. A.Matthew 4:1
Christian Maturity a Safeguard Against TemptationHacket., Burkit.Matthew 4:1
Divine Sympathy the Outcome of Divine TemptationDr. Taylor.Matthew 4:1
How We are to Overcome Our TemptationsDr. J. P. Lange., Bishop Lancelot Andrewes.Matthew 4:1
Inward Purity the Best Defence Against TemptationW. Perkins, D. D.Matthew 4:1
Moral TestingW. O. SimpsonMatthew 4:1
Our Great AdversaryMatthias Faber.Matthew 4:1
Reasons Why Our Lord was Led to be TemptedNorman Macleod, D. D.Matthew 4:1
Satan an Indirect Tempter as the Corrupter of Our NatureW. H. Hutchings, M. A.Matthew 4:1
Satan Tempts Those Who AreJames Marchant.Matthew 4:1
Solitude Favourable to Temp-RationW. Perkins, D. D.Matthew 4:1
Spiritual Delight Varied by Severe TemptationH. Shaw., G. S. Barrett, B. A.Matthew 4:1
Study the EnemyHacker.Matthew 4:1
Temptation a Ministerial QualificationT. Manton, D. D.Matthew 4:1
Temptation a Tes of Ability for Special WorkT. Manton, D. D.Matthew 4:1
Temptation Conducive to BeautyL. H. Wiseman., L. H. Wiseman.Matthew 4:1
Temptation Conducive to StrengthDr. Landels.Matthew 4:1
Temptation no Evidence of Divine DisfavourD. Bagot, B. D.Matthew 4:1
TemptationsClaude de Lingeirdes., Farindon.Matthew 4:1
The Entrance into TemptationW. H. Hatchings, M. A.Matthew 4:1
The First Temptation of ChristVariousMatthew 4:1
The Instrument and the Divine Ordering of the TemptationG. S. Barrett, B. A.Matthew 4:1
The Leadings of the SpiritR. Tuck Matthew 4:1
The Model TemptationR. Tuck Matthew 4:1
The Personality of SatanW. H. Hatchings, M. A.Matthew 4:1
The Possibility and Necessity of the TemptationG. S. Barrett, B. A.Matthew 4:1
The Practical Results of This AdmissionMatthew 4:1
The Preliminaries of the Ordeal Temptations of Jesus ChristP.C. Barker Matthew 4:1
The Reality of the TemptationMatthew 4:1
The Retirement of Our Lord into the Wilderness TeachesS. Baring. Gould, M. A.Matthew 4:1
The Soul Must Select a Guiding InfluenceW. H. Hutchings, M. A.Matthew 4:1
The TemptationH. Parr.Matthew 4:1
The Temptation in the WildernessGeorge MacDonaldMatthew 4:1
The Temptation of ChristR. Watson.Matthew 4:1
The Temptation of Christ, and its Subjective ResultsT. McRae, M. A.Matthew 4:1
The Temptation of JesusSermons by the Monday ClubMatthew 4:1
The Temptation of JesusAnon.Matthew 4:1
The Temptation of JesusD. C. Hughes, M. A.Matthew 4:1
The Tempter First Seeks to Pain a Little AdvantageT. Taylor, D. D.Matthew 4:1
The Tempter Ignored is the Tempter AssistedL. H. Wiseman M. A.Matthew 4:1
The Tempter Seeks to Destroy Eminent MenT. Taylor.Matthew 4:1
The Tempter Seeks to Frustrate Eminent GraceT. Smith.Matthew 4:1
The Tempter's Allies Within the SoldMatthew 4:1
The Tempter's Power LimitedNorman Macleod, D. D.Matthew 4:1
The Victory of the KingAlexander MaclarenMatthew 4:1
The Wicked Insensible to TemptationT. Smith.Matthew 4:1
The Wilderness: TemptationS. D. GordonMatthew 4:1
What Satan Knew of ChristL. H. Wiseman.Matthew 4:1
The TemptationJ.A. Macdonald Matthew 4:1-11
The Temptation of JesusMarcus Dods Matthew 4:1-11
People
Andrew, Isaiah, James, Jesus, John, Naphtali, Nephthalim, Peter, Simon, Zabdi, Zabulon, Zebedee, Zebulun
Places
Capernaum, Decapolis, Galilee, High Mountain, Jerusalem, Jordan River, Judea, Nazareth, Sea of Galilee, Syria, Wilderness of Judea
Topics
Carried, Desert, Devil, Evil, Led, Order, Spirit, Tempted, Tested, Waste, Wilderness
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Matthew 4:1

