The Temptation of Christ
Matthew 4:1–11
Main Idea: Temptation loses its power when pleasing God is our highest priority.
I. The Obvious Question, Why? (Matthew 4:1)
A. To Qualify Jesus for Ministry
B. To Succeed Where Others Failed
II. The Nature of Jesus’ Temptation
A. To pursue a legitimate need in an illegitimate way (Matthew 4:2–4)
B. To force God’s hand (Matthew 4:5–7)
C. To pursue one’s self-interest at any cost (Matthew 4:8–11)
III. The Key to Jesus’ Success
A. The Power of the Holy Spirit
B. The Pursuit of a Superior Pleasure