Matthew 4:1  Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 

[2] And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.

Luke 4:1  Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 

[2]  being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.

See note #1 on page 3 “Can a person really fast for 40 days?”

See note #2 on page 3: “Why would the  spirit lead Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil?”

[3] Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." [4] But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"   *a

[3]  And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." [4]  But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'” *a

*a - Deuteronomy 8:3  - So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord

¢ Jesus’ body was vulnerable after having fasted for 40 days – so Satan, in his usual fashion exploits Jesus’ vulnerabilities (as he does with us).

¢ Jesus answers all three temptations with the words “It is written”. This tells us he was not expressing his own opinions but was quoting God’s infallible Word.

¢ Jesus, who called himself the Bread of Life (John 6:48) explains what this “spiritual bread” is in John 6:51, saying “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."

[5] Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, 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 shall give his angels charge over you,' and, ‘in their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'" *b [7]  Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.' " *c

[9]  Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, 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 shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you, [11]  and, 'in their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.' *b " [12]  And Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.' "  *c

*b Psalms 91:11-12  For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.  In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

*c Deuteronomy 6:16  You shall not tempt the LORD your God as you tempted Him in Massah.

¢ TEMPT (Thayer): to prove, test thoroughly;  to put to proof God’s character and power 

[8] Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. [9]  And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." 

[10]  Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'you shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.' " 

[5]  Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 

[6]  And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. [7]  Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours." 

[8]  And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.' " 

¢ Satan here implies that he has been given dominion over the world. This was verified by Jesus 3 times in John’s Gospel when He called Satan the “prince of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). Because of this power, Satan felt superior to Jesus, and tried to convince Jesus that he should be worshipped.

¢ Can anyone believe that Satan, the father of lies, with no truth in him (John 8:44) would actually honor his promise to turn his power over to Jesus had Jesus succumbed to his temptation?

¢ Satan’s profound arrogance is on full display here. His self-glorification is so delusional that it’s almost comical. He knew God granted him this power over this world, and that God set limits on what he could and could not do. Perhaps unbridled envy and lust for power had blinded him to his limitations (and still does).  

¢ Does the different order of the temptations in Luke and Matthew constitute a contradiction? See Note #3 on Page 3.

[11]  Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him. 

[13]  Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. 

¢ The temptation of bread was an appeal to the lust of the flesh; the display of the kingdoms of the world appealed to the lust of the eyes, and the idea of casting himself from the pinnacle appealed to the pride of life in that it would only be pride that would prompt a person to perform some sensational exploit. 

¢ Because Jesus was tempted like we are, He can understand us, sympathize with us and help us, is able to act as our High Priest and advocate in the judgement:.   

Hebrews 2:18 - For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.