Bible Reading Plan : Matthew 4

Matthew 4:1-11

C.  Jesus' Temptation: Overcoming All, 4:1-11
(Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13)
1  Jesus' temptation (v.1)
  a.  Led by the Spirit (v.1a)
  b.  Tempted by the devil (v.1b)
2  Temptation 1: To prove His deity by using His power for personal reasons (v.2-4)
  a.  The temptation (v.3)
  1)  To secure by His own power (v.3a)
  2)  To trust Himself and His own ability instead of God (v.3b)
  b.  Jesus' answer: From Scripture (v.4)
  1)  Man needs more than bread (v.4a)
  2)  Man needs God's life—spiritual (v.4b)
3  Temptation 2: To prove His deity by the spectacular (v.5-7)
  a.  The temptation (v.6)
  1)  To test God (v.6a)
  2)  To attract attention by the spectacular (v.6b)
  b.  Jesus' answer: From Scripture (v.7)
  1)  God is not to be tested (v.7a)
  2)  God is to be trusted, not the spectacular (v.7b)
4  Temptation 3: To prove His deity by compromise (v.8-10)
  a.  The temptation (v.8-9)
  1)  To achieve His purpose by another route (v.8)
  2)  To switch loyalties or to take a short-cut (v.9)
  b.  Jesus' answer: From Scripture (v.10)
  1)  A decisive choice (v.10a)
  2)  A worship of God alone (v.10b)
5  Conclusion: The triumphant victory (v.11)


Matthew 4:12-25

III. THE BEGINNING OF THE MESSIAH'S MINISTRY, 4:12-25
A.  Jesus' Ministry: Going Forth with Purpose, 4:12-17
1  There was the sign to begin: John's imprisonment (v.12a)
2  There was the chosen headquarters: Galilee (v.12b-13)
  a.  Jesus left Nazareth (v.13a)
  b.  Jesus headquartered in Capernaum (v.13b)
3  There was the deliberate decision to fulfill Scripture (v.14)
4  There was the mission (v.15-16)
  a.  To go to needy lands (v.15)
  b.  To take people in darkness and show them great light (v.16a)
  c.  To take people in death and give them light (v.16b)
5  There was the message (v.17)
  a.  Repentance (v.17a)
  b.  Reason: the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand (v.17b)