5: When Temptation Visits (Matthew 4:1-11)

OPENER I love salt water fishing. A few years ago I had one of my best fishing days ever. A week before, I didn't have much success as I watched every type of bait into the water that I had: jigs, top-water plugs, gold spoons, and more. But the next week was altogether different. You see, a friend of mine had chartered a boat with a professional fisherman. He took mental notes on where the fish were and how to best catch them. And so we took that wisdom and set off for about 10 foot of water. Rather than use a fake bait, we used the real thing - live pin fish under a popping cork. I can't remember when I've had more fun. The colorful cork would submerge & fly through the water sideways. We would set the hook, hear the drag scream, and eventually land the gator trout. (caveman grunt) Man, I get excited just talking about it!

These fish were much OLDER & much BIGGER than I had been used to catching with fake bait. Maybe the reason why these fish had not been caught was because they could tell the fake stuff from the real stuff. So why were WE catching them? It’s simple really. We gave them what they wanted, but it was attached to something they didn’t want - something they couldn’t see - the hook.

Had they had known about the hook, it's doubtful they would've taken the bait.

So too, When Temptation visits, we don’t often look for the hook. We see something that we want and we take a bite without considering the consequences. Sometimes we can dislodge the hook, but not without a fight and lingering scars.

When Temptation Visits, different people respond different ways.

Some of us have given in so many times that our consciences are like calloused fingers - no longer sensitive to the pain. When temptation visits, we quickly bite the bait.

(When temptation visits) Some of us have learned from the past. It’s been a while since we have tasted the bait, but When temptation visits, we are still drawn to take a quick peak.

But what it we were fully aware…that the bait - even if it’s real - is hanging from a HOOK.

When was the last time temptation came for a visit?

How did it turn out? Did you swim off, take a bite, or just check it out from a distance?

What will you do the next time?

Today we discover how Jesus overcame temptation and what that means for us.

First, this should encourage you to know that it’s NOT sin to BE tempted. If it were, then Jesus would have sinned and would not be an adequate Savior for you and me. Every human being will be tempted. The only question is whether or not we will resist or bow When Temptation Visits.

The old Chinese proverb says: "You cannot keep the bird from flying over your head, but you can keep it from nesting in your hair."

[Context] You will remember that last week we saw that Jesus was baptized by John: the Holy Spirit descended on Him & God the Father said, "This is my son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased." (Mt 3:17)

Jesus has been baptized, empowered by the Spirit encouraged by the Father, and now it’s time to for the 2nd Adam - Jesus, to do what the 1st Adam couldn’t, resist temptation.

So, the Scripture says...

Matthew 4:1–2 (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.

Jesus didn’t stumble into the wilderness. Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, a place He would be for 40 days & 40 nights. I don’t how long you’ve camped out, but 40 days outside is a LONG TIME…especially with NO FOOD!

This is reminiscent of Moses, 1400 years prior, being with God 40 days and nights without food or water as he chiseled out the commandments on the stone tablets (Ex. 34:28).

So too, Elijah fasted for 40 days as he traveled into the wilderness to the mountain of God (1 Kgs. 19:8).

[VIDEO] This wilderness was not full of trees and rivers. NOPE. Here’s a brief video of what this area currently looks like in the wilderness (near the Dead Sea).

Jesus, no doubt, spent much of that time in prayer, song, and struggling to focus on eternal issues while his bellied rumbled.

And Jesus wasn’t alone. He was specifically there to be tempted by the devil. In fact, Dr. Luke says it this way:

Luke 4:1–2a (NIV)

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.

The term devil is the Greek term diabolos (διάβολος) literally meaning “slanderer”.

This is the one who tempted Adam & Eve…and they disobeyed God in the garden. And ever since that ancient time this slanderer has been perfecting his temptation techniques on Adam’s family - those created in the image of God. And NOW he gets his shot at his Creator - in human form. John 1:3 says that Jesus created ALL THINGS and Col 1 says this:

Colossians 1:15–16 (CSB)

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through Him and for Him.

Firstborn is referring to Jesus’ authority over all, since everything was created by Him.

The visible and invisible that Jesus created would include angels and fallen angels - like the Slanderer.

But now the tables are turned. The Devil who is a spirit, never needs a nap, never looks for a meal, and is never impacted by earthly climate like heat, cold, wind, or rain.

But Jesus has stepped out of heaven and put on skin. He IS now susceptible to being tired, being impacted by the heat, cold, wind, & rain…and…able to get HUNGRY.

