Luke 22:31-46 - Standing in the Face of Temptation
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction:
Today we are going to see two different examples of how to respond to temptation. We will see the wrong way which is overconfidence and a dependence on self and the right way which is humility and a dependence on the Father.
Our first example will be the disciple Peter. In his typical overconfidence, we will see him overlook and deny his weaknesses. The result of this will be clearly seen next week.
In response to this example of Peter, Jesus then teaches about the challenges His disciples must be prepared to endure because of the coming persecution. His warnings apply to us as well today. Our mission is a difficult mission in the middle of a hostile enemy territory. We must be wise and shrewd.
Lastly, we come to our example of humility and dependence upon the Father. We see Jesus show us the proper way to respond to trials. And that is through prayer and seeking the Father.
Prayer
Today we will see three ways that believers must stand in the face of temptation. The first is…
I. In the Face of Trials, Believers Must Deny a Dependence on Self (31-34)
I. In the Face of Trials, Believers Must Deny a Dependence on Self (31-34)
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
Jesus starts off by mentioning Simon Peter's name twice. Mentioning something twice is a mark of something being very important. It indicates the seriousness of what Jesus is about to say. He wants to make sure that He gets Peter's attention.
He then says that Satan has demanded to have you. Greek is a very descriptive language. In English, we use the word ‘you’ as both plural and singular. It can mean one person or many people. However, Greek has a singular pronoun for you which is sou (sue) and a plural pronoun which is hymas (hoo-mas).
Interestingly, the pronoun ‘you’ in verse 31 is plural, and it is changed to singular in verse 32. Thus we see that Satan has actually asked to sift both Peter and the disciples.
However, Jesus in verse 32 specifically directs His statement singularly toward Peter because Peter’s fall would be greater. Deserting the Savior, as all of the disciples would do, was bad enough, but denying Him would prove an even greater downfall as we will see shortly.
There are a couple of other important theological understandings in these first two verses. The English form of demanded appears to seem like Satan told God what he was going to do, and God had to go along with it. However, this word actually means that Satan obtained the opportunity to sift the disciples from God. God is fully sovereign.
As we see in Job 1-2, Satan must have God’s approval before afflicting any of God’s people.
God allows Satan to test and tempt us to help us grow in our faith. If it weren’t for Peter’s failure, He would have never been as a strong when he was reinstated. Oftentimes, our greatest trials prove to be our greatest times of spiritual growth.
We see that Satan asks to tempt the disciples as one sifts wheat. We have discussed sifting wheat in the past. It involves a violent shaking and throwing into the air in order to allow the chaff to blow away. This chaff is empty of nutrition and is useless for our bodies. In essence, Satan’s work is actually going to aid in the growth and sanctification of the disciples! As is clearly seen in the life of Joseph in Genesis 37-50, God takes what is evil and turns it into good (Genesis 50:20).
Now speaking directly of Peter in verse 32, Jesus tells Peter that He has prayed for him. He has prayed that his faith would not fail. This is a prayer of perseverance. This is a prayer that Jesus prays for us as well! It is a prayer of intercession. Listen to Hebrews 7:25:
Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Jesus makes intercession for us! This is such a beautiful teaching. Intercession is a pleading of one party for another - often for favor. Jesus is constantly interceding for us in heaven. He is for us and not against us. Find peace and rest in this.
but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
In verse 32, we see that Jesus says, albeit indirectly, that Peter will fail. He alludes to the fact that after Peter returns, he will strengthen his brothers. Jesus’s prophecy is proven true. In John 21:15-19, Peter is reinstated by the resurrected Jesus. And by Acts 1-2, Peter is leading the disciples in choosing a replacement for Judas and preaching at Pentecost!
Unfortunately, these great moments won’t come until after a difficult time in Peter’s life comes first…
Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
Unfortunately, Peter has a higher view of himself than he should. He also has a lower view of Jesus’s prophecy and omniscience than he should. As we have mentioned a few moments ago, Jesus has already said that Peter would fail the initial temptation and need to turn back - namely repent. This is insinuated by the phrase ‘when you have turned again.’
