Jesus Tempted
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Dismiss children’s ministry!!!
Open your Bibles with me to Matthew 4.
We are walking through testing and temptation every day.
Being tested is not fun at all. While I was in high school, I remember test day was the most dreaded day for me, especially math test day. I had a math teacher that was a stickler. We could not use notes on any test. Most times we could only use a certain calculator if you got to use a calculator at all. Also, you had to memorize all of the formulas for the test. Because of this, I remember sitting upon on the night before a math test and reviewing notes and memorizing formulas and working problems. This was to be prepared for the test. Most times, if I prepared well, I would receive a grade that I was happy with. If I did not prepare well, I would not receive the grade I wanted.
Today, we are tempted and tested every day. Especially those of us that are Christians. We are in a spiritual war at all times. In this spiritual war, we know that satan is seeking to devour us through placing things that tempt us right before our eyes. This is evident. Over time, temptations change and the tactics of satan change. In our lives, we can be tempted in many different ways. For instance, we can be tempted to be apathetic and lazy instead of productive and working for God’s glory. Temptations are found on the screens that we set in front of our faces. Likewise, the desire for money can breed materialism that pushes us toward idolatry and the worship of things instead of God. We can be tempted to form our own god from certain portions and passages of Scripture that make us feel good instead of affirming the true God of all the Scriptures. Whatever the case, if we are not prepared for temptations, they will most assuredly take hold of us and lead us into sin. We must be ready for the temptations of satan by looking to the example and person of Jesus Christ.
In today’s passage, we will see how Jesus defeated the temptations of satan.
1 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.
Pray.
Main Idea:
Jesus’ temptation supplies Christians with an understanding of Satan’s schemes and how to defeat them.
Today, we will examine three affirmations that will ensure the Christian’s victory over the temptations of satan.
(First,…)
Christians defeat temptations by affirming the Word of God.
Christians defeat temptations by affirming the Word of God.
After Jesus’s baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, we saw the Trinity on display as God the Son was obedient to baptism, God the Holy Spirit rested upon and commissioned the Son, and the Father spoke from heaven with affirmation. Now, Jesus’s baptism is followed by testing.
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Jesus is led up by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. Now, Matthew uses the term wilderness with a purpose. The wilderness was associated with a place where one was tested and tried. Likewise, as Matthew writes to a primarily Jewish audience, he uses the word wilderness because he is pointing to Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament. Particularly, Matthew is driving home to his Jewish audience that Jesus, the Son of God, does right what Israel, the son referenced in the Old Testament, got wrong.
Matthew is drawing the reader to understand that Jesus was in the wilderness just as the Israelites were in the wilderness in the Old Testament.
Think back to the Old Testament with me for just a moment. The Israelites, God’s chosen people in the Old Testament, were enslaved by the Egyptians. In that, God sought to free them from captivity and did so. He split the Red Sea making it possible for the Israelites to pass through the water. They were led into the wilderness where they would be tested for 40 years.
Jesus has just passed through the baptismal waters and now is led by the Spirit to the wilderness to be tested.
You may ask, did God tempt Jesus as He was led by the Spirit to the wilderness?
The answer to such a question is no. God sovereignly ordained for Jesus to be tested and tempted. Yet, God is not the tempter, satan is.
Jesus is tempted under God’s sovereign rule to bring about God’s sovereign will all the while satan is the one doing the tempting, not God.
And notice verse 2:
2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
Jesus has been fasting for forty days and forty nights. He is hungry. In His hunger, satan or the devil, the accuser comes to tempt and test Jesus.
Longman and Garland point out:
“The main point is that both ‘sons’ were tested by God’s design, the one after being redeemed from Egypt and the other after his baptism, to prove their obedience and loyalty in preparation for their appointed work.”
We know from Scripture that Israel would wonder and complain in the wilderness as they were tested. Yet, Jesus displays obedience and submission to the Father as He is tested and tempted. Verse 3, recounts the start of the temptations.
3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”
The devil comes to Jesus and he attacks Jesus’s sonship. In doing so, satan is trying to cause Jesus to turn from trusting in God’s provision. Satan is seeking for Jesus to turn from His identity as God’s Son and turn from trusting in God’s provision and make bread come from stones. But, Jesus does not falter or stumble in the least. Jesus holds fast to the Word.
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.’ ”
Jesus goes to the Word. He quotes Deuteronomy 8:3 which attests to the Israelites’ testing in the wilderness.
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. 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.