The powerful Slanderer approaches the Human Creator for a battle royal.

This reminds me Rocky III, as the bigger, younger fighter - Clubber Lang (aka. Mr. T) snarls at Rocky with these boastful words, “Gonna bust you up.”

The smaller and older fighter, Rocky responds, “Go for it.”)

The bell rings & the 40 day battle begins. The tempter who has knocked out so many sons of Adam, now faces the ONE the apostle Paul refers to as “the last Adam” (1 Cor 15:45-47) or - as I like to say - Adam 2.0.

Here’s how Jesus, God in human skin, responds when Temptation visits.

Matthew 4:3 (NIV)

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

You could easily how someone having not eaten for 40 days could imagine some of these rocks to look like bread. And if Jesus is the Son of God, the most powerful human being on the planet, couldn’t he have turned these rocks into bread? Did Jesus ever do anything miraculous with food before? YEP! How about turning a boy’s meal into a feast for thousands!

Jesus was hungry…JUST LIKE YOU WOULD BE after not eating for 40 days.

And so the devil capitalizes on a human’s most powerful desire - food.

”So YOU’RE the One who is greater than all others? PROVE IT! After 40 days you must be famished! Don’t sacrifice the desires of Your body. You don’t have to. Just turn this stone into bread.”

So THIS is the temptation: Tell these stones to become bread? What’s wrong with THAT?

Well, there’s something more to this suggestion, an undercurrent flowing that we can’t see. Jesus knows it is not yet time to eat. There is something MORE IMPORTANT than feeding Himself.

Fully human, Jesus is waiting for the Father to provide for His physical needs. The accuser is suggesting that the Father didn’t have His best interests in mind. So the devil uses - quite literally - ‘the oldest trick in the book’.

The tempter tells Jesus to....

TEMPTATION #1: Doubt Father’s Faithfulness & Satisfy Yourself.

That’s the same temptation we face. It’s the same temptation that caused Adam & Eve to fall…and it’s the same trick used today -

The enemy whispers “It’s been so long! Why wait on…food, sex, money, position, power? God’s trying to keep you from something good. If He really loved you, He wouldn’t keep you from THIS. Don’t wait on Him. After all, you deserve this…NOW! Satisfy yourself.”

How many have not been willing to wait on God’s timing for marriage and intimacy and gone off to sow their wild oats?

How many have not been willing to work hard & trust God to provide, but have instead robbed others so they wouldn’t have to wait?

But Jesus wouldn’t bite the bait, because He saw the HOOK. So...

Matthew 4:4 (NIV)

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Jesus is quoting from Deut 8:3 from 1400 years before when Moses speaks to the Jewish people about to enter the Promised Land.

Like Jesus, there was a time when the people of Yahweh were hungry in the wilderness, yet Yahweh provided for their needs.

Deuteronomy 8:3 (NIV)

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Although Yahweh God had provided manna for his people in the wilderness for 40 years, He reminds them that food only sustains the stomach for a moment, but it does not satisfy the soul.

Trusting God’s words is what satisfies the soul.

Bread satisfies the stomach, but knowing and doing God’s word satisfies the soul. This is why, “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

This is the heartbeat of Jesus - to trust the Father & obey His words. Later in His ministry the disciples notice that Jesus is once again hungry and they are concerned about him needing to eat. Jesus responds, “My food…is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (Jn. 4:34)

So even now - 40 days without food -

Trusting the Father’s HEART, Jesus will wait on the Father’s HAND.

How Jesus responded showed Who Jesus trusted. This is true for us too.

When temptation visits Jesus is able to overcome, because...

BIG TRUTH: TRUST CONQUERS TEMPTATION

REPEAT THAT WITH ME...

Stop doubting the Father’s faithfulness. Trust and obey while you wait for His provision to meet your needs.

That BAIT didn’t work, so the slanderer throws out the next lure, and this one is more camouflaged for the Christian.

Matthew 4:5–6 (NIV)

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.’” [Ps 91:11-12]

Did you get THAT? THE DEVIL quoted Scripture.

Satan quotes Scripture to the ONE who authored it.

Here’s a heads up for us: if Satan tries the twist the Scripture with the Author of Scripture…then he will certainly throw the same bait our way.

It’s hard to see the HOOK in this lure, but here it is. Satan attempts to...

TEMPTATION #2: Twist the intention of Scripture.

