JESUS DEFEATS THE DEVIL, Ron Ward
JESUS OVERCOMES TEMPTATION'S POWER
Passage: Matthew 4:1~11  
Key verse: 4
Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness(A)
4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a](B) by the devil.(C) 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights,(D) he was hungry. 3 The tempter(E) came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God,(F) 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.’[b]”(G)
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city(H) and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,”(I) he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”(J)
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”(K)
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan!(L) For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]”(M)
11 Then the devil left him,(N) and angels came and attended him.(O)
Footnotes
- Matthew 4:1 The Greek for tempted can also mean tested.
- Matthew 4:4 Deut. 8:3
- Matthew 4:6 Psalm 91:11,12
- Matthew 4:7 Deut. 6:16
- Matthew 4:10 Deut. 6:13
Cross references
- Matthew 4:1 : 4:1-11pp — Mk 1:12, 13; Lk 4:1-13
- Matthew 4:1 : Heb 4:15
- Matthew 4:1 : Ge 3:1-7
- Matthew 4:2 : Ex 34:28; 1Ki 19:8
- Matthew 4:3 : 1Th 3:5
- Matthew 4:3 : S Mt 3:17; 14:33; 16:16; 27:54; Mk 3:11; Lk 1:35; 22:70; Jn 1:34, 49; 5:25; 11:27; 20:31; Ac 9:20; Ro 1:4; 1Jn 5:10-13, 20; Rev 2:18
- Matthew 4:4 : Dt 8:3; Jn 4:34
- Matthew 4:5 : Ne 11:1; Da 9:24; Mt 27:53
- Matthew 4:6 : S ver 3
- Matthew 4:6 : Ps 91:11, 12
- Matthew 4:7 : Dt 6:16
- Matthew 4:10 : 1Ch 21:1; Job 1:6-9; Mt 16:23; Mk 4:15; Lk 10:18; 13:16; 22:3, 31; Ro 16:20; 2Co 2:11; 11:14; 2Th 2:9; Rev 12:9
- Matthew 4:10 : Dt 6:13
- Matthew 4:11 : Jas 4:7
- Matthew 4:11 : Mt 26:53; Lk 22:43; Heb 1:14
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus had to face severe temptation by the devil. The devil tried to tempt him first with hunger, knowing that Jesus had been fasting for 40 days. Jesus refused the temptation to turn stones into bread by Scripture, 'Man shall not live on bread alone' (Deut 8:3). Jesus held on to the truth that our life is spiritual and not just physical.
Second, Jesus resists temptations of earthly glory (5-11)
Next, the devil tempted Jesus to prove his divine identity by jumping off the temple's highest point. Then he promised Jesus all the world's wealth in exchange for worship. Jesus answered both temptations with Scripture as well. The devil tempted Jesus with all types of temptations: physical desires, pride, and greed. Jesus succeeded against temptation and showed that he is qualified to save us from the devil.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for the victory you won over sin for us. Help me learn from Jesus' example how to overcome many kinds of temptations.
One Word: Temptation can be overcome in Jesus