The Israelites were tested through hunger as well. Yet, the Israelites demanded bread in the wilderness though God was seeking to teach them that obedience to Him was most important. Jesus denied turning the stones to bread and upheld His obedience to the Father trusting in His Word and provision.
Illustration: There are moments in our lives in which we cling to the Word with trust in God’s provision. Over the past year, Jesse and I were such a spot of trusting in God’s provision. The year of 2021 leading into 2022 was a year in which Jesse and I trusted the Lord. In God’s providence, I would lose three of my grandparents and Jesse would lose her grandfather all the while Jess suffered from a miscarriage. It seemed like things were just terrible all the time. We were in a place surrounded by uncertainty. In those moments, we were unsure what to do and why such things were happening. Yet, I remember walking through those seasons and God revealing to me that my hope is found in His Son Jesus Christ and the promises of His Word. We walked through those time trusting in God’s sovereignty whenever we were tempted to doubt His promises. We were tempted to turn to anger as we were hurt. We were tempted to push aside His Word and simply be done.
Application: You see, we each and every one are to be trusting in God’s Word even when it seems impossible. Jesus defeated the temptations of satan by affirming God’s Word. God’s Word tells us...
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Likewise, Hebrews 2:18
18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Jesus was tempted and tried in every way that we are. Furthermore, we see in Matthew 4 that Jesus when tempted affirmed the Word. As you walk through season of uncertainty, know that Jesus did as well. When you walk through seasons of sorrow and loss, Jesus did too. We have a Savior who understands.
Moreover, when you are in those seasons, cling to the Word of God. When the world and your emotions tell you to run from God and His Word, that is precisely the moment in which we should lean in and center ourselves upon the truths of Scripture. Jesus was hungry and tempted to turn the stones to bread. We will be tempted by satan. Yet, we must go to the Word at all times. The Word is our weapon to wield against satan and defeat him.
17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
We take up the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, the Bible. We defeat satan by knowing the Word and understanding the Word. Modern Christianity has become so flippant with the Bible that we have forgotten the power that it contains. It is the inerrant, infallible Word of God and we must know it in order to be prepared for satan’s attacks. If we do not know the Word, we will be susceptible to fall to sin. Study the Word in your home and daily lives to be prepared for the attacks of the enemy.
Be reminded of Martin Luther’s song A Mighty Fortress is Our God:
And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.
Know the Word of God.
Christians defeat temptations by affirming the authoritative protection of God.
Christians defeat temptations by affirming the authoritative protection of God.
After Jesus affirms the Word of God as sufficient as it contains the promises of God, satan moves to his next temptation wherein he seeks to call the protection of God into question.
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple
Now, satan takes Jesus to the holy city which is Jerusalem and sets Him on the top of the temple. This would have been the highest point in the city. And satan seeks to push Jesus into testing God.
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.’ ”
Again, satan calls into question the sonship of Jesus. He says, “If you are the Son of God.” Then, satan uses his tactic of quoting and misinterpreting Scripture just like he did in the Garden to Adam and Eve. Satan quotes Psalm 91 concerning God’s protection. That Psalm within Scripture affirms that God will protect those that belong to Him. He provides providential protect. This would apply also to His Son Jesus Christ. Satan seeks to question the protection of God. As he quotes these verses he is tempting Jesus to jump to prove that God’s protection. Jesus is hungry and weary. Yet, Jesus does not falter under the temptation of satan.
Going back to the Israelites in the wilderness. The Israelites were weary and under their testing in the wilderness the Israelites stumbled.
2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 And the Lord said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
The Israelites failed to trust in the protection of God. Jesus responds to satan with assurance and complete trust in God’s protection.
7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”
Jesus was obedient to God and did not turn from His obedience under the temptation and testing of satan. Where the Israelites failed, Jesus did not. Jesus trusted and affirmed God’s protection. We must affirm and trust in His protection as well.
Illustration: As October is Reformation month in which we remember the Protestant Reformation, I am reminded of men such as Martin Luther the Reformer from the 1500s. He recognized the Catholic church’s hypocrisy. They were selling indulgences claiming that by purchasing these slips of paper their loved ones could be purchased out of hell. Martin Luther could have sat idly by and let such twisting of Scripture take place. Instead, he trusted in God’s provision and protect and stood for the Word of God. He knew there would be a price to pay, yet he took a stand on the Word. As he was told to recant or back off of his statements regarding the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church Luther did not. He stood on the Word stating, “My conscience is held captive by the Word of God.”