Ps 91 doesn’t promise that the Father would protect Jesus, or us, from doing stupid stuff. Jumping from a high building and expecting God to catch you isn’t TRUSTING God, it’s TESTING God. That’s not faith, that’s Foolishness.

The whole Psalm is about TRUSTING God (Ps 91:2), but the slanderer attempts to TWIST the intention of the Scripture on its head.

Jesus didn’t bite the bait, and neither should we. Instead...

Matthew 4:7 (NIV)

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” [Deut 6:16]

When the Devil twisted the intention of Scripture, Jesus quickly counters with what is clear from Scripture. Jesus will TRUST the Father instead of putting Him to the TEST.

The Devil continues this tactic today and thousands of people have no discernment and are lulled to sleep by those who misuse the Scripture because it tickles what their ears want to hear. The enemy has tricked people for hundreds of years using this tactic - if people are going to READ the Bible, the enemy wants them to MISREAD the Bible.

False teachings like those from Word/Faith, Mormonism, & Jehovah’s Witness do this very thing - TWISTING the intention of Scripture to lead people AWAY from the Biblical Jesus.

Like Jesus, we must learn how to rightly interpret & apply Scripture.

We recently finished a 7-lesson series called “Trusting The Word of God” where we spent 3 of those weeks learning how to rightly interpret Scripture. I encourage you to go back and check it out from our APP or WEBSITE. (https://bit.ly/WordOfGodSeries)

What do you do when others Twist the intention of Scripture?

Bite the bait?

Or do you see it for what it is - One of the Devil’s greatest tricks? If He used it on Jesus…he’ll use it on you.

Will you go back to the Bible and see what it says and means? Will you warn others of this Devilish tactic?

Once again we see how Jesus responds when temptation visits.

BIG TRUTH: TRUST CONQUERS TEMPTATION

Jesus TRUSTS the Scriptures instead of TWISTING the Scriptures.

Well...Different fish respond to different baits, so the devil re-baits the hook and throws it out again.

Matthew 4:8–9 (NIV)

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.”

Dr. Luke’s gospel adds that the devil says, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.  If you worship me, it will all be yours.” (Luke 4:5-6).

Jesus looks out over the vast amount of land ruled by others - as far as the eye can see (probably then & future). The devil claims all the kingdoms of the world have been given to him. While Jesus later refers to the devil as “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11), meaning his evil influence dominates the nations of the world, that doesn’t mean He is the ultimate authority. (after all someone gave him this authority)

The Scripture declares that all belongs to God. But the prideful Father of lies offers something he doesn’t really have. He is not the ultimate ruler. God is. But the accuser is simply baiting the hook by saying...

“Look Jesus. We all know the plan is for You to be King. Let’s just speed up the process. Sidestep the suffering and take the throne. And all you have to do is (HERE’S THE HOOK): bow your knee to me.”

The devil lies, saying that Jesus didn’t need to follow the plan that would save others. Jesus could be large and in charge immediately.

TEMPTATION #3: Pursue the Crown & Bypass the Cross

Michael Wilkins writes: “What a cruel enticement! Those kingdoms are the very reason Jesus has laid aside his own glory. His ultimate purpose is to gather the nations into the kingdom of God (cf. 25:31–34). But before he sits on his royal throne, he must hang on the cross. So the devil offers a shortcut.”

[Michael J. Wilkins, Matthew, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2004), 160.]

What if Jesus took THAT shortcut and bit that bait? We would have no hope. If not for His suffering, you and I would have NO salvation! If Jesus took the CROWN and bypassed the CROSS, then we would still be in our sin with NO PAYMENT for our sins.

But Jesus would have none of it. He will be the suffering servant before He becomes the conquering king. And regardless of the offer, He will bow to none other.

Matthew 4:10-11 (NIV)

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” [Deut 6:13] Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Satan is the term for adversary or enemy. Jesus has had enough of His enemy and it’s time for him to go with his tail between his legs.

Jesus was so drained that angels came and attended to him.

Once again, notice how Jesus counters the devil...with Scripture. (Deut. 6:13 Worship Yahweh)

Are you getting the idea that Scripture is a pretty big deal to Jesus?

How significant is the Scripture in your life? Do you read it? Do you memorize it? Do you obey it? Or do you make the childish claim, “I don’t have enough time.”

Those who don’t have enough time for God’s Scripture are primed to be picked off by the enemy.

