After Jesus was baptized by John, in chapter 4 Matthew tells us that Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The Spirit of God had come upon Jesus at His baptism. Now this Spirit was taking Him into the wilderness so that He might be tempted. Why would the Holy Spirit lead Him into such an encounter? It seems that this temptation was necessary to demonstrate the fitness of Jesus to do the work for which He had come into the world. This trip into the wilderness might remind us of the Israelites leaving Egypt and entering the wilderness. There they were tried by God multiple times and multiple times they failed. As a result, the Israelites were forced to wander in the wilderness for forty years before they could enter the promised land. Have you ever travelled into a wilderness in your life? I am not talking about a physical wilderness but a spiritual and emotional wilderness – a very difficult time in your life where your faith was tested? If you now feel like you are in the wilderness, don’t despair. Jesus went into the wilderness; the Israelites went into the wilderness; other brothers and sisters in Christ have gone into the wilderness. God may very well be testing your faith. People who go into the wilderness may fail the test like the Israelites or they may endure and succeed like Jesus. The wilderness can make us stronger to live the life of faith before God.
Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights. That is a long time to fast and I believe he was able to endure by the power of the Spirit. Fasting may have multiple purposes. It can be a time of voluntary abstinence where we deny our fleshly desires, dedicate ourselves to God, and pray for His wisdom and guidance. Fasting can prepare us for a difficult time we know we must enter.
We are told of three specific temptations that the devil gave to Jesus. I doubt that this is the only temptations He received in the wilderness or the only time in His life that He was tempted. I suspect that Jesus was tempted many times. Speaking of Jesus in Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” It is not wrong to be tempted. Jesus was tempted. But Jesus did not yield to the temptation to sin. Ask God to give you strength in your temptations.
Jesus had been fasting a long time, so now He was likely very hungry. Matthew 4:3 “Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’” This is like a challenge. “Jesus, are you really who you say you are? Are you really the Son of God? Then prove it to me. If you are the Son of God, you have the power to change stones into bread so that you can satisfy your hunger.” Jesus might have been tempted to prove that He was the Son of God. He might have been tempted to distrust God’s providence and support and make use of His own power to supply His needs and prove to the devil who He really was. Matthew 4:4 “But He answered and said, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’’” Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 in response to the temptation. He considered the guidance from God of more importance than satisfying His physical needs. He did not need to prove Himself to the devil.
Matthew 4:5-6 “Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’’” The devil quoted Psalm 91:11-12. This challenge seems to be “Jesus, if you are God’s son, you should be able to put yourself in danger so that God will come and rescue you.” Jesus might have been tempted to prove that He was the Son of God. Matthew 4:7 “Jesus said to him, ‘It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’’” Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:16. It is wrong to question God and require Him to prove Himself to us.
Matthew 4:8-9 “Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.’” The devil no longer was challenging Jesus to prove that He was the Son of God. The devil is getting to what he really wanted. He wanted Jesus to betray God the Father and worship him instead. He promised to give Jesus the power and glory of all of the kingdoms of the world. All Jesus had to do was to betray the Father and worship the devil. Matthew 4:10 “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’’” Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:13. The devil has great power, and Jesus might have been tempted to worship the devil so that He would receive the power and glory of the world. But instead, He quoted the scripture that teaches us to only worship and serve God.
Jesus successfully resisted the temptations given by the devil. Matthew tells us that the devil left Him. James tells us in James 4:7 “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” If we steadfastly resist our temptations, the temptations will not last forever. 1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” There is a blessing for enduring temptations. James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
After His time in the wilderness, Jesus was ready to begin His ministry. Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” He chose His first disciples: Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John. These were all fishermen. Matthew 4:19 “Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’” Why did Jesus choose whom He did? We don’t know, but they were not highly educated or great men.
Jesus began preaching and healing all kinds of sicknesses and diseases; this proved that He had the power of God. The healings drew large crowds from the whole surrounding region. Many wanted to be healed. But they also heard the truth that Jesus came to proclaim.