     3045   Holy Spirit, sovereignty
     3263   Holy Spirit, guidance
     3269   Holy Spirit, in Christ
     4018   life, spiritual
     4195   spirits
     4230   desert
     6250   temptation, sources
     8401   challenges
     8735   evil, origins of

Matthew 4:1-2

     1654   numbers, 11-99
     2033   Christ, humanity
     5338   holiday
     5773   abstinence, discipline
     5901   loneliness

Matthew 4:1-3

     5564   suffering, of Christ

Matthew 4:1-4

     4438   eating

Matthew 4:1-10

     6252   temptation, and Christ
     8225   devotion

Matthew 4:1-11

     2078   Christ, sonship of
     2372   Christ, victory
     4122   Satan, tempter
     4126   Satan, resistance to
     5214   attack
     5598   victory, over spiritual forces
     5804   charm
     5828   danger
     6022   sin, causes of
     6030   sin, avoidance
     8729   enemies, of Christ

Library
Temptation
Eversley, 1872. Chester Cathedral, 1872. St Matt. iv. 3. "And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." Let me say a few words to-day about a solemn subject, namely, Temptation. I do not mean the temptations of the flesh--the temptations which all men have to yield to the low animal nature in them, and behave like brutes. I mean those deeper and more terrible temptations, which our Lord conquered in that great struggle with
Charles Kingsley—All Saints' Day and Other Sermons

The victory of the King
'Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungred. 3. And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4. But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5. Then the devil taketh Him up into the holy city, and setteth Him on a pinnacle
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Springing of the Great Light
'Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, He departed into Galilee; 13. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: 14. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15. The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16. The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Early Welcome and the First Ministers of the King
'From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 18. And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19. And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20. And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him. 21. And going on from thence, He saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Interpretation of Holy Scripture. --Inspired Interpretation. --The Bible is not to be Interpreted Like any Other Book. --God, (Not Man,) the Real Author of the Bible.
It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. IT is impossible to preserve exact method in Sermons like these, uncertain in number, and delivered at irregular intervals. It shall only be stated that, having already spoken at considerable length, of the Inspiration of Holy Scripture;--not, one part more, one part less, but every part equally inspired throughout; not general, (whatever the exact notion may be of a book generally inspired,)
John William Burgon—Inspiration and Interpretation

July the Thirteenth Plain Glass
"They were fishers." --MATTHEW iv. 12-22. And so our Lord went first to the fishing-boats and not to the schools. Learning is apt to be proud and aggressive, and hostile to the simplicities of the Spirit. There is nothing like plain glass for letting in the light! And our Lord wanted transparent media, and so He went to the simple fishermen on the beach. "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world." And by choosing labouring men our Master glorified labour. He Himself had worn the workman's
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Light for those who Sit in Darkness
From the text it appears that some are in greater darkness than others; and that, secondly, for such there is a hope of light; but that, thirdly, the light which will come to them lies all in Christ; and, fourthly (joyful news!) that light is already sprung up all around them: they have but to open their eyes to delight in it. I. SOME SOULS ARE IN GREATER DARKNESS THAN OTHERS. It appears from the text that it was so in Christ's days, and certainly it is so now. Divine sovereignty runs through all
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

How to Become Fishers of Men
Note, next, that we are not made all that we shall be, nor all that we ought to desire to be, when we are ourselves fished for and caught. This is what the grace of God does for us at first; but it is not all. We are like the fishes, making sin to be our element; and the good Lord comes, and with the gospel net he takes us, and he delivers us from the life and love of sin. But he has not wrought for us all that he can do, nor all that we should wish him to do, when he has done this; for it is another
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 32: 1886

