Luke 4:1-13: Identity and Dominion (Temptation of Jesus)

Intro:

Review from last week:

Good morning, it feels like a while since I had the opportunity to preach the Word here. This is why:

March break- Construction project (PICS: start, finish, crew)

Last week: Hive Youth event in Durham Ontario at Ethnos, special speaker for my home church. Attended Rock Mills last Sunday

Now I am here: I am ready to not have to travel for a little while.

On Friday I had an opportunity to hang out with our youth group and leaders and let me tell you. We have some great people serving our teens. Also, Seth is doing a great job!

The Passing of Dr. Wendle Calder

Back at our Anniversary Bible Conference, we started looking at the Theme of “Identity and Dominion” from Genesis and seeing our created purpose in God’s creating purpose for us.

The idea of “Jesus is radically committed to one aim” (Green, The New International Commentary of the New Testament, 195)

Outline:

Dominion: “Wilderness” (vs. 1-2)

Identity: “If You are the Son of God” (vs. 3-12)

Dominion: “Surrounding Country” (vs. 14-15)

Summary: Temptations are desirable detours that distract us from God’s desires.

Illustration:

Prayer:

Dominion: “The Wilderness” (vs. 1-2)

Location, location, location (vs. 1-2)

And Jesus- What a way to start our time in God’s word… “And Jesus”. Say that with me… “and Jesus”. even in the highs and lows…and Jesus…with the unmet expectations…and Jesus…with the stuggle to provide financially…and Jesus… in the difficulties and joys of marriage and parenting…and Jesus… in the realities of growing older…and Jesus!

Full of the Holy Spirit

Returned from the Jordan- remember, Jesus just went out (from Nazareth) to be baptised by John in the Jordan. The heavens opened up, the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased”. It doesn’t get much better than that!

He is annointed by the Spirit for the Ministry that is ahead of Him. This is not a moment of salvation.

and was lead by the Spirit- “eh-geto” imperfect, pass, ind, 3rd, sg, to be led directed (on going). He did not just lead Him there and say you are on your own! Not only annointed by the Spirit, full of the Holy Spirit, but led by the holy Spirit (Galatians 5)…where…

in the wilderness- “er-eh-mw”Notice, “in the wildersness”, not “into”. Desolate place, an unihabited and uncultivated region. Word used to describe the places Jesus would go to pray or get away from the crowds. Judean wilderness

for 40 days- flood (Gen. 7:4), Moses on the Mountain (Ex. 24:18), Elijah fleeing Jezebel (the food he ate gave him strength for 40 days/nights to Horeb, 1 Kings 19:8), Jonah in the fish (Jonah 3:4), 40 years of wildernesss wondering. Also “The severity of the temptation is signified by the number “forty,” which in Scripture often connotes suffering”.

(Moses (Deut 9:9) and Elijah (1 Kgs 19:8) fasted for forty days; the flood lasted forty days and nights (Gen 7:4, 12); the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years (Num 14:33; 32:13); Ezekiel must bear the iniquity of Judah for forty days (Ezek 4:6); and offenders received forty lashings as a maximum (Deut 25:1–3). See Plummer, Luke, 108–9.

James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Luke, ed. D. A. Carson, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos, 2015), 126.

being tempted by the devil- “while being tempted by the devil”

Tempted- “peirazomenos” pres, pass, part, nom, mas, sg to be tested

And he ate nothing during those days

and when they were ended

He was hungry- very astute observation to include by none other than the physician, Luke.

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

What caught your attention in this section?

Which verses or words would you like to study a little more this week?

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

Some things to keep in mind from this passage:

“And Jesus”…”Full of the Holy Spirit, led by the Spirit”. How is Jesus apart of my daily life really? How often do you and I think of the Holy Spirit?

sometimes, being led by the Holy Spirit will lead you into a desolate place, will lead you into the wilderness. But will not lead you to forsake you, but will be there through it! Jesus did not face temptation alone and neither do you!

some of the most intense times of temptation come right after the most vivid of victories!

Pay attention to the location of your temptations, most of us will never be in a physical desert, but we all have desolate places.

A while back, I was helping a young man as he struggled with pornography, I asked him when and where he struggled with it the most- the bathroom.

Pay attention to the physical state of your body in regards to temptation (sick, injured, tired, hungry, pregnant,

“The Spirit orchestrates the wilderness test to determine whether Jesus, the Son, will use his divine nature and power to further his own interests, or whether he will dedicate them to “the things of his Father” (2:49). The test of Jesus as the Son of God is thus a test of whether he will be the Servant of God”

James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Luke, ed. D. A. Carson, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos, 2015), 125.

Enlist the Body (faith steps):

Matt 4:1-11, there is a slight difference in the order: bread-temple-kingdom whereas Luke’s order is: bread-kingdoms-temple (which shows the theological sequence of Luke moving towards the cross and Jerusalem as his crichendo Mark 1:12-13

Transitional phrase: As we approach the actual temptation of Jesus, it is important to understand the circumstances that surround it.

