January 3
Matthew 3:7-4:11
Jesus’ life in the Gospel of Matthew is filled with conflict. At birth he faced the opposition and murder attempt of Herod, and then he faced the tempting of the devil. If we are going to follow Jesus with our life, we should expect that similar opposition, difficulty, and temptation will come to us. Yet in the face of temptation, there is always a way out. The model of Jesus in overcoming is to speak Scripture in the face of the lies which temptation brings. Satan begins by tempting Jesus to transform stone into bread, but Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 8:3 to say that reliance on God rather than reliance on bread is what is needed. Then when Satan tempts him to jump off the temple, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:16 to show he should not put God to the test. Finally, Satan tempts Jesus to bow down to him and Jesus stands firm by quoting Deuteronomy 6:13. Three temptations met with three passages of Scripture enable Jesus to overcome. In the same way we need to stand firm on God’s truth in the face of the lies and temptations the world, our flesh, and Satan will throw at us. Let us believe that God’s word and God’s way will lead us in the true path of life.
Father God, thank you for your Scripture that is all breathed out of you and is all profitable. Help me to know it, walk in it, and trust it. Help me to know that true life is only found in you. Help me to experience that life today. Amen.
What is one verse you can memorize this week to help you overcome temptation?
Jesus’ life in the Gospel of Matthew is filled with conflict. At birth he faced the opposition and murder attempt of Herod, and then he faced the tempting of the devil. If we are going to follow Jesus with our life, we should expect that similar opposition, difficulty, and temptation will come to us. Yet in the face of temptation, there is always a way out. The model of Jesus in overcoming is to speak Scripture in the face of the lies which temptation brings. Satan begins by tempting Jesus to transform stone into bread, but Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 8:3 to say that reliance on God rather than reliance on bread is what is needed. Then when Satan tempts him to jump off the temple, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:16 to show he should not put God to the test. Finally, Satan tempts Jesus to bow down to him and Jesus stands firm by quoting Deuteronomy 6:13. Three temptations met with three passages of Scripture enable Jesus to overcome. In the same way we need to stand firm on God’s truth in the face of the lies and temptations the world, our flesh, and Satan will throw at us. Let us believe that God’s word and God’s way will lead us in the true path of life.
Father God, thank you for your Scripture that is all breathed out of you and is all profitable. Help me to know it, walk in it, and trust it. Help me to know that true life is only found in you. Help me to experience that life today. Amen.
What is one verse you can memorize this week to help you overcome temptation?
Recent
Archive
2026
2025
January
January 1January 2January 3January 4January 5January 6January 7January 8January 9January 10January 11January 12January 13January 14January 15January 16January 17January 18January 19January 20January 21January 22January 23January 24January 25January 26January 27January 28January 29January 30January 31
February
Categories
no categories
4 Comments
As temptation comes and tries to squeeze its way into my mind, I squash it by saying out loud that I take every thought captive and submit it to Christ and ask Him to make my thoughts HIS thoughts.
n(I Corinthians 10:5 and Isaiah 55:8)
Galatians 5:16: "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh".
n
nIt's simple and short - easy to remember.
n
nSo far, the book of Matthew is such a reminder of God's will. Just in a short time, we've experienced the understanding of the distinct tracking of generations going back 40 layers. How far back can you comfortably trace your ancestors? That's incredible. And to not have one repeated name in that lineage; despite how many repeated names are found throughout others in the Bible - but not in Jesus' lineage. Think that's on purpose.
nThen to understand the beginning of His life with so many challenges and yet He is walking THE path. To understand the amount of miracles that have occurred just in these few passages, stemming from several fulfilled prophesies.
n
nThis is one is my favorite books and an thankful we are starting this journey with the new testament. I could analyze and expand on every sentence. Thanks for your guidance through this journey!
n-Leah
James 4:7 Submit yourself then to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
When it comes to temptation I find the most powerful thing to be prayer. We have God living inside us always and there is no temptation we receive that God has not given us the power to overcome: