10/11/2026
Mountain Views:
Mt. of Temptation
Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13

I. The view from the Mount of Temptation
Key Players: 
Jesus: “Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights He fasted and became very hungry.” Matthew 4:1-2 (NLT)
Satan: “During that time the devil came . . .” Matthew 4:3 (NLT)

II. The Sequence of Events 

• Matthew 3: 1-12 - John the Baptist Prepares the Way
• Matthew 3:13-17 - The Baptism of Jesus (age 30)
• Matthew 4:1-11 - The Temptation of Jesus
• Matthew 4:12-17 - The Ministry of Jesus Begins
• Matthew 4:18-22 - Jesus Calls the First Disciples
• Matthew 4:23-25 - Crowds Follow Jesus
• Matthew 5            - The Sermon on the Mount

 

• Identity
• Wilderness
• Testing
• Obedience
• Ministry
• Rinse and Repeat

III. What can we learn from the Mount of Temptation?
1. God TESTS.  Satan TEMPTS.

• God uses tests to STRENGTHEN our faith.

“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone...” James 1:13 (NIV)
“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold…” 1 Peter 1:7 (NLT)
[God] “I will bring them through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them.” Zechariah 13:9 (NLT)

• Satan uses temptations to DESTROY our Faith.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin.” Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)
“Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.” James 1:14 (NLT)

• DURING God’s testing, when we are WEAK, Satan often tempts us. 

“During that time [40-day fast] the devil came and said to Him [Jesus], ‘If you are the Son of God…’” Matthew 4:3 (NLT)
2. We overcome temptation by TRUSTING AND OBEYING God’s Word.
“God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand…He will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)

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Small Group Discussion Questions