Study in the Gospel of Mathew,4

Today we study the fourth chapter of the Gospel according to Mathew. There are two biblical principles and their lessons which, I believe, they are useful in biblical counselling.

Satan did not lead Jesus to temptation; the Holy Spirit did. This temptation took place immediately after Jesus’s baptism. Spiritual victories are often followed by testing. Jesus’ response to all three temptations was to quote the Word of God, showing His followers the power of Scripture in battling the Evil One Satan.

There was nothing morally wrong with turning stones to bread. Satan tempted Jesus to do a miracle outside of the Father’s will. This explains why Jesus quotes Deut.8:3. Bread alone does not sustain all life. Thus, it is our responsibility to trust God and remain in His will.

In quoting the protective promise of Ps 91:11,12 to Jesus, Satan omitted words “to keep you in all your ways.” Satan tempted Jesus to gain the public attention through spectacle rather than through His righteous life and message.

Deuteronomy 6:16 emphasizes that one should not test God. The Lord asked the Israelites to put Him to the test in only one area: tithing. By giving to Him they could, test whether He would fulfil His promises to bless them.

Christ rebuked the devil when he asked Jesus to worship him, a temptation to do exactly the opposite of what every Israelites was called upon to do in Deut. 6:13,15. Satan offered a crown without the Cross. Jesus’ experience serves the pattern of the spiritual warfare in Eph.6:11,13,14. He defeated Satan with consistent, meaningful use of the Scripture.  

Having rejected Satan’s offer of bread, assistance from angels, and earthy kingdom, Jesus was immediately visited by angels who helped Him as a full human. Jesus then moved to Capernaum, located at the northern end of the Sea of Galilee became Jesus’ home and base of operation: teaching, preaching and healing summarize Jesus’ earthy ministry .

Structure:

Verses 1-11: Satan tempts Jesus.

Verses 12-17: Jesus begins His Galilean ministry.

Verses 18-22: Four fishermen called as disciples.

Verses 23-25: Jesus heals a great multitude.

Principle 7:4:1: ----"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil.”

Lesson 7: There is no way that Jesus would fail the temptation as He was born in flesh without sin, and He cannot sin. He is the Holy One. But this is to teach us when God leads us to temptation, this is God’s way of testing us. In God’s Word surely, we get the victory.

Principle 8: 4:3: -----” Now when the tempter came to Him, he said ‘If You are the Son of God---'-”

Lesson 8: Satan tries to get us to doubt the Word of God and test God’s promises. He will urge us to think that God cannot quite be trusted, or that what He has said is not the whole truth.11/10/2026.