Jesus in the Wilderness: Matthew 4:1-11

The Wilderness Within

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” — Matthew 4:1-11

In this reading, Jesus entered the wilderness—not by accident, he was led by the Spirit there. 

Whilst there, he faced three distinct temptations offered by the Devil:

• To prove his divine power and satisfy physical hunger, by turning stones into bread. Jesus had been fasting for 40 days at this point, and must have been sorely tempted by this.

• To test God’s protection through the spectacle of throwing Himself from the temple. Here Satan is misusing the words of Psalm 91;

  ¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
      to guard you in all your ways.
  ¹² On their hands they will bear you up,
      so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.  Psalm 91 NRVSA
  

• Finally, Jesus was tempted to gain worldly power by compromising himself and worshiping the devil. 

Each offer was seductive in its own way—meeting a real physical need, proving a divine identity, or achieving worldly influence.

Jesus responded not with cleverness or emotion though, but with Scripture.

He stood firmly rooted in truth.

These verses remind me of my dear old Catholic father, because he would sometimes say, in times of trial; ‘Get thee behind me, Satan’

And though the phrase “Get behind me, Satan” comes later in Matthew’s Gospel, it reveals the same spiritual defiance Jesus displayed in the wilderness.

Because it’s a declaration of boundaries, of clarity, of choosing God over deception.

But when my father used this phrase, it was not in anger or frustration, rather with conviction.

The conviction that he was able to make this happen.

It was a lesson he must have learnt as a boy; to name the moment, reclaim inner peace, and stand firm in times of challenge.

And it reminds me still today, that resisting temptation isn’t just about strength;

it’s about knowing we have the power today to decide who we are, and whose we are. 

A Word for Today

As we start this new day, we may face our own wilderness moments—in choices, distractions, and doubts, at some point in it.

But let us then remember:

• Temptation is not a sign of weakness—it’s part of the journey, which even Jesus faced.
• To use God’s Word as our support—Jesus didn’t argue or negotiate; He quoted truth.
• To speak with authority to temptation. Because the phrase “Get behind me, Satan” does not belong only to Jesus – it can be ours too.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you stood firm in the wilderness and spoke truth to temptation.

As we walk into this day, help us to recognise the voices that pull us away from you.

Fill us with your Word, steady our minds, and guide us in faithfulness.

Give us the courage to say, quitely within our hearts, “Get behind me, Satan,” if we are tested today.

Amen.