Lesson Text: Matthew 3:13-4:11 King James Version (KJV) Sunday, January 6, 2019 I. JESUS IS BAPTIZED BY JOHN (Matthew 3:13-17) 13. Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15. And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. II. JESUS IS TEMPTED TO SATISFY HIMSELF (Matthew 4:1-4)
1. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. III. JESUS IS TEMPTED TO PROVE HIMSELF (Matthew 4:5-7) 5. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6. And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
IV. JESUS IS TEMPTED TO PROFIT HIMSELF (Matthew 4:8-11) 8. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9. And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. New International Version (NIV) I. JESUS IS BAPTIZED BY JOHN (Matthew 3:13-17) 13. Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14. But John tried to deter him, saying, I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me? 15. Jesus replied, Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do
this to fulfill all righteousness. Then John consented. 16. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17. And a voice from heaven said, This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. II. JESUS IS TEMPTED TO SATISFY HIMSELF (Matthew 4:1-4) 1. Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3. The tempter came to him and said, If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. 4. Jesus answered, It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. III. JESUS IS TEMPTED TO PROVE HIMSELF (Matthew 4:5-7)
5. Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6. If you are the Son of God, he said, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands,so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 7. Jesus answered him, It is also written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test. IV. JESUS IS TEMPTED TO PROFIT HIMSELF (Matthew 4:8-11) 8. Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9. All this I will give you, he said, if you will bow down and worship me. 10. Jesus said to him, Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. 11. Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
PRACTICAL POINTS FOR DISCUSSION: 1. Baptism is not an act to be taken lightly by a Christian; to submit to baptism is to follow Christ (Matthew 3:13-15). 2. Christ-like service is only possible if we are empowered by the Holy Spirit and assured of the Father s love (Matthew 16-17). 3. If the perfect Son of God had to endure testing, how much more do we (Matthew 4:1)? 4. Temptations come to us in our weakest moments and in our direst need (Matthew 4:2-3; James 1:14). 5. Our desire for God s Word should exceed even our desire for physical provisions (Matthew 4:4). 6. God s promises are not given to us so that we can test Him or show off our faith (Matthew 4:5-7). 7. Let us always be vigilant, for even the godliest people can be tempted by the worst sins (Matthew 4:8-9). 8. God s Word as it is known, understood, and consistently applied is our best defense against Satan s temptations (Matthew 4:10).
9. If we endure the testing of our faith faithfully, God s comfort will be upon us, never to forsake us (Matthew 4:11; James 1:12). ***The Bible Expositor and Illuminator, Union Gospel Press Sunday School Curriculum***