Bible Study & Questions
This would make a great bible study to do with family, friends, or in a group.
Read
Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
God shall keep you
You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust."
Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place,
no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name.
When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble; I will rescue them and honor them.
With long life I will satisfy them and show them my salvation.
God shall keep you
You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust."
Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place,
no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name.
When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble; I will rescue them and honor them.
With long life I will satisfy them and show them my salvation.
Luke 4:1-13
The temptation of Jesus
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,
where for forty days he was tested by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished.
The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread."
Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'"
Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
And the devil said to him, "To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please.
If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours."
Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'"
Then the devil led him to Jerusalem and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here,
for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,'
and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'"
Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.
The temptation of Jesus
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,
where for forty days he was tested by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished.
The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread."
Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'"
Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
And the devil said to him, "To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please.
If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours."
Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'"
Then the devil led him to Jerusalem and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here,
for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,'
and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'"
Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.
Study Questions
- What are the different ways the devil tested Jesus in the wilderness? How did Jesus respond? [The devil offers an unfolding narrative of self-indulgence (make yourself bread from stones), self-aggrandizement (all the nations of the world will belong to you if you worship me), and self-interest (if you are the son of God, cast yourself from the top of the temple). Jesus responds as a student of scripture and relies on scripture to answer the devil’s temptations.]
- Jesus didn’t face these tests on his own power. The text says that Jesus “was led by the Spirit in the wilderness.” What are some ways we experience God’s guiding Spirit in our lives? [inviting God’s Spirit to reshape our inner attitudes, praying scriptures like Galatians 5:22-23, following inner promptings or holy nudges, exercising our unique gifts from the Spirit—such as those mentioned in Romans 12: 6-8, listening to and heeding timely words from others.]
- Jesus’ answer to the devil’s first test is “one does not live by bread alone.” In other words, living is more than satisfying our basic needs or our needs for comfort and security. How does following Jesus invite us into “more and better life than we ever dreamed of”? (John 10:10)
- As a final test, the devil uses the promises of supernatural protection in Psalm 91 against Jesus. But Psalm 91 doesn’t promise us a life without trouble (v. 15), does it? With his answer, Jesus invites the devil to join him in trusting God in all things. How do we experience God’s rescue during trouble?
- Verse 13 closes on this note: “he [the devil] departed from him until an opportune time,” which signals to the reader that more tests are ahead for Jesus. How do tests and temptations take on different forms throughout our lives?
- Both Jesus and the devil quote Scripture. In response to temptation, Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy, but it is not enough to know scripture. The devil, who quotes from Psalm 91, also knows scripture. What are helpful guardrails for us in our use of scripture? [Scripture must be read through a “God is love” lens and with an eye to the “love your neighbor as yourself” life envisioned for God’s people. Hearing scripture interpreted by wise preachers and listening to the voices of others in small-group settings are always helpful.]
- This week’s preaching note reminds us: “We know that God’s love is constant and unconditional. Psalm 91 says there is nothing that can happen to us to take that love away.” How can you remind yourself and others this coming week of God’s constant and unconditional love?
Prayer
O God, in moments of uncertainty and testing, we choose to lean on your faithfulness and trust in the leading of your Spirit. Help us find peace in knowing that when we call to you, you will answer us and be with us in every time of trouble.
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