Mat 4:1-11 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Matt 4:1-11: 4:1-11 Parallels between Adam and Jesus are obvious in this account of Jesus’ temptation. Jesus is the second Adam (see Rom 5:12-19 ) and the second Israel (Matt 2:15 ). In contrast to the ancient Israelites, he fulfilled Israel’s history by successfully wandering through the desert without sinning. He proved himself the obedient Son of God by defeating Satan in spiritual combat. And because he underwent temptation himself as a human, Jesus is able to sympathize with the temptations we face (see Heb 2:14-18 ; 4:15 ) and help us overcome them as he did (1 Cor 10:13 ). 4:1 Jesus was led by the Spirit: The temptation was providentially arranged by God as a test of the Messiah’s character (see Deut 8:2 ). • to be tempted there by the devil: This test of character, initiated by God (who tempts no one; see Jas 1:13-14 ), was accomplished through the devil’s own desire to lure Jesus into sin.

Summary for Matt 4:1-11: 4:1-11 ^a Parallels between Adam and Jesus are obvious in this account of Jesus’ temptation. Jesus is the second Adam (see Rom 5:12-19 ^b) and the second Israel (Matt 2:15 ^c). In contrast to the ancient Israelites, he fulfilled Israel’s history by successfully wandering through the desert without sinning. He proved himself the obedient Son of God by defeating Satan in spiritual combat. And because he underwent temptation himself as a human, Jesus is able to sympathize with the temptations we face (see Heb 2:14-18 ^d; 4:15 ^e) and help us overcome them as he did (1 Cor 10:13 ^f). 4:1 ^g Jesus was led by the Spirit: The temptation was providentially arranged by God as a test of the Messiah’s character (see Deut 8:2 ^h).

• to be tempted there by the devil: This test of character, initiated by God (who tempts no one; see Jas 1:13-14 ⁱ), was accomplished through the devil’s own desire to lure Jesus into sin.
4:2 ^j forty days and forty nights (see Exod 24:18 ^k; 34:28 ^l; 1 Kgs 19:8 ^m): Israel was tested in the wilderness for forty years (Exod 16:35 ⁿ; Deut 1:3 ^o).
Summary for Matt 4:3-4: 4:3-4 ^p Jesus refused to use his supernatural power to obtain the food that he trusted God to provide. Unlike the people of Israel, who sorely tested God through complaint and unbelief (see Exod 16 ^q), Jesus refused to question God’s faithfulness. Instead, he trusted God to provide for his true need, the sustenance of every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Summary for Matt 4:5-7: 4:5-7 ^r Jesus refused to test God by presuming upon God’s protection.
4:7 ^s The Scriptures also say: Countering the devil’s appeal to Scripture, Jesus invoked a deeper scriptural principle of honoring God, which the devil ignored.
Summary for Matt 4:8-9: 4:8-9 ^t Satan, called the ruler of this world (John 12:31 ^u), offered to hand over all the kingdoms of the world and their glory to Jesus to keep him from accomplishing the will of his Father.

• Glory refers to political power and dominion (e.g., Matt 6:29 ^v). Satan’s strategy was to get Jesus to abuse his sonship, thus diverting him from the path of suffering and obedience that climaxed at the cross.
4:11 ^w Then the devil went away: Jesus’ rebuff of Satan here foreshadows his victory over demons (12:28 ^x), Satan’s defeat through the Cross (Col 2:14-15 ^y), and the final victory at the end of history (Rom 16:20 ^z; Rev 12:7-17 ^aa; 20:2-3 ^ab, 10 ^ac).

• Angels, who had already been involved in the Messiah’s arrival and protection (Matt 1:20 ^ad, 24 ^ae; 2:13 ^af, 19 ^ag), now came and took care of Jesus after his temptation, in fulfillment of the Old Testament (4:6 ^ah; see Ps 91:11-12 ^ai).