Following Jesus · Part 2 of 40 · 3 min
Jesus Chooses to Obey His Father
After his baptism, Jesus went into the wilderness. He spent time with his Father, far from the busy villages.
The wind moved across the dry ground.
Jesus had gone without food for a long time, and he was hungry. The tempter told him to turn stones into bread.
Jesus could have used his power for himself. Instead, he answered with words from Scripture. Life depends on God's word, not only on bread (It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone).
The tempter next wanted Jesus to jump from the temple and make his Father rescue him. Jesus refused to put his Father to a test (It is also written: You shall not put the Lord your God to the test).
Then the tempter offered him the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would worship him.
Jesus answered that only God should be worshiped and served (Away with you, Satan! For it is written: You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve him only). He would not choose a wrong path to gain something wonderful.
The tempter left, and angels came to care for Jesus.
His hungry body needed help, but his trust had remained with his Father.
Sometimes a wrong choice promises an easy reward. We can pause, remember what is good, and ask God and a trusted adult for help.
Feeling tempted does not mean we have already done wrong. Jesus understands difficult moments and helps us choose what is right.
Retelling of Matthew 4:1–11.
Supporting reading: The Desire of Ages, chapters 12–13. Open the book
Talk about it together
- Honesty
- Trust in God
A verse to remember
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
Matthew 4:4 · excerptNKJV
- What did Jesus use to answer the tempter’s suggestions?
- What does the story remind us about feeling tempted without choosing it?
- Who can you ask for help when a decision feels difficult?
Activity · 2–5 minutes
Pause, Think, and Ask
A grown-up says, “Imagine you could win a game by cheating without anyone noticing.” Practice three steps: stop, holding up one hand with your palm facing forward; think, gently touching your temple and asking, “What would be the right thing to do?”; and ask a grown-up for help, raising your hand if you do not know what to do. Finish by saying what you would choose to do to play honestly.
Try it today: I can pause and ask for help before choosing what to do.
More stories with these values
Match pairs
Open the interactive activity or prepare a printable sheet for home, classroom, or family.
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