The Savior is Faithful

Matthew 4

Last week we discussed how Jesus was fully human. This week we are going to discuss the other side of that coin if you will.

Let’s actually start in Genesis 3.

Genesis 3:1 “1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?””

Genesis 3:4–5 “4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.””

Genesis 3:6 “6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.”

This is obviously a well-known passage—you have heard it probably a hundred times. What happens in this passage? Adam & Eve are tempted—they give in—and then they try to hid and cover themselves and hide from God. They are tempted and fail.

We know that a Messiah was to come that would put an end to sin:

Daniel 9:24 “24 “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.”

Galatians 1:3–5 “3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

But we also know that Christ would be the better what? Adam!

Romans 5:18–19 “18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.”

Just as sin came through one man—Adam, obedience of one man will bring about righteousness for many. And so this new Adam is going to be tempted. Spoiler—it doesn’t end the same.

Christ, the true and better Adam Son of God and Son of man Who, when tempted in the garden Never yielded, never sinned He, who makes the many righteous Brings us back to life again Dying, He reversed the curse, then Rising, crushed the serpent's head

In what ways are we tempted to not trust God? What are things that are challenged?

In Matthew 4 today we are going to see three: Provision, Providence and Plan.

Matthew 4 takes place in the wilderness which no doubt brings what to mind? The Old Testament.

What did the wilderness represent in the OT? Judgement, failure, hopelessness, death. Time and time again Israel failed. They too were tempted in each of these areas and failed. And yet Jesus, fully human but also fully God will come to the place of their failure and overcome it proving his divinity.

What comes to mind when you hear the word temptation?

(an overwhelming desire and longing for something that gives immediate pleasure; a feeling that an outside force acts upon you; the memory of past times when you’ve given in to temptation, so you feel a sense of shame and regret; a fear that you can’t help yourself, so you give in; times when God’s strength has helped you to resist)

We have all been tempted. What are the voices in our head telling us when we are tempted?

Maybe they are challenging us saying we can’t do it. Jesus was challenged—you say you can do this, I bet you can’t.

When someone says they can do something, whats the first thing people say? Prove it.

I can dunk—prove it. I can throw 100 yards—prove it. I can name every US capital—prove it.

But sometimes satan uses a different tact: your going to fail. You failed before you’ll fail again.

But the waves are calling out my name And they laugh at me Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed The waves they keep on telling me Time and time again. "Boy, you'll never win!" "You'll never win!"

We are tempted and oftentimes we fail. BUT there is one who didn’t fail. Let jump in.

The Son of God Trusts in the Father’s Provision

Matthew 4:1–4 “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.’ ””

Jesus was sinless.

The Sinlessness of Jesus: While the Bible affirms the full humanity of Jesus, it also affirms that Jesus was completely sinless throughout His earthly life (2 Cor. 5:21 (made him to be sin who knew no sin); Heb. 7:26 (a high priest who is holy, innocent, unstained) ; 1 Pet. 2:22 (he committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth)). Nevertheless, because Jesus was fully human, He experienced real temptation of sin, as seen during His trials in the wilderness (Matt. 4). Yet even though His trials and temptations were real and similar to the rest of humanity’s, Hebrews 4:15 confirms that Jesus did not sin.

So Jesus was without sin and in this passage three times that was put to the test and he did not sin. He was tempted to trust in the Father’s provision.

Jesus was led to the wilderness and fasted forty days and forty nights. What is significant about 40? Where else have we seen this?

The number 40 in the Bible has often been linked with a time of testing of character and the ability to trust and remain faithful. It rained for 40 days and 40 nights when Noah was on the ark. Moses was in Egypt 40 years, in the desert 40 years, and with Israel in the wilderness for 40 years. Saul, David, and Solomon reigned for 40 years. Nineveh was given 40 days to repent. And Jesus was tempted for 40 days.

So many times of testing linked to 40 but here Jesus is tempted after 40 days and it says he was what?

Hungry. He is a human—he gets hungry!

What happens right before this story?

Tablework: look back in Matthew and find what happens right before the story and then discuss what we might learn from these two events being back to back.

Jesus baptism is so closely followed by difficult time. That’s life! How often do we have a high followed so suddenly by a low.

How do we know that Jesus is God? The bible tells us, he was tempted in every way and without sin, he died and rose again.

So he is God meaning he can do anything, right?

So what was the first temptation? Aren’t you hungry? Turn these stones into bread.

Could he have done this? Absolutely!

The issue wasn’t that he could, but should he.

Satan is ready to tempt us at any time, often in moments of weakness. How should we react knowing Satan is real and ready to tempt us at any time? Be on guard, be ready!

Jesus is ready.

Deuteronomy 8:3 “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.”

What is going on in Deuteronomy? They are wandering the wilderness.

What else are they doing—does anyone know what Israel is going through in chapter 8? Why did Moses respond this way? What is he talking about?

