Matthew 4:1-11

I want to give a brief history lesson before we sing our next hymn. It is said that Martin Luther began the Reformation Movement. The Reformation was a movement to reform the Roman Catholic Church. Luther was a monk and theology professor. Seeing the abuses of some of the Roman Catholic priests he wrote them down on a sheet in hopes of having them addressed and corrected. However, leaders in the church didn’t like the list Luther had written. Luther taught that we are saved only through faith in Jesus and not by works. That doesn’t sound that revolutionary, but it got him arrested. Luther didn’t intend to break away from the Roman Catholic Church but was more or less driven out.

In addition to his desire to reform the church Luther also wanted to renew worship. Luther stated:

Next to the word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world. It controls our thought, minds, hearts, and spirits.

One of the hymns he wrote is the one we are going to sing next. I want to paraphrase it and then we are going to sing it – all four verses. The hymn is A Mighty Fortress Is Our God and is hymn number 26 if you want to follow along. It’s based on Psalm.

God is our mighty fortress that never fails. He’s helper when we are bombarded by trials. The devil, our ancient foe, is still doing all he can do against us. He power is great, and armed with cruel hate there is none on earth that can defeat him.

If we were to try to defeat him in our own power we would lose. But we have the right person on our side, the one that God has chosen. His name is Jesus, the Lord of Hosts, and he will win the battle.

Though this world is filled with demons that threaten to defeat us, we will not dear because God’s truth will bring us victory. The prince of darkness is grim, but we don’t need to fear him. We can endure his rage because we know his end is coming. He shall be defeated by one word.

That word is stronger that all the powers of earth. The Spirit and gifts are ours through him who lives within us. Don’t hold on to the things or people of this world or even to your own life. While the body might be killed, God’s truth remains. His kingdom is forever.

We are in Matthew 4 this evening and we’ll be watching our text in just a few minutes.

As I’ve mentioned before, I don’t make many references to movies because I don’t want to mention one I can’t recommend showing here at church. However, I’m going to break that rule this evening. I’m not going to mention the title though some may be able to guess. I’ve never seen the movie and don’t recommend you watch it either.

In this movie a young married couple travels to Las Vegas hoping to win enough money to finance a real estate deal. When they lose all their money they are approached by a billionaire with a proposal to give them a million dollars. And what does he want in return? He wants to spend one night with the wife. As crude or indecent as the proposal sounds, the couple spends the night thinking about it. They actually entertain the idea and in the end accept it. The husband goes home and while the wife flies off to a private yacht to spend the night with the billionaire.

What were their choices? Their choice was between fidelity and a million dollars. They could have the money or they could keep the commitment they made to each other at the altar. What choice would you make? It’s been said that everyone has a price. Is that true? Do you have a price?

The billionaire’s proposal seems farfetched, but let me ask you what are you willing to take to break the commitment you made to God when you were baptized? What is the price of our loyalty to God? How much are we will to sell our fidelity to God? The answer is we too often settle for far less than a million dollars. I’m not saying you should hold out for a million dollars, but we give into the temptations we face for much less. We are willing to break our relationship with God for only a few moments of pleasure. In the end we sell our loyalty to God for almost nothing. Our trust is pretty cheap and obedience is even cheaper. It takes so little to convince us to disobey God. How little it takes for us to choose self over our commitment to God. We are easily tempted and we easily give in to sin.

I wish I had an answer for why that it is so and how to stop it, but I don’t. In our text tonight, however, we see Jesus defeating temptation. He overcomes the temptations he faces and in the process shows us what we must do. Let’s go on and watch our text for tonight. If you’d like to follow along in your Bible we are in Matthew chapter 4 beginning with verse 1.

Matthew 4:1-11 VIDEO

As we continue our way through the book of Matthew let me remind you that Matthew is writing to Jews to prove that Jesus is the Messiah. He wants his readers to know that they can confidently place their faith in Jesus.

Last week we looked at the baptism of Jesus. When John indicated that he is the one who should be baptized by Jesus and not the other way around, Jesus said that he wanted to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness. Jesus was to do everything that was necessary to live a right relationship with God. And in his baptism Jesus identifies himself with us. Unlike Adam, unlike ancient Israel, and unlike us Jesus will be the faithful son who perfectly obeys the father.

Following his baptism Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit and declared to be the Son of God. God states that Jesus is his son whom he loves and in whom he is well pleased. Then Jesus is immediately led into the wilderness in order to fast for forty days and to be tempted by the devil.

Don’t you think that’s a strange welcome? God publically proclaims Jesus as his son and then has Jesus led into the wilderness where he won’t eat for a month and then when Jesus is at his weakest Satan will be allowed to tempt him. I would expect that God, after declaring Jesus to be his son would protect him, but that’s not what God does. And this is not the first time this happens.