However, Peter has great confidence in himself and states that he is ready to go with Jesus to prison and to death. I do find this interesting. He understood the gravity of the situation. He mentioned both prison and death. And yet his confidence is misplaced. He assumes that he can handle more than he can.
Jesus, this time more clearly, articulates Peter’s looming failure. Before morning, Peter will deny even knowing Jesus three times. Peter’s confidence in himself is obviously misplaced.
This is really important for us as well. There's a great lesson here. Humanity assumes that they can handle more than they can. This is pride. This is seen time and time again throughout the Scriptures. And, if we are honest, this is seen time and time again in our own lives.
Can you think back on a time where you were overconfident? Was there a time that you thought you could handle something that you weren't ready for?
We must realize our sinfulness and weakness. As we hear Jesus assert in Matthew 26:41, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Our confidence must not be in the flesh but instead in the Lord.
In battling through temptation and persevering through trials, there are at least three extremely important principles that we need to understand…
We should approach every trial and temptation we encounter with the following three principles:
1. Perspective from the Word of God
2. Prayer to God
3. Power from God
1. Perspective from the Word of God
God's word is full of wisdom. If we want to make wise decisions, we must know His Word well. Proverbs 3:5-6 clearly articulates our need to lean on the Lord and His ways instead of our own.
Next, we must prioritize…
2. Prayer to God
It is incredibly important for us to read the Word in order to gain wisdom. However, a relationship requires two way communication. God wants us to come to Him regularly in prayer. He desires an intimate relationship with us. And it is through this communion with God in prayer and Bible reading that God is near to us and aids us in our battle against trials and temptations.
And finally, in order to battle trials and temptations, we must fully rely on…
3. Power from God
This might be the most missed concept in fighting against trials and temptations in the lives of believers. There are so many books written that give practical ways to battle temptation. These can be very helpful at times. However, the heart of the matter is that we cannot battle by our own wit or planning. Any other resource out there must be seen as supplementary to the main thing - and that is the power of God through His Holy Spirit indwelling us.
We have no power apart from Christ. Apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). We may say this and even quote this Bible verse. However, do we really believe that? Do we really believe that we can do nothing apart from Jesus Christ?
And in looking at the context of today’s Scripture, do we truly believe that we can only overcome trials and temptations through the power of God?
My friends, may we not be overconfident in our own abilities or in man’s ideas. Only through His strength can we win the battles against the flesh and against our enemy and his minions.
Notice what wasn’t in any of these three pillars of battling temptation - self-confidence, self-esteem, self-reliance. If we want to be faithful followers of Christ who stand in the face of temptation, we must deny a dependence on self.
And we also must…
Scripture References: Job 1-2, Genesis 37-50, Hebrews 7:25, John 21:15-19, Acts 1-2, Proverbs 3:5-6, John 15:5
II. In the Face of Trials, Believers Must Develop a Dependence on the Spirit (35-38)
II. In the Face of Trials, Believers Must Develop a Dependence on the Spirit (35-38)
And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.”
Jesus gives a flashback to Luke 9:1-6 and possibly Luke 10:1-12 as well. In the first, Jesus sent out the Twelve while in the second passage He sent out the 72. In both of these instances, He told them not to take anything with them. They were to fully rely on the hospitality of others through the providence of God. They went out and found success.
However, Jesus moves forward to inform them of a new time of persecution to come…
He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”
We now see that the times have changed. Now He tells them to go prepared. Now they are to take a money bag and a knapsack. Now they are to take a sword and a cloak. Jesus makes it clear that they will be persecuted. There is a difficult road ahead for them.
Jesus is teaching the disciples an important lesson here.
He is teaching them that there is a coming persecution in which they must be prepared to endure. Whereas people supported them as they went town to town before, they will now face hostility. Whereas there was light persecution before, there will be great hostility now.
Jesus is teaching the disciples to be prepared for what is to come. However, there is also an understanding that they must not only depend on what they see in front of them.
Yes, they are to always be prepared - I used to be able to make a good boy scout joke after a statement like that, but I’m not sure that is appropriate these days… however, no matter how much they prepare, they must fully rely on the Lord.
