The King is Tempted

Call to Worship: Ps. 8:1-9

Psalm 8:1–9 ESV

1 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? 5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, 7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 9 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Introduction: Last week we saw John the Baptist announcing the arrival of the Kingdom of Heaven and urging people to repent. On Wednesday night, we looked at the rest of chapter 3, including Jesus’ baptism by John. We saw that Jesus’ baptism—in the context of John’s announcement that the Kingdom has arrived—sort of functions as an anointing of the King. At the end of chapter 3, the Father announces from heaven “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” And yet, twice in the passage we’ll see today, Satan says to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God...”

It’s the same old tactic that Satan used in the Garden of Eden against Adam and Eve—“Did God really say…?”

And, it’s the same tactic he still uses on us today. And, it’s been wildly successful! Because the fact is that none of us love God and his Kingdom as we ought to, and we’re all to easily tempted to believe that God really doesn’t have our best interest at heart, and we’re better off trusting ourselves than trusting God.

But Jesus shows us a better way. Where the first Adam fell, the second Adam succeeds. And through his success, he opens the door for us to resist the temptations that Satan throws at us, as well.

Text: Mat 4:1-11

Matthew 4:1–11 ESV

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.

The Spirit is present in the wilderness.

Usually, when we think of being “led by the Spirit” or “filled with the Spirit” we think of positive, mountaintop kind of experiences.

But, Scripture says that this wilderness testing Jesus endured was from the Spirit!

Matthew 4:1 ESV

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Luke 4:1 ESV

1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness

Mark even says that the Spirit “drove” Jesus into the wilderness!

Mark 1:12 ESV

12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.

All of us will be led by the Spirit into the wilderness in our lives.

Jesus’ testing in the wilderness is meant to remind us of the stories of God’s people being tested and tried in the wilderness.

Israel’s Wandering--the Israelites’ 40 years in the desert (Num 14:33–34)

Moses--Jesus’ 40-day fast recalls Moses’ 40 days on the mountain (Exod 24:18)

Elijah--Elijah’s 40 days at Mount Horeb (1 Kgs 19:1–8)

David—While David was likely a teenager when he was first anointed king, his ascent to king over all Israel in Jerusalem didn’t happen until he was 30 years old. (2 Sam. 5:4-5) During the intervening time, he spent many years fleeing from Saul’s attempts to kill him.

The fact that you are in the wilderness and find yourself being tempted and tested does not necessarily mean that you are not exactly where God wants you to be.

For our English words “tempt” and “test,” there is only one underlying word in Greek: peirazo. This Greek word reflects a time of difficulty and trial, but this time of difficulty and trial is used by God and Satan differently.

God means this wilderness wandering to test your faith.

To prove your faith

1 Peter 1:6–7 ESV

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

‘trials’ is peirasmos, while ‘tested genuineness’ probably means ‘demonstrated genuineness’ or ‘proved genuineness.’

Proverbs 17:3 ESV

3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.

To improve your faith

James 1:2–4 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

2 Corinthians 1:9 ESV

9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

Just as God used difficulties to increase the faith of Paul, so he will do for you.

To provide an opportunity to bless you.

James 1:12 ESV

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Satan will use this wilderness wandering to tempt you.

Satan uses situations and circumstances in your life, combined with your own sinful nature, to tempt you into doubt and disobedience to God.

While God’s design is for your good, Satan and your own flesh will try to twist the situation into your destruction.

James 1:13–15 ESV

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Romans 7:11 ESV

11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.

Do not be ignorant of Satan’s schemes. The same ploys he used on Adam and Eve, on the Israelites in the wilderness, on David, and on Jesus he will use on you.

Temptation 1: To doubt God’s Provision.

Matthew 4:2–4 ESV

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.’ ”

Satan strikes at our felt needs.

Satan’s first temptation is directed straight towards Jesus’ immense physical needs.

And, Satan tempts Jesus with a legitimate physical need, one of the most basic necessities!

Satan often tempts us with legitimate needs—love, intimacy, money, respect, rest, etc.

To the one struggling to make ends meet, he says, “God isn’t providing for you. You need to take matters into your own hands.”

And to others he says, “You deserve better than this. Look at what everyone else has.”

To the spouse he says, “You deserve someone who will love and respect you. You deserve to have your needs met.”

Satan doesn’t play fair. He hits below the belt.

When the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, they had a legitimate need for food and water. But, rather than plead with God and trust him to provide, they grumbled and complained.

Exodus 16:2–3 ESV

2 And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3 and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

They refused to believe that God would provide, and they refused to believe that what God had promised would be better. They couldn’t see it, so they didn’t believe it.

