PASSAGE: Matthew 4:1-11
SERIES SUMMARY
As Jesus steps onto the scene of history, Matthew paints a picture of him that invites our participation in what Jesus is doing. The portrait is that Jesus is the True King who is bringing the kingdom of heaven to earth. This good news is not reserved for especially religious people in a distant future; it’s good news, right now, for ordinary people who come to Jesus in faith.
And while Jesus inaugurated the kingdom among us through teaching and serving in dozens of ways, he ultimately brought heaven to earth by embracing the cross as his throne and wearing thorns as his crown. In doing this, he broke the powers of the kingdom(s) of this world and opened up God’s new world through his resurrection. Now, because of these things, discipleship to Jesus is about praying and living “Your kingdom come, Your will be done.” It is about whole-life transformation and embodying kingdom realities. It is about becoming people who naturally live out what Jesus taught. Today, because of Matthew’s witness and Jesus’ ministry, the kingdom is coming in our own lives, “on earth as it is in heaven.”
PASSAGE GUIDE
Hebrews 4 teaches that Jesus is a compassionate and trustworthy High Priest who understands human weakness. Temptation is assumed to be a normal part of life, not a spiritual anomaly or personal failure. Rather than pushing us away from God, our struggle is meant to draw us closer to Him. Because Jesus has faced temptation without sin, we are invited to come to God honestly and confidently in moments of need. Grace is not reserved for after we have won the battle, but offered in the middle of it.
Jesus’ time in the wilderness shows that temptation often meets us in seasons of vulnerability. Hunger, fatigue, isolation, and transition create spaces where testing feels more intense. Jesus does not avoid these conditions; He enters them fully and faithfully. His experience reminds us that being tempted does not mean we are doing something wrong. It means we are human and dependent on God.
The temptations Jesus faced in Matthew 4:3-10 reveal how temptation works at its core. Each test invited Him to take a shortcut, to meet good desires in unhealthy ways, to grasp control instead of trusting God’s timing, or to demand proof instead of walking by faith. Jesus responds not with self-assertion, but with trust in God’s Word. Scripture shows us that resistance grows from dependence, not willpower. Faithfulness flows from trusting who God is and what He has already said.
Jesus also stands in the place of God’s people by succeeding where they failed. He walks the path of testing and remains faithful on behalf of others, not merely as an example but as a representative. This means our hope is not rooted in our ability to resist perfectly, but in His completed faithfulness. We are not left to fight temptation alone or prove ourselves worthy. Scripture invites us to rest in what Jesus has already done.
Finally, we are reminded that Jesus understands temptation more deeply than we do because He never gave in. He endured its full weight and pressure, and He meets our weakness with compassion rather than judgment. This truth changes how we respond when temptation comes. Instead of hiding in shame or relying on comfort, control, or significance, we are invited to run toward Jesus in trust. He is present, merciful, and ready to give grace in every moment of need.
*We are a church located in Greenville, South Carolina. Our vision is to see God transform us into a community of grace passionately pursuing life and mission with Jesus.
SUGGESTIONS FOR COMMUNITY GROUP QUESTIONS
Remember, these are “suggested” questions. You do not have to go through every single one of them. You do not need to listen to both sermons at both campuses to participate in the discussion.
LIFE WITH JESUS
Open the floor for anyone in your group to share the way they’re most tempted: through comfort, control, or significance.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Hebrews 4:15 says Jesus was “tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.” Before this sermon, how did you typically understand that verse?
- Why do you think shame often follows temptation and leads us to isolation rather than honesty and community?
- Read Matthew 4:1–11 together. What patterns or repetitions do you notice in how Satan tempts Jesus and how Jesus responds?
- How does seeing Jesus as the “new and better Moses” or the fulfillment of Israel’s story shape your understanding of this passage?
- The sermon argued that Jesus understands temptation more than we do because He never gave in. How does that idea challenge or encourage you?
- In what ways do you tend to believe that your temptations are “too specific” or “too modern” for Jesus to truly understand?
- How does Jesus’ response to temptation, quoting and trusting Scripture, speak to how you currently fight temptation?
- What role does hunger, exhaustion, stress, or isolation play in making temptation harder for you to resist?
- How does this passage change the way you think about approaching God after you’ve failed or given in to temptation?
- The sermon described Jesus as a trustworthy High Priest who invites us to approach the throne of grace with confidence. What makes that hard for you to actually do?
- How can this group become a safer place to talk honestly about temptation without fear of shame or judgment?
- Is there a specific area of temptation where you need to trust Jesus more deeply right now?
CLOSING PRAYER
"Jesus, thank You that You went into the wilderness for us. You are the Great High Priest who draws near and empathizes in our weaknesses. Spirit, remind us that we have the freedom to approach the throne of Grace with confidence, even in moments of temptation and sin. Help us draw closer to You, Father, knowing You deeply love us. Thank You for Your new mercies every morning."
RESOURCES