Although Jesus was to be taken from them soon, He had already promised the coming of the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-31).
Around 10 days after His ascension into heaven after a 40 day period in which He appeared to some 500 persons, the Holy Spirit fell at Pentecost (1 Corinthians 15:6, Acts 2).
The Holy Spirit would bring to mind the things that Jesus had taught and would guide them along throughout this hostile time of persecution.
In verse 37, Jesus quotes from Isaiah 53:12 when describing the fact that He would be numbered with the transgressors. He would be crucified as if He were a criminal. Despite His sinlessness, He would suffer beside two robbers (Matthew 27:38). He would go on to take the sin of the world on our behalf. Listen to 2 Corinthians 5:21 articulate this beautifully.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Jesus was seen as a common criminal. And He took on this punishment on our behalf. I pray that everyone here has been saved - that you have repented of your sins and placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord. Jesus lived the sinless life we couldn’t live, died the death that we deserved, and then rose from the dead three days later proving His victory over sin and the grave. If you haven’t repented, or turned from your sins, and placed your faith in Jesus Christ - I pray that you do that today. There is no more important decision in your life.
Jesus has just asserted that He was about to be treated as a common criminal - crucified between two robbers (verse 37).
And now He is teaching His disciples that they were going be treated in the same way. Back in Luke 21:12-19, Jesus had let the disciples know that they would be violently persecuted and that some would even be put to death.
Things were going to get tough. Although they needed to be physically prepared, they needed to remember to rely on the Holy Spirit in order to endure to the end.
Friends, we must be shrewd in today’s world. There is nothing wrong with saving for the future, buying a home, or owning a car. However, our hope must never be found in our stuff. Our things can be taken in a moment. We must never depend on self or stuff. Our hope must be in our triune God - God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, and God the Son - namely our Savior. Which brings us to our final point…
Scripture References: Luke 9:1-6, Luke 10:1-12, John 14:15-31, 1 Corinthians 15:6, Acts 2, Isaiah 53:12, Matthew 27:38, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Luke 21:12-19
III. In the Face of Trials, Believers Must Decisively Depend on the Savior (39-46)
III. In the Face of Trials, Believers Must Decisively Depend on the Savior (39-46)
And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
We have seen that Jesus would go back and forth from the Mount of Olives to the temple each day. However, this night would be the last night of His earthly life that He would be free to move about on His own accord.
In order to prepare for the difficult road ahead, He went to the Mount of Olives to pray. Matthew and Mark let us know that He went specifically to the Garden of Gethsemane which was upon the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26:36, Mark 12:32).
When He came to that place, He asked the disciples to pray that they would not enter into temptation.
His charge to them was not to pray that no testing or temptation ever came their way - for it is God’s will that we are refined by the fiery trials of this life (1 Peter 4:12). He urges them to pray that they not fail the testing and temptation that would inevitably come their way.
Oftentimes, our prayers are to remove a trial or tribulation. These prayers are understandable and are not necessarily bad prayers. Praying for God’s mercy in times of trial is understandable. However, our greatest prayer should be that God strengthens us to persevere through the trial with unwavering faith. We should pray that God strengthens, sanctifies, and refines us through the trial we are going through.
As a side note, as we begin this account in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus has taken all of His disciples with Him. However, Matthew and Mark let us know that He only takes the inner three closest disciples with Him in the garden to pray. These three being Peter, James and John made up the inner circle of disciples. He had a special relationship with these three men.
And in Matthew 26:38, we hear the following from Jesus directed toward these three disciples…
Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”
Jesus knows that He is about to undergo the biggest trial and tribulation anyone has ever faced. And His sorrow is great. So where does Jesus turn in the midst of this trial? We saw where Peter turned - namely to himself. Yet, Jesus would have had plenty of reasons to turn to Himself in this situation. Although He was 100% man, He was, in fact, also 100% God!
Yet, He humbles Himself before the Father, and shows us the perfect example of how to handle trials.
Listen to verse 41…
And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,
Jesus then withdraws and kneels down to pray. Sometime during this prayer we are told that He falls on His face because of His great sorrow (Matthew 26:39).
