Jesus is Tempted

Mark 1:12–13 (KJV 1900):

12 And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. 13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

Matthew 4:1–11 (KJV 1900):

4 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Luke 4:1-13 (KJV 1900)

4 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. 4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. 5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: 10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: 11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

Introduction

Jesus who is fully man is tempted like all human beings

Born under the law

Tempted to sin against God

Other accounts of this in the Gospel

Matthew 4:1-11

Luke 4:1-13

These are more detailed accounts

Temptation is like a knife, that may either cut the meat or the throat of a man; it may be his food or poison.

John Owen (Puritan Divine and Statesman)

How does Jesus deal with temptation?

Let’s look at 3 factors in the way He responds to temptation

The wilderness

A place of refuge as well as danger

The walk

Walking in the Spirit

The Word

Knowing scripture to combat temptation

The wilderness as a negative

WILDERNESS [Heb. miḏbār]

As a physical location

Uninhabited land

Often referred to as desert

Also known as uncultivated land

A harsh place to exist

as a theological concept

the comparison of our own lives, heart, or mind to the existence in the wilderness

a place of harshness, danger, uncertainty

a place of death and suffering

a place of surviving vs thriving

The wilderness as a positive

God uses the wilderness to bring us back to Him

It is place of redemption and refuge

A place of provision and protection

A place of reliance and surrender

It is a place where we are both tested and tempted

The Greek word peirizo

Means either “I tempt” or “I test”

To tempt is to get you to act contrary to God’s will

To test is to prove we are faithfull to our Lord

A place where we are taught:

Who we are

Who God is

That we can trust God

That we cant trust ourselves

From this point it becomes a place of repentance and restoration

How can I look to be at home in the enemy’s country, joyful while in exile, or comfortable in a wilderness? This is not my rest. This is the place of the furnace and the forge and the hammer.

Charles Spurgeon

Walking with the Holy Spirit

See how Jesus is lead into the the wilderness

How Jesus allows the Spirit to guide His steps

He allows Himself to be lead into a harsh environment

See how he is sustained by the Spirit

See how He is protected and provided for

See how while He is alone in a uninhabited place that:

He is not alone!

He communes with the Father and the Spirit

See how the Spirit prepares Him for His public ministry

3 short volatile years

Full of pain and suffering

Hunger, rejection, beatings, and open hostility

Ending in a violent death

The most painful way to die known to man

See how the Spirit provides for and supports Him

John 15: 26-27 26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

John 16: 7-11 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

The Word

Notice how Jesus quotes scripture as a response to temptation

Knowing the “it is written” will keep you from being bitten by the serpent of old

There is no substitute of reading the the Bible

There is no substitute for memorizing scripture

We need to be saying “the Bible Says” more often

An “I believe “, less or not at all

To depend completely on God’s word

As opposed to our own corrupted thoughts and emotions

Psalm 119: 9-11 9  Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee.

Matthew 4:4 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Conclusion

We are often tempted in the wilderness periods of our lives

During times of great loss

Times of uncertainty and doubt

Times of change and transition

We are tempted to:

Doubt God

To become angry , bitter, resentful

To rely on our own resources

Our feelings

Our own wisdom

Our own provision

Other people or programs

To deliver us from our peril

Jesus is the only one who will never let you down

As we traverse the wilderness there are 2 destinations at the end of the trail

Either the grave or grace

We can not save ourselves

Ephesians 2:8-9

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10

We must rely on God to save us

He has given us the road map of the Bible

And the compass of the Holy Spirit

To show us the way out of the wilderness

It it the Word and the walk that leads out of the wilderness

Into the promised land

That bring us to the mercy seat to receive grace instead of the grave

Invitation

Today set before you is the choice

The grave or grace

Redemption or reproach

Deliverance or death

Choose Jesus Christ and live

Reject Jesus Christ and die in your sins

Choose Jesus and be delivered out of the wilderness

Reject Jesus and die in the wilderness due to your unbelief

Romans 10:9-13

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.