In today’s reading, Christ is facing the second of three temptations by the devil in the wilderness. As Satan attempts to stir up doubt in Jesus about whether or not he is the Son of God, Christ affirms his trust in God’s word and all his promises. By calling into question one part of God’s word, the devil is asking Jesus to question all of it, and by refusing to test God, in accordance with what the Word of God says, Christ is expressing his faith in the whole Word of God. Let us follow Christ’s example of unwavering trust in the whole Word of God and pray the prayer of the sick boy’s father in Mark 9:24: “I believe; Help my unbelief.”

Matthew 4:5-7

Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
and
“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ What is the devil asking Jesus to do by suggesting that he throw himself off the temple? (v.7)

+ What is the devil trying to imply with the phrase “If you are the Son of God...”? (v.5)

+ What is Jesus’s response to this temptation? (v.7)

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Through divine accountability, what is the Lord calling you to confess of, share with your community, and ask for help and correction in?

+ How does the Gospel of Christ help identify areas in my life where I have been putting God to the test because I have been doubting his promises?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?