Lent · The First Sunday in Lent (Invocavit)
Matthew 4:1-11
The Temptation of Jesus
February 22, 2026
Overview & Insights
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
After narrating Jesus’ birth and baptism, Matthew concludes his introduction to Jesus’ identity (1:1–4:16) with wilderness temptations. The temptation story continues the comparison between Israel and Jesus, emphasizing how Jesus remains utterly loyal to God during his wilderness testing. This motif emerges via Jesus’ three citations of Deuteronomy that attend to Israel’s lack of loyalty to Yahweh during their wilderness journey (Deut. 6; 8). Matthew displays Jesus as representative Israel who is faithful and true to God’s covenant. Later, in the Passion Narrative, Matthew will highlight Jesus’ faithfulness at Gethsemane (26:36–46), when Jesus resists the temptation to pursue his own will and remains faithful to God’s missional plan for him.
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Commentary
Commentary on Matthew 4:1-11 Working Preacher
The temptation of Jesus read as the new Israel who resists in the wilderness where the first Israel failed.
Matthew 4:1-11 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed preaching commentary noting each reply of Jesus is drawn from Deuteronomy's wilderness texts.
Matthew 4 - Enduring Word Bible Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik walks the three temptations and the ministering angels verse by verse.
Matthew 4 Commentary Precept Austin
Verse-level notes and word studies on the wilderness testing and the devil's proposals.
Matthew 4:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentators gathered on the Spirit leading Jesus up to be tempted.
Background & Word Study
Matthew - Enter the Bible Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on Matthew's structure and its Moses and Israel typology.
Book of Matthew Overview, Chapters 1-13 BibleProject
Animated overview that places the baptism and temptation at the opening of Jesus' ministry.
Matthew 4:1 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek text with parsing for the words wilderness, tempted, and devil.
The Church Fathers
Sermons & Reflections
On the Mount of Temptation: First Sunday in Lent Journey with Jesus
An essay following Jesus into the wilderness to face the fullness of his humanity.
Monday Meditation: RCL Year A, Lent 1, Matthew 4:1-11 Gary Neal Hansen
A Presbyterian pastor's meditation on praying with the temptation narrative during Lent.
Questions preachers ask
Why does Lent begin with the Temptation?
Led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Jesus fasts forty days and turns back every temptation with the word of God, and the church follows him into its own forty days.
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