Reverse the Curse

The story of Jesus temptation is more than a story that teaches us how to overcome the temptation to sin. It is the story that sin has been overcome. Today’s text provides help for the believer’s journey in sanctification. However, it’s primary purpose is to help the believer to understand what was necessary for his salvation.

Jesus temptation parallels the temptation of our first parents; Adam and Eve. Jesus temptation also parallels the temptation of God’s chosen people; Israel.

In order to reverse the curse of sin Jesus must overcome where we were overcame.

LOOK AT THE LOCATION

THE COMPARISON

Matthew 4:1 ESV

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

Literally, a place not inhabited by human beings. As such, it came to be considered the natural habitation of demons (Matt. 12:43; Luke 8:29). The word does not necessarily imply a bleak, desert area, only one not inhabited by human beings.

By far the majority of biblical references are to the wilderness of Sinai in which the Israelites wandered for 40 years. At least three significant theological ideas became associated with that wilderness: covenant, miraculous provision, and judgment.

Israel, God’s firstborn son, was overcome by temptation in the wilderness. Jesus, the only begotten Son of the Father, overcame temptation in the wilderness.

The desert location again recalls the wanderings of the Israelites in the wilderness. Jesus will succeed as the true representative and fulfillment of Israel where Israel had failed . . .

Deuteronomy 8:2 ESV

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.

God the Father referred to Israel as his Son . . .

Exodus 4:22 ESV

Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son,

In Exodus God sends a deliver to bring His “son” out of Egyptian bondage. In Matthew God sends a deliver to Egypt to bring his people out of bondage. We see this story in

Matthew 2:13 ESV

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”

The angel’s warning is fulfilled in Matthew 2:16;18. Herod becomes enraged and begins to murder all children under two years of age because the wise men did not return with Jesus location.

Why flee to Egypt?

Matthew 2:14–15 ESV

And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

The New Testament says that this all happened in Christ, who is Himself the new Israel, and who makes all who trust in Him alone, ethnic Jew and Gentile alike, into true Israelites. This is the point that Matthew makes when he says

Hosea 11:1 ESV

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

This passage is fulfilled in Christ’s return with His parents to Nazareth from Egypt. Jesus repeats the history of Israel in His own person. He fulfills Hosea’s text because He is the true, faithful Son of God who perfectly lives out the calling first given to old covenant Israel.

THE CONTRAST

The first Adam was tempted in a perfect environment while the second Adam, Jesus, was tempted in a perilous environment.

LISTEN TO THE LANGUAGE

THE PARALLELS

Interesting parallels emerge between Jesus’ three temptations and those of Eve and Adam in the garden

Genesis 3:6 ESV

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.

Three phrases “good for food,” “pleasing to the eye,” “desirable for gaining wisdom”. Both of these triads seem to parallel John’s epitome of human temptation:

1 John 2:16 ESV

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

All temptations fall into one of these categories the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life.

Furthering the parallel language of temptation Israel, God’s son, failed in all three of aforementioned temptation. Jesus, in the wilderness, these same three categories of temptation.

Jesus, however, replies by quoting from the book of Deuteronomy. In fact, for each of the three temptations he will refute the devil with Scripture, always from Deuteronomy, continuing the link with the Israelites’ desert experience. In this instance the text he cites originally underscored God’s provision of manna as an alternative to the Israelites’ reliance on their own abilities to feed themselves.

THE POINT

The second Adam restores us in the same the first Adam was destroyed.

Our humanity was lost by the first Adam being over come by the tempter; so it must be recovered by the second Adam overcoming the tempter.

Satan must lose his prisoners in the same way that he caught them. Christ must do what Adam could not do. The Son of God assumed the nature of man to conquer Satan in the nature that was originally conquered. Christ won the victory in our nature so that it can be received by individual person’s. Adam was overcome by sin before he had any offspring. Christ overcome sin before He began to call disciples.

In the temptation Satan is attempting to short circuit God’s plan of salvation.

Genesis 3:15 ESV

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Jesus proves himself to be the Son of God by not acting like previous “son’s of God”. Previous “son’s” proved their need for the true Son by being disobedient. The true Son proved His sonship through obedience. Jesus did not condescend to condemn the world but to conquer the one who leads humanity into condemnation.

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

BE LIFTED BY LOVE

Hebrews 4:14–15 ESV

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 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.

Jesus knows our weakness and has experience all our temptations, yet without sin.

He endured this journey so that when we fail in our weakness he can expiate our sin.

1 John 1:8–2:2 ESV

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

He endured this journey so that we can escape our sin.

1 John 2:3–6 ESV

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

1 Corinthians 10:12–13 ESV

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 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.

He endured this journey so that we can enjoy our Savior.

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Psalm 16:11 ESV

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.