Jesus shows us that God will provide.

Jesus’ response comes from Deut. 8:3

Deuteronomy 8:2–10 ESV

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. 4 Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you. 6 So you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him. 7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, 8 a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, 9 a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. 10 And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.

We have a tendency to focus on what we lack and completely overlook all the ways God has provided.

In the same way, think of all the trees in the Garden of Eden that God provided for Adam and Eve to eat from. He banned only one tree, and yet that was the very tree they couldn’t resist. They walked straight past the Tree of Life and all the others to get to the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

God will provide. You can take him at his word.

Jesus himself is proof that God keeps his word. Whenever you are tempted to doubt God’s provision in the midst of your needs, remember what all God has done for you.

Romans 8:31–32 ESV

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Temptation 2: To question God’s Plan.

Matthew 4:5–7 ESV

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.’ ”

Satan knows how to twist Scripture.

He quotes Psalm 91:11-12

Psalm 91:11–12 ESV

11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

Satan probably knows Scripture better than you do.

He knows how to twist it around in ways that tell you what you want to hear.

Psalm 91 is about God’s protection of those who follow him, and has some strong Messianic overtones.

Psalm 91:9–12 ESV

9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— 10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

One of Satan’s favorite tools is to take Scripture out of context.

A great many people have been deceived into following false Messiahs, cults, and false religions because they were not able to discern the lies amongst the truth.

This is the error of the Prosperity Gospel and many other false teachings.

While out of context, Psalm 91:11-12 sound like no harm could possibly befall the Messiah, verse 14 makes it clear that this is “Because he holds fast to me in love...” If Jesus were to forsake God’s plan, that would no longer be true.

And none of this implies that one should live recklessly as if they were invincible.

Furthermore, in Psalm 91:15 “15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.” This implies that there will be times of trouble. This is reinforced by passages like Is. 53, where it is foretold that the Messiah would be afflicted, pierced, and crushed.

Ironically, Satan didn’t quote Ps. 91:13, which prophesies his own demise:

Psalm 91:13 ESV

13 You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

Satan’s temptation was to try to get Jesus to bypass God’s plan for an easier path.

Jesus’ Kingdom would only come about through humility and suffering.

When James and John’s mother asked Jesus to make her boys first and second in his Kingdom, this is what he said:

Matthew 20:25–28 ESV

25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus knew that his path went to the cross.

But, if he were to stage some grand performance, like swan diving from the top of the temple and being rescued by angels in front of hundreds of people, he would instantly be hailed a hero and crowned King. The Pharisees and Sadducees would have no choice but to acknowledge his identity. And, if not, he could just use his power to strike all his opponents dead. Instead of being a suffering servant he could have been a conquering King. No need for the cross. No need for footwashing.

The Israelites were faced with a similar temptation. God had promised a land “flowing with milk and honey,” but they would have to go through the wilderness to get to it. They would have to trust God to rid the land of its inhabitants and not try to shortcut his plan.

God’s plan is always best.

Jesus quotes Deut. 6:16, where Moses reminds the Israelites

Deuteronomy 6:16–19 ESV

16 “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah. 17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies and his statutes, which he has commanded you. 18 And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers 19 by thrusting out all your enemies from before you, as the Lord has promised.

If Jesus had taken the bait, he would have no longer been able to be our Savior. There is no shortcut to God’s plan.

Our job is not to figure out the best plan, but to obey God and trust in his plan, no matter how much wandering it involves.

Temptation 3: To reject God’s Preeminence.

Matthew 4:8–10 ESV

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.’ ”

We worship what we treasure.

Most of us would not be tempted to outright Satanism. But, what we often don’t realize is that much of what we admire and desire in this world is from Satan.

But if Satan can get us to treasure and worship anything other than God, he has won a victory in our lives.

The kingdoms of this world offer riches, power, military might, security, respect, and comfort.

If these are the things you value, then your allegiance is with the kingdoms of this world and Satan.

The story of the rich man and Lazarus is revealing. In the story, the rich man eats well, has a great house, is well respected, etc. while Lazarus is a poor beggar who goes hungry and lives on the street. But when they die, the rich man goes to hell while Lazarus goes to heaven. If you got to choose, which one would you want to be? A millionaire in this life and in hell in the next? Or a homeless beggar now who later goes to heaven?

Loving anything more than God is idolatry.

God’s promise is sure, and Satan’s power is limited.

Matthew 4:11 ESV

11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

Satan’s power is limited.

He can only tempt us insofar as God allows.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

James 4:7 ESV

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

God’s promise is sure.

God is a refuge to those who trust in him.

Psalm 91:1–2 ESV

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Benediction: