Repairing Our Ruptured Attachment – Matthew 4:1-11

By Rick Bayer, November 10, 2024

Repairing Our Ruptured Attachment – Matthew 4:1-11

Ruptured Attachment defaults:

Are available?

Ruptured Attachment defaults:

Do I have autonomy?

Ruptured Attachment defaults:

Will my pain and stress be alleviated, is this world a safe place?

Matthew 4:1-10 NIV

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Matthew 4:1-10 NIV

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; James 1:13 NIV

Questions for Small Group/Personal Study

We encourage you to do the Practicing The Way course at www.practicingtheway.org with others. This week is Session 6.

Opener:

Which of the 3 defaults Rick mentioned do you readily fall back to:

  1. My distress will not be alleviated; the world is not safe.
  2. Others are not available; I have to solve this myself.
  3. I don’t have the autonomy, agency or ability to move my life forward.

Go to the Source:

Read Matthew 4:1-10

  1. What is the appeal in each temptation. How does Jesus respond to each?
  2. Matthew places this temptation account right after Jesus’ baptism. What do you see as the connection between v. 3 and 6 and the Father’s declaration after Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:17)?

Live it Out:

  1. What does it look like for you to have a soul-satisfying delightful experience with God that is more pleasurable than any sin attractions?
  2. What practices do you do that ensure this is continually true in your life?