They are much more likely to give into the suggestion to Pursue the Crown & Bypass the Cross. Taking up the cross and following Jesus will cost you. To worship the Lord your God and serve Him only will cost something - a friendship, a girlfriend/boyfriend, the high of a habit; it could cost you a job, or a prominent position. And those who don’t know or trust God’s Word will choose to PROSPER rather than suffer - to Pursue the Crown & Bypass the Cross.

And whether they know it or not, they bow their knee to the Devil.

When Temptation Visits you have a choice - to bite the bait....OR lean on the Lord knowing that...

BIG TRUTH: TRUST CONQUERS TEMPTATION

QUESTION: What is the long-term benefit of your TRUST or the long-term consequence of your lack of trust in God?

Do you sense God’s Presence or does He seem distant?

Are you living in purity & freedom OR sin & guilt?

Do you have purpose, or are you wandering aimlessly trying to find something to fill that hole in your soul?

Jesus did more than just kick the devil’s tail when He was tempted. Look at what the Scriptures declare it means for us!

Hebrews 2:14–16 (NIV)

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels He helps, but Abraham’s descendants.

Hebrews 2:17–18 (NIV)

For this reason He had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 4:15–16 (NIV)

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

This is our great hope! Until the day Jesus returns and our sin nature is destroyed once and for all, we can bring our struggles to His feet and ask for His help. After all, Jesus is our merciful high priest who understands our struggles; our Undefeated Champion who has given His sinless life to pay for our sinful lives and set us free!

So, the next time temptation visits, may we remember and act on this BIG TRUTH - that...

BIG TRUTH: TRUST CONQUERS TEMPTATION

Let’s conclude today’s teaching with...

5 Step Prep for When Temptation Visits…

Seek Jesus for forgiveness & help. Those who TRUST Jesus, those who repent of their sin - receive the GIFT of the Holy Spirit - the SAME Holy Spirit that lived in Jesus! He lives IN you and will empower you to live in righteousness.

Study the Scripture. Wonder what God’s view is? You probably know way down deep inside your soul…but take time to examine the Scripture. You can’t DO what God says if you don’t KNOW what God says.

Make wise choices. (Don’t be Dumb) You know when you are most tempted. Don’t put yourself in a tough situation. Don’t spend a bunch of time with peers who are a bad influence. Don’t go to places where you are likely to fall to temptation.

Find the Escape Hatch. 1 Cor. 10:13 says God will provide a way out of temptation. Maybe it’s leaving the location. Go find something GOOD to participate in. Find the escaped hatch and run away from sin!

Tell a brother/sister. Sin grows in the dark. Will you tell a fellow believer about your struggle? He or she can pray for you & help you. How does Satan bait your hook? Tell them. Most people don’t do this…until it’s TOO LATE.

What if those who claimed to follow Jesus…actually DID, follow His example and seeking His help!?

Oh how many families could have been salvaged instead of shipwrecked.

Oh how many self-destructive actions could have been detoured. O

h how many could have lived in forgiveness and grace instead of fear & shame!

So, the next time temptation visits, may we remember and act on this BIG TRUTH - that...

BIG TRUTH: TRUST CONQUERS TEMPTATION

We want to help you -

STAFF

DEACONS/WIVES or another brother/sister

Right now we are going to enter into a RESPONSE TIME, where you are welcome to grab a friend or family member and come pray together, or pray where you’re at, or sing to the King, or simply talk to the Lord right where you are.

I’ll be available to talk as well as the rest of our staff and deacons/wives. Come forward and let us know how we can help you or pray for you.

_____________

Michael J. Wilkins, Matthew, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2004), 133–134.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Take some time to discuss these questions with your family, friends, or group.

What challenged or encouraged you most from today’s teaching? (You might need to look back in your notes to help explain your answer.)

Read Matthew 3:1-6. What are signs of real repentance versus lip service? What does it mean to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance”? (Mt 3:8)

Read Matthew 3:7-9. How might you point to John’s baptism of Jewish people when you meet someone who thinks they are in right relationship with God because of their family’s religious background or good works?

Read Matthew 3:10-12. Discuss the two outcomes of how people respond to Jesus.

Read Matthew 3:13-17. Why was Jesus baptized and how is the Trinity referred to in this passage?

Today’s BIG TRUTH is based on John’s message to warn of God’s wrath & offer God’s peace. Why is it important to share about BOTH - God’s wrath & God’s peace?

Share prayer needs and pray for one another.