⚔️ Matthew 4:4 | Scripture as a Weapon Against the Enemy

📧 In today’s email…

• 🏜️ The events leading up to Jesus’ testing in the desert

• 🧐 A practical step you can take today

• 🧠 A quote from Charles Spurgeon

• 📚️ Resources to help you connect further with Matthew 4:4

 🧠 Memorize

_{see if you know what words go in the blanks}

___ __ ______, “__ __ _____,

“‘___ _____ ___ ____ ___ _____ _____, ___ __ every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Matthew 4:4

Passage Context 🤓 

Here's the sequence of events leading up to Matthew 4:4:

Jesus gets baptized → he receives the Holy Spirit → the Father says:

Jesus then goes into the wilderness and fasts for 40 days to spend time with the Father and prepare spiritually for his public ministry.

Then, the enemy shows up.

In verse 3, the devil tempts Jesus to turn the stones into bread:

💡 Note: “If you are…” is more literally translated “Since you are the son of God…”

The enemy is wanting Jesus to use his power to satisfy his own physical desire for food.

Jesus Response

Jesus responds by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, where Moses reminds the Israelites of the 40 years they spent in the desert after being liberated from Egypt.

In that context, God was teaching the Israelites how to trust Him alone for provision.

Here's Deuteronomy 8:3:

After 40 days of fasting, Jesus' response to the enemy communicates at least this:

He came to earth to accomplish the will of the Father, even if it's at the expense of his own physical suffering - a foreshadowing of the cross ✝️

Apply & respond: 🤔 

One practical step you can take in response to Matthew 4:4 is to prioritize regular reading and reflection on God's word.

Reflect 🤔 

Read Matthew chapters 3 and 4, slowly.

💡 Bonus: Read it out loud with a friend, spouse or your children.

Wisdom 🧐 

He who does not long to know more of Christ, knows nothing of Him yet.

Charles Spurgeon

Recommended Resources 🎙️ 

Here are a few resources to help you dig deeper into this week’s passage and topics:

• 📚️ Live No Lies: Recognize and Resist the Three Enemies That Sabotage Your Peace by John Mark Comer (link)

• 📹️ Bible Project: Overview of Matthew - Part 1 (link)

• ☕️ The Culture Translator newsletter by Axis (non-profit) equips parents to help their kids resist the temptations of the surrounding culture and choose the live out the way of Jesus. (Subscribe here in one click)

• 💪 Add ‘Not Today Satan’ by KB and Andy Mineo to your workout playlist (link)

• 🎵 Man Shall Not Live By Bread Alone by Michael Lining to help you memorize this verse (Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Music | Watch on YouTube)

Answer key ✅ 

But he answered, “It is written,

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Matthew 4:4