Luke Part 1 Week 16

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

Luke 4:1-2 

¹ Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, ² where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry. 

By “wilderness” some think of desert; others think of a wooded area. The word literally means “an uninhabited place.” In the case with Jesus it was a desert. Jesus was tempted there for 40 days by the devil. The word “tempted” is often used today to mean a person wants to do something and needs to resist. The basic meaning, however, is simply “tested.” This needs to be remembered about Jesus being tested by the devil. 

REFLECT 

Think of what Jesus went through to prove He was not only fully man but also fully God. 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about Matthew, Mark and Luke including the account about the testing of Jesus by the devil in their gospel accounts. Read Matthew 4:1-11 and Mark 1:12-13 along with what you will see in Luke.  

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

Luke 4:3-4 

³ Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.” ⁴ But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’” 

Jesus was desperately hungry after 40 days without eating. The devil first tested Jesus in wanting him to turn a stone into a loaf of bread. Notice how the Son of God replied to the devil’s test. Jesus quoted Scripture. He quoted Deuteronomy 8:3. The end of this verse says, “. . . we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” Matthew adds that in his gospel although Luke does not record it.   

REFLECT 

Are you helped by quoting Scripture when you are tempted? 

RESPOND  

Talk with a friend about what each of you do when you feel tempted to do something you realize you should not do. Do you have some verses memorized you can quote to yourself at the time? 

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

Luke 4:5-7 

⁵ Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. ⁶ “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. ⁷ I will give it all to you if you will worship me.” 

This was another attempt of the devil to get Jesus to yield to the test with which he was confronting Him. Notice that Jesus did not say the devil had no authority to do this. Had Jesus accepted what the devil was offering He would have avoided the cross. The cost was that Jesus would have to worship the devil. What will Jesus’ answer be?  

REFLECT 

Think of the pressure Jesus faced in that He could have had authority over the kingdoms of the world without going to the cross. 

RESPOND  

The Scriptures indicate that the devil (also known as Satan) is the “god of this world” (see 2 Corinthians 4:4). This verse indicates why some don’t repent and turn to Jesus when we witness to them. Ask a friend about experiences in witnessing to unbelievers.  

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

Luke 4:8 

⁸ Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God 

and serve only him.’” 

Jesus again used Scripture to rebuff the devil’s test. This time He cites Deuteronomy 6:13. The theological liberals have tried to discredit the book of Deuteronomy. Jesus believed it and used it to ward off the devil’s tests. Jesus’ statement indicates that if a person is worshiped, he is being treated as God.  

REFLECT 

As you worship Jesus, do you realize He is God and Lord? As such He should be the master of your life.  

RESPOND  

Regarding what Jesus said about worshiping only God, see what the Father said of Him in Hebrews 1:6. Because Jesus should be worshiped, this is another evidence that He is God. Share this with a friend. 

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

Luke 4:9-11 

⁹ Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! ¹⁰ For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you. ¹¹ And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” 

The devil did not give up as he again tested Jesus to see if he could get Him to fail. This reveals that the devil knows the Scriptures because he was using them as he tested Jesus. Surely Jesus would not deny this promise in the Scriptures would He?  

REFLECT 

Does this help you to understand that just knowing what the Scriptures say is not enough? One needs also to trust in Jesus as Savior.  

RESPOND 

Join with a friend and read these tests through which the devil attempted to get Jesus to fail. Read Hebrews 4:14-16 to see that Jesus is our example and that believers should come boldly to the throne of grace to find help.