Timeline

Jesus' Story

Back to Story Map

Jesus' Story · Event 12 of 78

Tempted in the Wilderness

Ministry Begins · The wilderness

Matthew 4:4

3 accounts of this passage

Matthew 4:1–11

1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter approached him and said, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to turn into bread." 4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 5Then the devil took him to the holy city and stood him on the highest point of the temple. 6and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, because it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will carry you in their hands so that you never strike your foot against a stone.’” 7Jesus replied, "It is also written: 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'" 8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9He said to him, "I will give you all these things if you fall down and worship me." 10Jesus said to him, "Get away, Satan! For it is written: You shall worship the LORD your God, and serve him only." 11Then the devil left him, and angels came and ministered to him.

Read Matthew 4

About this event

What happened?

The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness, where he fasted 40 days and was tempted by the devil. The devil tempted him to turn stones into bread, to throw himself down from the temple, and to worship him in exchange for the kingdoms of the world. Jesus answered each temptation with words from Scripture, and the devil left him.

Who is here?

  • The devil

Where did this happen?

The wilderness

The empty, dry land where the Spirit led Jesus to be tempted.

Where this fits

Event 3 of 8 in Ministry Begins: John prepares the way. Jesus is baptized, is tempted, and calls his first followers.

Good to know

Matthew and Luke give the last two temptations in a different order. Mark tells the event in two verses.

Keep exploring