Christ's First and Last Subject
IT SEEMS from these two texts that repentance was the first subject upon which the Redeemer dwelt, and that it was the last, which, with his departing breath, he commended to the earnestness of his disciples. He begins his mission crying, "Repent," he ends it by saying to his successors the apostles, "Preach repentance and remission of sins among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." This seems to me to be a very interesting fact, and not simply interesting, but instructive. Jesus Christ opens his
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 6: 1860

Twenty-Fourth Day. Firmness in Temptation.
"Jesus saith unto him, Get thee hence, Satan."--Matt. iv. 10. There is an awful intensity of meaning in the words, as applied to Jesus, "He suffered, being tempted!" Though incapable of sin, there was, in the refined sensibilities of His holy nature, that which made temptation unspeakably fearful. What must it have been to confront the Arch-traitor?--to stand face to face with the foe of His throne, and His universe? But the "prince of this world" came, and found "nothing in Him." Billow after
John R. Macduff—The Mind of Jesus

Eighth Day. Submission to God's Word.
"Jesus said unto him, It is written."--Matt. iv. 7. We can not fail to be struck, in the course of the Saviour's public teaching, with His constant appeal to the word of God. While, at times, He utters, in His own name, the authoritative behest, "Verily, verily, I say unto you," He as often thus introduces some mighty work, or gives intimation of some impending event in His own momentous life, "These things must come to pass, that the Scriptures be fulfilled, which saith." He commands His people
John R. Macduff—The Mind of Jesus

Knox -- the First Temptation of Christ
John Knox, the great Scottish reformer, was born at Giffordgate, four miles from Haddington, Scotland, in 1505. He first made his appearance as a preacher in Edinburgh, where he thundered against popery, but was imprisoned and sent to the galleys in 1546. In 1547 Edward VI secured his release and made him a royal chaplain, when he acquired the friendship of Cranmer and other reformers. On the accession of Mary (1553) he took refuge on the Continent. In 1556 he accepted the charge of a church in Geneva,
Various—The World's Great Sermons, Volume I

The Temptation in the Wilderness.
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, if thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
George MacDonald—Unspoken Sermons

Thoughts Upon the Appearance of Christ the Sun of Righteousness, or the Beatifick vision.
SO long as we are in the Body, we are apt to be governed wholly by its senses, seldom or never minding any thing but what comes to us through one or other of them. Though we are all able to abstract our Thoughts when we please from matter, and fix them upon things that are purely spiritual; there are but few that ever do it. But few, even among those also that have such things revealed to them by God himself, and so have infinitely more and firmer ground to believe them, than any one, or all their
William Beveridge—Private Thoughts Upon a Christian Life

Christ, the Great Teacher
Scripture references: Matthew 4:23; 5:1,2; 7:29; 13:54; 26:55; 28:19,20; Mark 1:21,22; 4:1,2; 6:6; Luke 5:3; 11:1; 19:47; John 6:59; 7:14; 8:28. THE FOUNDER OF CHRISTIANITY The heart of the Christian religion is found in Jesus Christ. If we desire to know what Christianity is and of what elements it is composed we must look to Him and His teachings. He is the great source of our knowledge of what God, man, sin, righteousness, duty and salvation are. Our interest in the books of the Old Testament
Henry T. Sell—Studies in the Life of the Christian

Jesus Sets Out from Judæa for Galilee.
Subdivision A. Reasons for Retiring to Galilee. ^A Matt. IV. 12; ^B Mark I. 14; ^C Luke III. 19, 20; ^D John IV. 1-4. ^c 19 but Herod the tetrarch [son of Herod the Great, and tetrarch, or governor, of Galilee], being reproved by him [that is, by John the Baptist] for Herodias his brother's wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done [A full account of the sin of Herod and persecution of John will be found at Matt. xiv. 1-12 and Mark vi. 14-29. John had spoken the truth to Herod as fearlessly
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

