Today's passage covers Jesus' first step into his mission after His baptism, as Jesus faithfully followed the Spirit's leading. As is true throughout our lives of ups and downs, that high was followed by a low. Jesus demonstrates how we should respond at such times: by clinging even closer to our Father. As is also true of such times, the devil tried to capitalize on this opportunity to use human weakness against Jesus.

Here again, though, Jesus demonstrated that our greatest weapon against such attacks is the scripture he had memorized. Memorizing scripture is powerful preparation on many fronts, from providing love and wisdom to others, praying God's will, and certainly to combat our own weaknesses and temptations. The devil also demonstrates that scripture can be twisted and misused; it is important for use to learn the context along with the scripture, as Jesus demonstrates.

May the word of God strengthen and empower you to leverage His word for His glory.

Luke 4.1-13

1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” 5 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6 and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God,
and him only shall you serve.’”

9 And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
to guard you,’

11 and

“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

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

+ Why did Jesus go into the wilderness? [v. 1]

+ What was happening to Jesus for 40 days? [v. 2]

+ Read Deuteronomy 8.3. What insight do we get from that verse to help us understand Jesus' first recorded response in this passage? [v. 4]

+ Read Ephesians 6.12. What insight does this give to the temptation the devil used in vs. 6-7?

+ Read Deuteronomy 6.13. What insight do we get from that verse to help us understand Jesus' second response? [v. 8]

+ How did the devil tempt a third time? [v. 9] (Read Psalm 91 for more context)

+ How did Jesus respond? [v. 12] (Read Deuteronomy 6.16 and Exodus 7.1-7 for more context.)

+ What happened after Jesus resisted this temptation? [v. 13]

[ 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?

+ What verses would be useful to combat the sin in your life? Memorize a verse or two to use when tempted again

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

+ What is my next step?