Whereas Peter relied on his own abilities, Jesus is humbling Himself before the Father. He provides a beautiful example of going to our Father in deep prayer.
Luke lets us know what Jesus says to His Father in verse 42…
saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
During this intense prayer, Jesus shows His humanity. Although He is fully God, He is fully man. He understands the pain and torture that He is about to go through in His body. But He also understands the spiritual torture that He would endure by taking the sin of mankind upon Himself and the wrath of the Father. This cup is a bitter cup, and He prays that if it be possible, may it be removed from Him. However, in His sinlessness, He understands the plan of God. He prays that His Father's will be done.
This is a beautiful picture of prayer. There are times where we pray and would like something to pass from us. We would like a health condition to go away. Maybe we would like a cancer to go away. Maybe we would like pain to go away. Maybe we would like a certain persecution to go away. Sometimes the answer from God is yes. Sometimes He does remove that trial or tribulation. And we praise God for His mercy in those situations. He is a God who can heal anything. He is a God who can deliver us from anything. However, sometimes His answer is no.
Sometimes His will is that we suffer. That is extremely hard to take. That is an extremely unpopular theology and understanding of God (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, we see Paul plead for a thorn to be removed from his side. We are not told what this thorn metaphorically stands for - but Paul clearly suffers because of it. He pleads with the Lord some three times for it to be removed, but the Lord tells Paul this:
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Friends, God uses the trials and tribulations that we go through to sanctify us and to glorify Himself. He uses these trials and tribulations to mold us more into His image. Yes, God is a God who gives good gifts to His children as we see in the book of James. Yes God is loving and merciful. Yes He is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
But He loves us too much to leave us where we are and not sanctify us further. We are tested and sanctified by the fire of trials and tribulations.
However, it is important to know that just going through these trials does not necessarily mean you will be sanctified or grow in the faith. It requires us to turn to Christ. We are to turn to the one who has been tested in every way as we have and yet was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). If we are to grow, we must turn to Christ. He understands our suffering. He understands our pain. And He is there to comfort us as our Wonderful Counselor and our Prince of Peace.
And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Verses 43 and 44 are only found in the book of Luke. We are told that an angel strengthens Him. His suffering is incredible. No one could imagine the torment that He was about to endure. As He is in agony - which means that He has intense sorrow and distress and is suffering greatly, He goes to His Father in prayer. The intensity of His agony is seen clearly as He begins to sweat drops of blood. I have done an apologetics podcast on this particular issue. I would refer you to that for further medical information of how this is possible.
In short, however, there is actually a medical condition called hematohidrosis.
The understanding of this condition is that when someone is under incredibly intense stress, their stress hormones including epinephrine (also known as adrenaline) can lead to blood capillary rupture within the sweat glands which causes leakage of blood through the pores of the skin mixing one’s sweat with one’s blood.
I do find it very interesting that it is Luke who records this. He was actually a physician. I could imagine how intriguing this must have been for him.
And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
His disciples were also sorrowful as they saw their Lord suffering so greatly. Their sorrow overwhelmed them to the point of sleeping.
We actually see that they fell asleep a couple of times. Jesus went back and forth a couple of other times according to Matthew and Mark's Gospels.
The last time Jesus goes to them, He tells them to rise and continue praying that they stand strong against temptation. The betrayal is coming soon. The Shepherd will be struck and the sheep will soon be scattered (Matthew 26:31, Zechariah 13:7).
Scripture References: Matthew 26:36, Mark 12:32, 1 Peter 4:12, Matthew 26:38, Matthew 26:39, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Hebrews 4:15, Matthew 26:31, Zechariah 13:7
Conclusion:
As we come to a close…
May we must remain alert, my friends. The world likes to rock us to sleep with comfort and pleasure. The world likes to distract us from the Gospel and the real spiritual battle going on around us with issues such as politics and other causes.
The world likes to make everything else other than Christ the main thing.
However, we must not fall asleep, spiritually-speaking. May we not enter into temptation. Stand firm, brothers and sisters, not relying on self, or the things of this world, but instead relying on our blessed Savior and the Holy Spirit.