General Account of Jesus' Teaching.
^A Matt. IV. 17; ^B Mark I. 14, 15; ^C Luke IV. 14, 15. ^a 17 From that time Jesus began to preach [The time here indicated is that of John the Baptist's imprisonment and Jesus' return to Galilee. This time marked a new period in the public ministry of Jesus. Hitherto he had taught, but he now began to preach. When the voice of his messenger, John, was silenced, the King became his own herald. Paul quoted the Greeks as saying that preaching was "foolishness," but following the example here set by
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness.
^A Matt. IV. 1-11; ^B Mark I. 12, 13; ^C Luke IV. 1-13. ^c 1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, ^b 12 And straightway the Spirit driveth him forth ^c and ^a 1 Then [Just after his baptism, with the glow of the descended Spirit still upon him, and the commending voice of the Father still ringing in his ears, Jesus is rushed into the suffering of temptation. Thus abrupt and violent are the changes of life. The spiritually exalted may expect these sharp contrasts. After being
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus' Temporary Residence at Capernaum.
^A Matt. IV. 13-16. ^a 13 And leaving Nazareth [This expression means that Jesus now ceased to make Nazareth his home. For description of Nazareth, see page 60], he came and dwelt in Capernaum [See page 119. Capernaum means city of Nahum, or village of consolation. Its modern name, "Tel-Hum," means hill of Nahum. The word "dwelt" means that Jesus made this town his headquarters. He owned no house there (Matt. viii. 20). He may have dwelt with some of his disciples--for instance, Simon Peter--Matt.
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him.
(Sea of Galilee, Near Capernaum.) ^A Matt. IV. 18-22; ^B Mark I. 16-20; ^C Luke V. 1-11. ^a 18 And walking ^b 16 And passing along by the sea of Galilee [This lake is a pear-shaped body of water, about twelve and a half miles long and about seven miles across at its widest place. It is 682 feet below sea level; its waters are fresh, clear and abounding in fish, and it is surrounded by hills and mountains, which rise from 600 to 1,000 feet above it. Its greatest depth is about 165 feet], he [Jesus]
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Makes a Preaching Tour through Galilee.
^A Matt. IV. 23-25; ^B Mark I. 35-39; ^C Luke IV. 42-44. ^b 35 And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose up went out [i. e., from the house of Simon Peter], and departed into a desert place, and there prayed. [Though Palestine was densely populated, its people were all gathered into towns, so that it was usually easy to find solitude outside the city limits. A ravine near Capernaum, called the Vale of Doves, would afford such solitude. Jesus taught (Matt. vi. 6) and practiced solitary
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Second visit to Cana - Cure of the Nobleman's' Son at Capernaum.
THE brief harvest in Samaria was, as Jesus had indicated to His disciples, in another sense also the beginning of sowing-time, or at least that when the green blade first appeared above ground. It formed the introduction to that Galilean ministry, when the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did at Jerusalem at the Feast.' [2013] Nay, in some respects, it was the real beginning of His Work also, which, viewed as separate and distinct, commenced when the Baptist was cast into
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Second Journey through Galilee - the Healing of the Leper.
A DAY and an evening such as of that Sabbath of healing in Capernaum must, with reverence be it written, have been followed by what opens the next section. [2299] To the thoughtful observer there is such unbroken harmony in the Life of Jesus, such accord of the inward and outward, as to carry instinctive conviction of the truth of its record. It was, so to speak, an inward necessity that the God-Man, when brought into contact with disease and misery, whether from physical or supernatural causes,
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Temptation of Jesus
The proclamation and inauguration of the Kingdom of Heaven' at such a time, and under such circumstances, was one of the great antitheses of history. With reverence be it said, it is only God Who would thus begin His Kingdom. A similar, even greater antithesis, was the commencement of the Ministry of Christ. From the Jordan to the wilderness with its wild Beasts; from the devout acknowledgment of the Baptist, the consecration and filial prayer of Jesus, the descent of the Holy Spirit, and the heard
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

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