They are hungry, and they are grumbling. But know that God will provide and he did with manna. Did the Israelites trust and believe in that? No—they complained. God will provide with tangible food but that’s not enough—the word of the Lord will sustain you and save you.

Jesus was hungry because he was human but he proved his divinity in his encounter with the tempter.

Where else have we seen the tempter? Adam & Eve were tempted in if God would provide.

Jesus trusted that God would provide in the right time.

Jesus acknowledged that it is more important to learn to depend on God’s word and not physical bread.

Will I trust God to provide in His way at His time or will I try to meet my needs on my own?

The Son of God Trust in the Father’s Providence

Matthew 4:5–7 “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 tempted Jesus to demonstrate His power, departing from His mission, but He resisted, trusting God’s providence.

How does succumbing to temptation lead us astray from God’s mission for our lives?

(it keeps us from the fullness of joy God has to offer; it leads us to dire consequences as a result of sin; it sours our witness to others who are searching for Christ; when we’re led astray, we can lead others astray)

Jesus responds to the temptation again with what? Scripture to reject Satan’s temptation of an inappropriate use of power.

Why did Jesus use Scripture to counter Satan’s attacks? Satan tries to use scripture to prove this is what he should do:

Psalm 91:11–12 “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.”

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

The Israelites were grumbling and complaining. Not for the first time they questioned if they should have just stayed in Egypt. We would rather be slaves then to be wandering out here tired, hungry and thirsty.

Really? Do you not remember what your God has done? He delivered you out of Egypt—he parted the waters and provided manna but your thirsty and think he has done nothing for you?

The issue for Israel wasn’t the water and the issue here for Jesus isn’t if the angels were going to save him, but did they trust God or were they going to put him to the test?

We know the angels would save Him, Jesus himself in the garden says this:

Matthew 26:53 “53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?”

I can call on the angels anytime I want and 12 legions respond. I’ll call on an angel and 72,000 will respond…

Its not a question of ability but trust. Is he going to trust the process—trust in the plan.

His response to this sets the tone and direction for the rest of the gospels. Jesus trusted the father and continued that trust all the way to the garden. May this cup pass—no that wasn’t the plan and he went to the cross.

The Son of God Trusts in the Father’s Plan

Matthew 4:8–11 “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.”

Jesus was tempted to use his power and position pridefully to claim the kingdoms of the world apart from God’s plan.

What are some occasions when we might be tempted to use our power and position pridefully?

(if we are a leader, getting what we want without considering others; if we have authority, not humbling ourselves to do minor tasks; if we are part of the majority, not considering the situations of the minority; not grieving with those who grieve)

We so easily can fall into these traps of using our soapbox as a pedestal.

Imagine being offered all the nations of the world.

Jesus responded to Satan’s temptation by direction worship to God alone and telling Satan to leave.

We don’t know exactly how but somehow Satan gives Jesus a glimpse of all the kingdoms of the world.

Jesus—don’t you want this?

This to the creator and sustainer of all things. Imagine I take Josh and sit him down and say watch this really cool video that he made—he wouldn’t be that surprised or impressed—yeah, I made that, whats your point. The one who made and sustains all things is being offered—the things?

Not only did he make it he is the rightful owner of it!

Philippians 2:10–11 “10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Romans 14:11 “11 for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.””

All the nations will bow to him and confess, rightfully, to the king of kings!

The temptation is not really that he can have all these things, I think even Satan knew that one day all nations will bow down, but rather it was rush the process, take them now.

All he had to do was what? Bow and worship Satan.

That sounds crazy. Why in the world would he want to do that?

What did Israel do?

Moses is literally on the mountain getting the law from God for the people and they are doing what? Making a golden calf. Thanks for all you have done to provide and sustain us, we took our jewelry and made this idol.

They bow down to this idol made by human hands.

What do we do? What false gods do we fall before. It may not be a physical golden calf but we have our own.

Satan is tempting—why endure the cross when you could have all the kingdoms now?

Jesus has trust in the Father’s plan. He gets rid of Satan and gives praise to God and God alone.

And at the end of it all, the devil is gone and the angels were ministering to Jesus.

“The passage then ends with the angels ministering to Jesus. The angels that Satan referenced to tempt Jesus in the second scene were now there caring for Jesus. But they didn’t come because Jesus threw Himself off the temple—they came because Jesus was faithful to obey God in the face of great temptation. Jesus’s baptism and His work in the wilderness were the basis for His claim to be God and the foundation from which He would launch His earthly ministry. Through it all, Jesus proved Himself to be sinless and perfect for our salvation.”

What encouragement do we find in the sinlessness of Jesus?

Two things: he was fully God and in being sinless he conquered sin and death and gave us life.

But also,

Hebrews 4:15 “15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Yes you can take this passage and use it as guide for how to encounter temptations. Yes, there are principles that can be used for sure. But know you are going to fail.

The reason Jesus had to come is because we can’t do it. We are going to fail. But there was one who was tempted and did not sin and so there is hope. Jesus was fully man yes but was fully God and so he was without sin allowing us to conquer death.