Matthew 4:1–11 | Fasting
Overcoming Temptation: What Jesus Teaches Us About Fasting
When we read the Gospels, we need to understand their purpose. They're not primarily "how-to" manuals for living our best life, though we should certainly want to be moral, loving, and kind like Jesus. The Gospels are showing us something far better than an example—they're showing us a Savior, a God worthy of our complete trust and devotion.
The reality is that we cannot fully live up to Jesus' example on our own. We were created for perfect relationship with God, but something inside us pulls us away from that flourishing life, making us want to control our own lives and build our foundations on something other than God.
What Was Jesus Doing in the Wilderness?
In Matthew 4, we find Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. This follows directly after His baptism, where the Father had just declared, "You are my beloved Son, with whom I'm well pleased." From this spiritual high point, Jesus is immediately led into isolation and testing.
The wilderness wasn't a beautiful retreat—it was dangerous, rough terrain that folk legend believed was filled with demonic activity. Jesus faced isolation, danger, and testing in this harsh environment.
Why Would God Lead Jesus into Temptation?
It might seem strange that the Spirit would lead Jesus to be tempted, but this reveals something profound: what Satan uses to shipwreck, God uses to refine. The testing wasn't a sign that God didn't love Jesus—He had just declared His love! Rather, the testing was an expression of God's love.
Sometimes we believe an easy, comfortable life means God loves us. But often the opposite is true—God loves us enough to refine us. Like gold in fire, our faith is strengthened through trials. The struggles you're facing right now might not be signs that God doesn't love you, but that He's shaping you into Christ's image.
How Did Jesus Prepare for Temptation?
Jesus prepared by fasting for 40 days and 40 nights. Fasting is the denial of some earthly desire (in this case, food) to craft a love and desire for something better—God Himself. Jesus denied Himself to follow the will of His Father.
Fasting reveals what truly controls us. As Richard Foster notes, "More than any other single discipline, fasting reveals the things that control us." When we're hungry, our true selves emerge. All the things we normally cover up with food and other comforts surface during fasting.
The Three Temptations Jesus Faced
1. The Temptation of Self-Provision
"Command these stones to become loaves of bread." The core temptation was believing Jesus could provide for Himself without God's help. The lie behind this is that God is holding out on us, not coming through when we need Him.
Jesus responded with Scripture: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." Yes, we need physical sustenance, but God's Word sustains us more deeply than bread ever could.
2. The Temptation to Test God
"Throw yourself down" from the temple pinnacle. This temptation suggested Jesus could do whatever He wanted, even contradicting God's wisdom, and God would still protect Him.
Jesus responded: "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test." We can't live foolishly, contrary to God's will, and then expect Him to bail us out. Discipleship isn't fitting God around our lives—it's submitting our lives to Him.
3. The Temptation to Compromise
"All these kingdoms I will give you if you fall down and worship me." The gloves came off as Satan offered Jesus everything if He would compromise and follow him instead of God.
Jesus responded firmly: "You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve." The enemy was offering Jesus what already belonged to Him—everything is already His in God's economy.
Why Jesus Fasted for Our Satisfaction
Jesus fasted so that we could feast. In Matthew 9, when asked why His disciples didn't fast, Jesus responded that the wedding guests don't fast while the bridegroom is with them. What people longed for in fasting—God's presence—was standing right before them in Jesus.
When we feast on Christ, every need we have is met. The hole we try to fill with everything else can only be filled by Jesus. As John Stark says, "The rhythm of feasting and fasting forms hearts at rest with God rather than hearts that restlessly crave the things of this world."
Jesus gave up the feast so we could eat like the children of the King. He was broken as the bread of life so we could live. Every craving we have for success, beauty, approval, and security is just an echo of a deeper hunger that is found in God Himself.
Life Application
This week, consider incorporating fasting into your spiritual practice, but do it with purpose:
Fast with clear intention—whether seeking clarity for a decision, fighting sin, or expressing grief and lament.
Fast from something lesser—food, entertainment, social media—to make space for something better.
Use that space to cultivate a deeper hunger for God Himself.
Ask yourself:
What desires control my life that I might need to surrender?
Where am I trying to provide for myself instead of trusting God?
Am I putting God to the test by expecting Him to bless choices that contradict His Word?
What compromises am I making to get what I want?
Remember, the point isn't just to imitate Jesus' fasting but to trust in the One who fasted for you. Jesus denied Himself so that you could be fulfilled forever in Him.