The Temptations of Christ

Matthew 4:1-11 

This week we will begin a three-part look at the temptations of Jesus.  Rather than looking at each temptation one by one we will consider Our Lord’s wilderness experience from the viewpoint of the three gospel writers who provide a detailed report, Matthew, Mark and Luke.  Reading the account each week from the text given will be very beneficial to making the most of this study.

Mathew’s Gospel is written for the Jews, showing Jesus to be the true Son of David, Messiah-King and the fulfillment of the Old Testament.  Matthew makes a parallel between the Jews in the Old Testament and Jesus’ temptation.  The Israelites were descendants of Abraham; Matthew presents Christ as the son of Abraham (1:1-17).  Like Israel, Christ was called out of Egypt (2:15).  Israel was baptized in the Sea and cloud; Christ was baptized in the Jordan (3:13-17).  Israel’s obedience and reliance on God was tested in the wilderness forty years; Christ was tested in the wilderness forty days.  With two exceptions, all who left Egypt fell in the wilderness; Jesus was victorious over Satan.

Matthew’s account shows Jesus to be a true descendant of Abraham, all that Old Testament Israel was not.  Jesus makes a covenant by His own blood, fulfills the Old Testament system and inaugurates the Kingdom of God.  Through a relationship with Him men find identity as God’s true Israel.

Yours in Him,

Thomas Sneed

Pond Church of Christ