Bible Stories for Adults

The Devil Tempts Jesus

Matthew 4:1-11

Next Week - Jesus Calls the First Disciples (John 1:35-51)

How old was Jesus when He began His ministry?

Luke 3:23
What did Jesus do to kick off His ministry?

Luke 3:21
Did Jesus need to be cleansed through baptism for a fresh start in ministry?

Matthew 3:13-15
What was the most important thing that happened at Jesus' baptism?

Luke 3:22
What was one reason that the Spirit appeared physically?

John 1:32-33
Besides being empowered for ministry, what else happened as the Spirit descended on Jesus?

Luke 4:18, 21

What was the first and most important thing the Spirit had for Jesus to do?

Mark 1:12
How long was He in the desert and what happened to Him there?

Mark 1:13

How does Matthew first show Jesus as the new Israel?

Matthew 2:14-15
How does Jesus being led into the desert by the Spirit compare with Israel?

Exodus 13:17-18
How was Jesus likewise armed for battle?

Mark 1:10-11

How do Jesus' 40 days of testing in the desert point to Israel?

Joshua 5:6
How did the old Israel respond to temptations it experienced in the desert?

Exodus 32:1-4
How did God protect Israel from wild animals in the desert just as He did later for Jesus?

Numbers 21:7-9
What is another example of God's providence with wild animals for the desert-based Israelites?

Numbers 11:31-32
How was the original Israel also attended by angels?

Exodus 23:20

Why did the Spirit lead Jesus into the desert?

Matthew 4:1
Did God tempt Jesus?

Job 1:9-12
Does God tempt His people to test them?

James 1:13
Can temptations lead to growing in maturity and becoming more complete?

James 1:14-15
How do we know when we are being tested by God or tempted by Satan?

James 1:16-17

Why was this testing of Jesus important, just as it had been important for the first Israel?

Deuteronomy 8:2
Why does God test His people?

1 Peter 1:6-7
How are we to respond to the difficulties of God's tests?

James 1:2-4
How does perseverance from difficulties make us more mature, not lacking anything?

Romans 5:3-5
Why should we rejoice when God tests us?

Hebrews 12:5-7, 11
What is the reward for those who persevere?

James 1:12

At what point during Jesus' 40 days in the desert did the first temptation come?

Luke 4:1-2
Had he not eaten because He couldn't find any food in the desert?

Matthew 4:2
Why did Jesus fast?

Matthew 6:17-18
Do we have a record of any other fast lasting this long?

Exodus 34:28

How did Satan take advantage of Jesus' weakness to tempt Him?

Matthew 4:3a
How did Satan take advantage of Jesus' hunger to severely tempt Him?

Matthew 4:3
How could just a word from Jesus turn stones into bread?

John 1:1-3

How was this temptation similar to the first temptation that man succumbed to?

Genesis 3:4-6
Why would it be sinful for Jesus to prove to Satan that He was the Son of God?

1 John 2:16
How did Jesus respond to Satan's difficult temptation?

Matthew 4:4
Was Jesus quoting this verse out of context to make His own point?

Deuteronomy 8:2-3
Why did Jesus quote God's Word to defend himself against Satan's attack?

Ephesians 6:10-17

Seeing that Jesus' hunger was not a strong enough temptation, what did Satan then focus on?

Matthew 4:5-6a
How did Satan try to turn Jesus' reliance on God's Word against Him?

Matthew 4:6
Did Satan quote this verse correctly and completely?

Psalm 91:11-12
Did Jesus recognize the slight adjustment Satan had made?

Matthew 4:7
Did Jesus misquote an obscure part of Scripture?

Deuteronomy 6:4, 16

What had happened at Massah?

Exodus 17:1-2
How were they putting God to the test just by asking for water?

Exodus 17:3
How did God respond to this threat to Moses?

Exodus 17:4-6
How was this incident further pointed out as an example of man testing God?

Exodus 17:7

Unable to get Jesus to test his deity, how did Satan then appeal to His human desires?

Matthew 4:8-9
How could Satan show Jesus all the kingdoms of the world from a high mountain?

Luke 4:5
Was Satan exaggerating that he had power over the world that he could offer to Jesus?

John 12:31
Was power over the nations something Satan could really give?

Psalm 2:5-8
Did Jesus understand who alone had control over the world?

Matthew 4:10

Who did Jesus point out in His last reply was really in control?

Matthew 4:10a
Did Jesus have the power to do this?

Luke 10:18-19
How did Satan respond to Jesus' command?

Matthew 4:11

Did Satan leave Jesus for good and no longer bother with trying to tempt Him?

Luke 4:13
When was the next most opportune time for Satan to get directly involved with tempting Jesus?

Mark 8:31-33
Were these the only times Jesus was tempted?

Hebrews 4:15
Why was it important that Jesus was without sin?

Hebrews 7:26-27