Scriptures to Study: Matthew 4:1–11, Mark 1:12–13, and Luke 4:1–13
Additional Scriptures to Study: 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Nephi 2:18; 2 Nephi 28:19–22; 3 Nephi 18:18; and Doctrine and Covenants 10:5, 27; 11:12.
- The JST makes it clear that Jesus was “led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be with God” and not to be tempted by the devil.
- Jesus did not willingly go into a situation where he would be tempted, and he doesn’t want us to do so either.
Questions to Consider:
Why did Jesus go into the wilderness? To be with God.
In the JST it says, “…JST Matt. 4:2 … and had communed with God,”
- What does it mean to “commune with God”?
- How can we “commune with God”?
How did Satan first tempt Jesus? Matt. 4:3 (make these stones bread after he had been fasting for 40 days and 40 nights)
How did Jesus answer Satan?Matt. 4:4
- Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that cometh from God.
- What does this mean?
- That we are not JUST here temporally (for food and water) but we’re here spiritually too to learn and grow
What other temptations did Jesus face? Matthew 4:5–6, 8–9.
How did studying the scriptures help Jesus resist the temptations? (Matthew 4:4, 6–7, 10.) Jesus knew the doctrine and when Satan tried to confuse him or lure him away in to “carnal security”, Jesus remembered things he’d read in the scriptures.
What is Satan trying to do to each of us?
20 For behold, at that day shall he arage in the bhearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good. 21 And others will he apacify, and lull them away into carnal bsecurity, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the cdevil dcheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.
22 And behold, others he aflattereth away, and telleth them there is no bhell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful cchains, from whence there is no deliverance.
And thus he goeth up and down, ato and fro in the earth, seeking to bdestroy the souls of men. (D&C 10:27)
How can Heavenly Father help you resist temptations?
What can you do right now that will help you avoid future temptations?
What great promise has Heavenly Father given us regarding temptation?
13 There hath no temptation ataken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be btempted above that ye are able; but will with the ctemptation also make a way to descape, that ye may be able to ebear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13.)
“Habits are easily formed. It is just as easy to form good habits as it is to form evil ones” (New Era, July 1972, p. 23).
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