Jesus is not the first person to be called God’s son in scripture. Adam is described as God’s son in the Garden and is called that Luke 3:38. Israel is also called God’s son. Shortly after each of them is identified as God’s son they are allowed to face a test. Adam was tempted in the garden to eat from a tree he was told not to eat from and the Israelites were led into the wilderness where they too were tested. The question for both was the same: Would they trust God and obey him? Would they remain faithful to God or would they place their desires about God’s commands? As we know, both sons failed the test. Adam sold his fidelity to God for a bite of fruit and the Israelites refused to trust God. The leading of Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted then follows the pattern God had already established.

We might wonder why this was necessary. Why was Jesus led into the wilderness to be tested? To answer that question we must first understand that God wasn’t doing the tempting. God allowed it, but he didn’t do it. James tells us:

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)

So Jesus is led, just as we’re told the Israelites were, into the wilderness to be tested. In Deuteronomy 8 Moses tells us why the Israelites were led into the desert.

Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. (Deuteronomy 8:2)

For the Israelites the purpose of the testing was to see if they would trust and obey God. God will allow us to be tested to see what’s in our hearts. It’s not that he doesn’t know, but we don’t know until we are tested. We don’t know if we will trust and obey God until we are tested. We don’t know what it feels like to trust and obey God until we come to a point when we are forced to make that decision. I can say I trust God and it’s easy for me to say I’ll obey him no matter what, but until I am faced with a situation in my life where I have to actually put what I’ve said into practice I don’t know what I’ll do. And once I’ve actually trusted him and obeyed him my faith is made stronger. In the same way Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tested.

We might think that it’s a forgone conclusion that Jesus wouldn’t give in to these temptations, but how do we know? How would Jesus know? We know because he did face them and overcame them. Hebrews tells us:

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. (Hebrews 4:15)

In these temptations God proves to all that Jesus is the faithful and obedient son.

We also need to remember that these were temptations for Jesus. We remember the temptations: turn a stone into bread, jump down from the highest point of the temple, and worship Satan. I can confidently say that I have never given into any of these temptations and my guess is that you haven’t either. Then again I’ve never been tempted to turn a stone into bread, jump off the temple or bow at the feet of Jesus. But for Jesus these were real temptations.

The temptations start when Satan says, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” In the Greek Satan isn’t so much questioning “if” Jesus is the Son of God, but what that means. It might be translated as “Since you are the Son of God why not take advantage of it and make some bread to satisfy your hunger.” Since Jesus later turned water into wine we know it would have been possible for him to turn a stone into a piece of bread. But what was the problem with them? He was hungry. He hadn’t eaten in over in a month. What would be wrong with making some bread from a stone or better yet a thick steak with a baked potato?

The problem is Jesus would have been putting his own desires ahead of what God had called him to do. Jesus had been led into the desert to fast. In fasting we deny ourselves food as a physical way of showing our dependence on God, a dependence that’s expressed in obedience. A fast teaches us to depend on God. The temptation was to depend on himself rather than on God.

Isn’t this similar to the temptation presented to Adam and Eve? Did they need God? The serpent said the fruit would allow them to be like God. If they were like God they wouldn’t need him so they ate. But instead of finding the wisdom they were looking for they found death.

How often are we tempted to depend on ourselves instead of depending on God? How often are we tempted to obey our own desires rather than to obey God and his word? Perhaps this temptation shows up most in our prayer life and Bible reading. Do we pray like we really need God or do we wait to pray when something big happens in our lives? Do we read God’s word each day like knowing and obeying it really is necessary? Do I really believe that and does it show in my daily habits? Someone compared many Christian’s response to the Bible to the way children respond to the news. There’s probably something important there but I they don’t think they can understand it and they’d rather watch something entertaining like a cartoon. We are all tempted to live life on our own terms.

And how does Jesus respond to this temptation? Jesus is going to counter each temptation the say way, he’s going to quote scripture. In this instance Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy 8, the verse immediately following the one where Moses talks about God leading the people into the wilderness to be tested.

2Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3He 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. (Deuteronomy 8:2-3)

These are the words Jesus quotes to combat Satan’s temptation and he passes the test the Israelites fail. Jesus knows that obedience to God is more important than food or comfort.

The second test seems to begin immediately after the first one. The devil takes Jesus to Jerusalem and to the highest point on the temple. Jesus quoted scripture so now the devil will as well.

“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.’ ” (Matthew 4:6)

This quote is from Psalm 91. This psalm talks about how God is our refuge and how he protects us. The temptation is to see if God really loves Jesus. Since Jesus is God’s son surely God will protect him if he falls. The devil is tempting to doubt the Father’s commitment to him. “Let’s just run a little experiment to see if God really loves you.” This is a test of trust. Will Jesus trust God? We aren’t strangers to this temptation either. Where are you tempted not to trust God? What triggers doubt in your life? Where do you find yourself wanting proof of God’s goodness before you are willing to step out in faith? Do you desire some sign to prove you aren’t wasting your time?

