The wilderness temptation of Jesus is pivotal for defining his way of ministry as opposed to Satanic pathways. This also echoes the people of Israel’s wilderness wanderings and presents Jesus as a new sort of Israel.
Matthew 4:1-11
SERMON OUTLINE
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” (Matthew 4:1)
The Wilderness: Where will my provision come from?
The Wilderness: Where will my protection come from?
The Wilderness: Where will my praise go?
“Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved?” (Song of Songs 8:5)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Describe a time you felt like you were in a wilderness.
- What did this wilderness experience show you about:
- Yourself?
- About God?
- Read Matthew 4:1-11
- Why do you suppose the Spirit led Jesus i n the Wilderness to be tempted?
- Read Deuteronomy 8:1-3.
- According to this verse, God puts humanity in the wilderness to humble and test us in order to know what’s in the heart. But if God already knows what’s in our hearts, why do you think the wilderness is necessary?
- It is very interesting that the devil (the tempter) i s quoting Psalm 91:11-12 in Matthew 4:5-6. What did Satan miss in Psalm 91( reading it is highly recommended)?
- In Matthew 4:5 and v.8 it says “devil took him [Jesus]” somewhere. Why do you think Jesus went along?
- In the third temptation Jesus finally tells Satan to go away. Why do you think Jesus waited until the third time to do so?
- Each of these temptations look back to Israel’s failures in the wilderness as well as Jesus’ triumphs in the wilderness. How do they speak to us in our wilderness?