Wed, Dec 31- Matthew 4:1-11

1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
-Interesting that the whole purpose behind this was to be tempted. The spirit allows this. This was for Jesus' good and God's glory. We shouldn't expect any less of us. If we say "why these hard times?" maybe its because we are led into the desert for the same reason.

2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
-Very extreme testing going on here.

3The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
-A reasonable suggestion.

4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
-Maybe Jesus was disciplining himself to the fast so to eat bread was to dishonor God? Regardless, this echoes the lesson the Israelites failed to learn in the desert in Deuteronomy 8.

5Then 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.'"
-A bit more of a complicated temptation. Maybe part of the temptation was for all to see and prove to the Pharisees, teachers of the law, etc who he was. Part of the temptation was how he handled distorted scripture.

7Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
-To answer scripture with scripture is always a good technique.

8Again, 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."
-High places are part of temptation for some reason. Must give men a sense of pride/greatness when they can look over great areas. Temptation for power is great among men.

10Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"
-Again, answer is from scripture. We have to know God's word so that we can stand firm. The worship of God is a high priority. Never let yourself get before God.

11Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
-I wonder how the angels attended to him. Was it thru food? or thru some other spiritual care? Regardless, these temptations must've been very great for Jesus needing attending to.