Identity: “If You are the Son of God” (vs. 3-13)

Hunger: Lust of the flesh (vs. 3-4)

The devil said to him

“If you are the Son of God- “ei” pres, act, ind, 2nd, sg you are. not so much a question, “The devil thus affirms Jesus’ divine sonship, but tempts him to deploy it for purposes other than God’s will”.

James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Luke, ed. D. A. Carson, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos, 2015), 127.

command- “eipe” aor, act, imperative, 2nd, sg

this stone to become bread”- Since this is “who you are” then this is “what you can do”.

Interesting, the first temptation for Jesus revolved around food. But what was the thinking or motive behind the food? It is just like the garden of eden, David and his men, Daniel in Babylon, Peter on the rooftop, etc. the issue is not with the food itself (Jesus proclaims that all foods are clean, because man does need food to survive and so does Jesus.

And Jesus answered him

It is written- “gegraptai” perf, pass, ind, 3rd, sg

Man

shall not live

by bread alone

Deuteronomy 8:3 “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.”

Jesus’ mission is about more than just feeding people physically, although he will do that to.

There is more to life than the satisfaction of eating and physical desires. But since you are the Son of God, why not use that power for yourself?

Power, Authority, and Dominion: Lust of the eyes (vs. 5-8)

and the Devil took him up and showed him

all the kingdoms of the world

in a moment of time- like a vision into the future. His eyes behold something that is not physically there before him and yet promises him power, authority, and dominion.

and said to him

To you

I will give all this authority and their glory

for it has been delivered to me

and I give it to whom I will- notice, Jesus does not correct this. Yet, Jesus just received power from God the Father at His baptism.

if you, then, worship me, it will all be yours- the promise of a future power, authority and dominion at the cost of present worship. There seems to be some sort of ease involved in this offer. That serving the Devil will get you what you want quicker without the difficulties.

and Jesus answered him

it is written- same as before, “Perfect”

you shall worship the Lord your God

and him only shall you serve

Deuteronomy 6:13 “It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.”

Pride of life (vs. 9-13)

And he took him to

Jerusalem- the temptations intensify as they move towards the place where Jesus will face the culmnative temptation, at the cross.

and set him on the pinnacle of the temple

and said to him

If you are the Son of God

throw yourself down from here- “Bale” aor, act, imperative, 2nd, sg command to throw (move) violently, energetically, or carelessly

for it is written- same as before, “perfect”! Aha, the Devil has been listening and now changes his strategy!

He will command his angels concerning you to guard you

Psalm 91:11 “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”

and On their hands they will bear you up lest you strike your foot against a stone

Psalm 91:12 “On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.”

Ps. 91 is all about the refuge of the LORD- which would coinside with the Temple, the location that the Devil brough Jesus.

Use your identity and power as the Son of God to show your people that you can protect them. Which is so ironic becasue Jesus is not going to use His identity or power as the Son of God to save Himself from what is coming in Jerusalem. Yet, at the same time, provide eternal protection and security for His people.

and Jesus answered him

it is said,- “eir-eh-tai” perf, pass, ind, 3rd, sg to be spoken. Not written, but said. Both are equal to Jesus.

you shall not put the Lord your God to the test

Deuteronomy 6:16 ““You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah.”

and when the devil had ended every temptation

he departed from him

until an opportune time

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

What caught your attention in this section?

Which verses or words would you like to study a little more this week?

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

Jesus was tempted to use his identity (Son of God) to satisfy his physical desires. The Devil tempted him to vear from God’s will, from the goal that God gave Him.

When you are tempted to think that life is all about you and what you want, what scriptures do you use?

Jesus was tempted with the promise of a future power, authority and dominion at the cost of present worship, with something His eyes beheld but was not physically there before him.

When you are tempted by a future promise/power at the cost of present worship (If only I had…Things will be better when…I am never going to get there, so I may as well just…I want this and I want it now…)

s

Enlist the Body (faith steps):

There is something to be said about the locations of our struggles

Transitional phrase:

Dominion: “Surrounding Country” (vs. 14-15)

G (vs. 14-15)

and Jesus returned

in the power of the Spirit- Just as He was led out into the desolate place…

to Galilee

and a report about him went out

through all the surrounding country- His identity is becoming known

And he taught in their synagogues- imperfect” continually was teaching

being glorified by all- a very positive response on behalf of the people at this time.

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

What caught your attention in this section?

Which verses or words would you like to study a little more this week?

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

What do we learn about Temptation:

location matters

It promises immediate results

It always seeks to divert from God’s will in our lives: to love God more than anything and become more like Him in everything- Become more like Jesus. Temptation offers a more direct path to the destination but always spoils the process/progress of getting there.

Temptations are desirable detours that distract us from God’s desires: Belonging to Him and becoming more like Jesus. It promises

Physical satisfaction now

A possition of Power without progressive sanctification

protection and security without suffering

Enlist the Body (faith steps):

Summary of the Chapter:

Memory verse of the Chapter

Discussion Starters:

Where does temptation seem to hit me the most (location)?

Which temptation of Jesus do I resonate with?

Who am I going to talk to?

Song: Jeff is going to lead us in our last song.

Next Week’s Sermon:

Benediction/Looking ahead: INVITE PEOPLE TO THE CAFE