Application: What a difference our lives and churches would look like if our consciences were held captive by God’s Word. We must trust in God’s protection and stand up to the temptations of satan. Though it may be ultimate protection that is salvation, His protection is certain for those who belong to Him. Moreover, we must not test God through disobedience. Jesus trusted in God’s provision and protection without putting it to the test by jumping off the pinnacle. We must trust in God’s provision and protection. When the world and culture tells us what to accept, we must stand firm the Word and trust God with the outcome. It is tough, but it is necessary. When temptations come and we are led to doubt God’s protection, we must go back to the Word and the promises of protection with faith and hope. Satan will make you doubt God’s protection. That is why so many are running from the church today. They fear that being a Christian will come at a great cost. Let me assure you. Being a Christian does come at a great cost. But, it also comes with an eternal reward. Though rejection from the world will be certain, God promises eternal protection in heaven with Him. We can trust in God’s ultimate protection and fight the good fight here on earth knowing we will be rejected yet ultimately eternally protected.
Christians defeat temptations by affirming the kingdom of God.
Christians defeat temptations by affirming the kingdom of God.
After Jesus has defeated two temptations of the devil, a third temptation ensues. Satan seeks to pull Jesus away from being faithful in establishing the Kingdom of God.
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
Satan takes Jesus to a high mountain and shows to Jesus all of the kingdoms of the world. In doing so, satan shows to Jesus all of their supposed glory. Notice, satan does not mention the sin of these kingdoms. While satan shows this to Jesus, he seeks to call for Jesus to turn to sin, specifically the worship of satan.
9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”
Satan promises that if Jesus will bow down to him, he will give Jesus all of these kingdoms. Jesus was promised all of the riches and materials of the world. Yet, Jesus is able to defeat this temptation once again and drive satan away. Jesus was not deceived by this offer of satan. He did not give an inch.
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.’ ”
Satan seeks to tempt Jesus with earthly power. This would allow for Jesus to have an earthly reign that would not result in His death on the cross. He would establish an earthly kingdom not an eternal kingdom. However, Jesus knows exactly what satan is doing here, and Jesus responds once again with the Word of God. This time, Jesus begins with a rebuke for satan to be gone and an affirmation of the call to worship God alone. Jesus rebukes satan. Such a temptation would appeal to the human nature of Jesus as He would be able to not endure the torture of the cross. Yet, this temptation had no appeal to the divine nature of Jesus as He was coming to save sinners from their slavery to sin. Jesus was the Messiah King and suffering Servant. He is both/and. He came to establish His eternal kingdom. In order to do so, He would have to be the suffering servant to purchase those that belong to His kingdom.
After rebuking and defeating Satan’s temptation, notice verse 11.
11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
The devil left in defeat. Then, the angels came and ministered to Jesus. They ministered to His hungry and physically weaken state.
Application: You see, It is easy to follow the culture of oneism and fall into the paganism that we see today. There is the worship of sports where parents and children each week worship at its altar instead of the church. The kingdom of sports is taking many people by storm. Moreover, the kingdom of acceptance is calling for many to abandon the truths of Scripture and accept what is blatantly called sin. The kingdom of ourselves has become evident as our sinfulness billows over time and time again. We do what is best for us instead of being discipline to follow Christ’s commands.
We must be aware of the various kingdoms that exist around us. Likewise, we must affirm the one true kingdom that is superior to every kingdom, the Kingdom of God. It will not fade away. It will not hide under a rock. It will not be hindered or crippled by man. Furthermore, the Kingdom of God will come to consummation. And when it does, every one will kneel at pay homage to the King. Those who reject Christ will bow bitterly before facing eternal judgment forever. Those who have placed their faith in Christ will bow with joy as they go to meet their Savior forever.
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
As these worldly kingdoms rise and give false promises and draw us away from God, we must look past the temptations of fame and fortune. We must cling to the kingdom affirming its truths knowing that in the end all the trouble, bruises, tough times, and persecutions were worth it because we are now in eternity with Christ.
We must affirm His Kingdom and not any other.
Conclusion
We face many different temptations and we fall time and time again. However, there is hope because Jesus was tempted and tried in every way that we are. Yet, He is without sin. Where you and I fall to sin as we are tempted, Jesus overcame sin. He was tempted yet never sinned in order that He would go to the cross of Calvary to be crucified in order to bear your sin and mine. He would then be buried in a borrowed tomb to raise victoriously after three days over sin and death.
Christian, are you in the Word? Are trusting God’s provision and protection in your life? Are you looking to build His kingdom above your own?