The Temptations of Christ

Matthew 4:1–11 (NKJV, also appearing in Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13)

4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ²And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. ³Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

⁴But 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.’”

After the account of Jesus’ baptism, the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. This preparation period was an example to us. Perhaps not everyone needs to fast forty days to get prepared for ministry and calling, but it was part of Jesus’ process. He showed the example of getting the flesh under the control of the Holy…