When the Israelites were led into the wilderness it was after they had been delivered from slavery to the Egyptians by God who had proven his might in the ten plagues. It was after God had taken them across the Red Sea on dry land. It was after he had provided water for them from a rock. It was after God had provided manna. And it was after he had delivered his commands through Moses on the top of a fiery mountain. Yet after all of this they grumbled and quarreled. And then when faced with the decision to trust God and enter into the Promised Land they doubted God’s provision and listened to the bad report of the ten spies.

1That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! 3Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” (Numbers 14:1-4)

After all the signs God had given them they doubted God’s commitment to them. After all that God has done for us in Jesus do we doubt God’s commitment to us? Satan wants us to doubt if we can really trust God.

How does Jesus respond? Jesus again quotes scripture, this time from Deuteronomy 6.

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Matthew 4:7)

Jesus is demonstrating his trust in his Father which is the point of Psalm 91 which the devil quotes. The whole point of the psalm which the devil misapplies is that we can trust God to be our refuge.

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:2)

Do we trust God? Jesus trusted his Father without having to put him to the test.

Then the devil takes Jesus out to a high mountain where he could see for miles in every direction. Satan then promises to give Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. There was only one small catch. All would be his and all he had to do was bow down and worship the devil.

What we have to ask is if this is even possible. Does the devil even have the ability to give Jesus all the kingdoms of the world? Or is Satan just telling Jesus a lie? I think Satan had to have been telling the truth or else it wouldn’t have been a temptation. Again, these were very real temptations for him. Paul described the devil as “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4) and “the ruler of the kingdom of the air” (Ephesians 2:2).

In this temptation the devil goes all in and puts his best offer on the table. In effect the devil asks, “What’s your price? How much will it cost for your loyalty, commitment, and obedience?” If Jesus had worshiped Satan all the kingdoms of the earth would immediately been his. If he stayed committed to the Father it was going to lead to the cross. Satan was offering Jesus what he wanted without the pain and suffering. That’s the ultimate test.

Satan was asking Jesus what his price was. What’s our price? How much are we willing to sell our loyalty to God for especially if suffering is on the line? How much are we willing to even be inconvenienced for the sake of God? Our desire for comfort and self-preservation are so strong that we will do most anything to avoid suffering. We might like the idea of denying ourselves for God, but it is not natural for us. No one wants to be made fun of or persecuted because of their faith in God. We are all like Peter on the night of Jesus’ trial; we talk a big game, but quickly wilt in when the heat comes.

How does Jesus respond to this test of his loyalty with an offer to escape suffering? He again quotes scripture and again from Deuteronomy 6. In that passage Moses is preparing to enter into the Promised Land where they will receive the blessings God had promised to Abraham.

10When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you – a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, 11houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant – then when you eat and are satisfied, 12be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 13Fear the Lord your God, serve [or worship] him only and take your oaths in his name. (Deuteronomy 6:10-13)

Of course we know that Israelites did turn their backs on God. When things got easy and they no longer had to rely on God they stopped relying on God. Then they made treaties with the enemies of God and started serving their idols. The Israelites gave into the temptation, but Jesus the faithful son overcame the temptation.

Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. (Matthew 4:11)

However, this third test is one that Jesus will have to face again in the Garden of Gethsemane. The ultimate test of his obedience will be the cross. He will again face a time to doubt his father’s goodness. Would his own will to skip the cross be greater than his will to obey God? But unlike Adam who failed in the first garden, unlike the Israelites who failed in the wilderness, and unlike us who fail pretty regularly, we know that Jesus is loyal even to the point of dying on a cross. He prayed:

My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done. (Matthew 26:42)

Jesus obeyed, he trusted, and on the cross he lays down his righteous life for ours finally defeating Satan. Through faith in him we too can live as faithful children of God.

Sometimes the lesson taken from this passage is that like Jesus we must memorize scripture to battle sin. Memorizing and meditating on God’s word is beneficial and aids us in our battle against temptation. We’re told that in Psalm 119. The psalmist writes:

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (Psalm119:11)

But if that’s all we learn from this story about the temptation of Jesus then we’re putting all the results for victory on ourselves and Jesus didn’t really need to die. All we needed to do was memorize a few verses, or may even memorize the whole Bible. But it would all be based on what we’ve done and not on what Jesus did for us. Do you know how that will end? It will end the same way it did for Adam and the same way it did for the Israelites. There’s only one hero in this story and it’s not us, it’s Jesus. He’s the one that stronger that the devil. He’s the one who did what we can’t do. So we must come to him in faith. Then this passage becomes a model for our obedience. We must acknowledge our weaknesses and our total dependence on Jesus. Only then are we able to follow his example because only through faith in Jesus that we are cleansed of our sin and given God’s Spirit which enables us to walk in obedience which is what Jesus calls us to do.

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 4:17)

Jesus calls us to leave our lives of sin, resist the temptations of the devil, and follow after him. Being saved by grace does not give us permission to sin but power to obey.

Let me ask again, what is your price? What are you willing to take in order to compromise your commitment to God? Do we take sin seriously? Do we fight temptation? How great is our resolve to serve God only?