Matthew 4: 1-11
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
As you probably recognized, this is the account of Jesus temptation in the wilderness by the devil. I find it interesting that Jesus “was led by the Spirit” into the wilderness. As I researched this, I found that the wilderness is also called “the place of demons”. In Matthew 12:43, Jesus talks about an unclean spirit (demon) going to a waterless place (wilderness) when it is cast out. The Spirit specifically led Jesus to a place of demons to be tempted by the devil. God also led Israel into the wilderness to be tempted. Look at what it says in Deuteronomy 8:2: ”And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.” Jesus is victorious in his temptation, whereas Israel failed. We too have failed God’s tests in our lives, but Jesus is our substitute who defeated satan for us to set us free from satan’s power. Let’s look a little closer at each of the three temptations.
Satan’s first temptation attacks Jesus’ physical hunger. The second temptation challenges Jesus identity. The third temptation challenges Jesus position and authority. Jesus defeats satan’s temptation in every case by correctly using God’s word even when satan misquotes it.
Let’s apply this section of scripture to our everyday lives. We are all tempted and tested, but what can we learn from Jesus? First, we can learn how to recognize temptations and tests, and then be prepared to respond in accordance with God’s Word. It is important for us to be reading God’s Word daily so we are familiar with it and can apply it to every situation. Otherwise, it will be easy to fall into a trap that the devil sets for us.
Satan’s first temptation of Jesus appealed to his physical hunger, a basic need. Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy 8:3: “And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” It makes me realize that God has a purpose in allowing things to happen in our lives, and sometimes those things are not pleasant from our perspective. We may even think that means that He doesn’t care. But on the contrary, things we lack are there to keep us humble and dependent on Him just like the test with Israel (that they failed over and over). But I am also reminded by Jesus’ answer that our life depends more on God’s provision through His Word than on “things”. When I am in God’s Word, he gives me the strength to trust Him more and more and gives me the perspective on what I REALLY need in life…… Jesus.
Satan’s second temptation attacks Jesus identity. He starts out by saying: “If you are the Son of God.” But Jesus didn’t fall for this trick. He knows who He is and so should we. Sometimes I fall into the trap of forgetting that I am a child of the King and try to find my identity in my career or my talents and hobbies. It reminds me of a scene from a recent movie called “Overcomer”. The main character (John) visits a man in the hospital (Thomas) who asks him this question:
“John, if I ask you who you are, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind?”
John answers: “I am a basketball coach.”
Thomas: “If that is stripped away?”
John: “Well, I am also a history teacher.”
Thomas: “OK, if we take that away, who are you?”
John: “Well, I am a husband and father.”
Thomas: “And God forbid, that should ever change, but if it does, who are you?”
John: “I don’t understand this game.”
Thomas: “It is not a game. Who are you?”
John: “I am a white, American male.”
Thomas: “Yeah, that is for sure. Is there anything else?”
John: “Well, I am a Christian.”
Thomas: “What does that mean?”
John: “It means, “follower of Christ.”
Thomas: “And how important is that?”
John: “Very important.”
Thomas: “It’s Interesting how it is so far down your list.”
John: “OK, wait a minute, I could have easily said Christian first.”
Thomas: “But you didn’t. Look John, your identity will be tied to whatever you give your heart to. Doesn’t sound like the Lord has first place.”
John: “Are you calling me a bad Christian?”
Thomas: “Let me be a little direct. The last time you were here, you said you would pray for me. Did you?”
John (after a long pause): “No.”
Thomas: “For someone who knows the Lord, you act like somebody who doesn’t, which makes me wonder, what have you allowed to define you? Something or someone will have first place in your heart. But when you find your identity in the one who created you, it will change your whole perspective.”
As the movie progresses, John eventually discovers his true identity in Christ and it changes his attitudes, perspectives, and his LIFE. The world tries to mold us into its identity, and satan wants us to find our identity in a lot of things other than who we are in Christ. God wants us to find our identity in Him. We sing a praise and worship song at AIC that includes the chorus: “I am a child of God!” We need to believe that and live it!
Satan’s third and final temptation is to try to convince Jesus that he will have much more power and authority if He bows down to worship satan. But once again, Jesus is victorious over that temptation by quoting scripture from Deuteronomy 6:13 which says that God only is to be worshiped and served. When satan tempts us to give our worship and service to lesser gods, we must remember to worship the only one who truly deserves it, God our Father. He gave His life for us and for our salvation. We respond to that truth by giving him our exclusive and undivided worship and service.
In summary, Jesus overcame satan’s temptation and He stands ready to help us. Satan is clever and will attack us in our areas of weakness. It is a good idea for us to understand the devil’s tactics and stand ready to resist them by remembering the truth of God’s Word and asking Jesus to help us. Hebrews 2:18 says: “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”The concluding verse in this Scripture says: “Then the devil left him.” That reminds me of James 4:7: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for overcoming satan’s temptation for us. Thank you that you understand satan’s tactics against us because you were tempted, yet without sin. Please give us the power to stand firm against temptation and live victoriously because our identity is in you. In Jesus name, Amen.
Paul Hoemann
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