Matthew Part 5
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Recap: Jesus was introduced as King of the world by genealogy and then geographically
Then we skipped forward roughly 30 years from chapter 2 and 3 and talked about John the Baptist and how he was a herald for this coming King. Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near
And a couple weeks ago we left off talking about Jesus’ introduction into His earthly ministry and we saw the trinity at work in His baptism (or His coronation as king)
So now we will see Jesus begin His new ministry
I think if I were planning this out I would send Jesus to the most important people to have the most impact
Or I would send Him to the largest city where He could get in front of the biggest crowd but that’s not what the Father does.
So let’s read some of chapter 4 and then I’ll pray and we will dive in
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do 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 splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Pray
So we immediately see Jesus tempted. That’s how His ministry begins
The greek word here is better translated “tested, or put to the test”
I think often when we see or use the word “tempted” it comes with a negative connotation; but this moment here was divinely intended.
So Jesus has been declared King of the world and Son of God and before He can pursue his purpose here on earth He must first show His character
So, we see the Father leading the Son, by the Spirit to be tempted.
Before you are given kingdom responsibilities you will be tested.
Wait. You’re telling me that God allows temptation to test us? Well, He allowed it for Jesus. And I believe He allows it for us
Why?
Well, think about what has just happened. Jesus was baptized, launched into ministry, approved and loved on by the Father, descended on from the Holy Spirit. If there was ever a high spiritual experience that would be it
And so God will often allow temptations to test us to sort out the emotional “high” from the reality of spiritual growth
We are designed to live on the bread that comes from God alone. Testing allows the emotional and temporary to be separated from the lasting.
It’s like building spiritual muscle.
Some of the baddest dudes on the planet are Navy Seals.
requirements:
• Swim 500 yards within 12:30
• After 10 minutes of rest, perform 50 push-ups within 2:00
• After 2 minutes of rest, perform 50 sit-ups within 2:00
• After additional 2 minutes of rest, perform 10 pull-ups
• After 10 minutes of rest, complete 1.5 mile run under 10:30
These are just the requirements to even be considered. Then you have to go through boot camp 7-9 weeks
And then 12+ months of initial training that includes Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL BUD/S School, Parachute Jump School and SEAL Qualification Training (SQT)
18 months of pre-deployment training and intensive specialized training
There is extensive training and testing involved to become one of these guys and it’s why they are some of the baddest dudes
In a similar way, to fight a spiritual, kingdom battle we will be put to the test.
Are we ready?
Do we approach it that way?
With every mission comes a test.
So how do we fight it? Well let’s learn from the King
So we are reminded in V. 2 that Jesus is human.
Yes, He is fully God. But He is also fully man.
Here’s what that means for you. God feels.
He knows your temptations because He went through it
God feels your pain
He feels your struggle
He is not just a God ready to judge you but a God who wants to be with you
With you in your struggles
In your pain
In your hurt
In your stress
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
He is here and He is near and He isn’t afraid of those things. He paved a way for hope in the middle of those things by taking on the greatest pain ever imagined in the cross
And more than just the physical aspects of the cross He also took on the weight of all sin including yours and mine
And so He knows. He knows what pain is and here vs 2 is reminding us of that
And so I absolutely believe this text can show us how, as believers, we are tempted
But I believe first and foremost it is showing us the test of our King
3 tests
But pay attention to the way Satan tempts because He uses the same tactics on us
Test 1: The need (USE YOUR POSITION)
There was a very apparent need. Jesus was hungry. He needed food.
3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
The devil says, “If you are the Son of God”
This isn’t if because Satan didn’t know
And it’s not if because he was trying to strike doubt in Jesus’ mind
It’s probably better translated since
But it’s more like “The Son of God would have the power and authority to do this so if you are Him than you should have no problem in doing it.”
Satan was tempting Jesus to use His position of power to provide His needs
The temptation goes much further than just turning stones into bread so that He wouldn’t be hungry anymore
The temptation is to use His Sonship, His Kingship as a privilege to be exploited. Use it as an opportunity to see His own needs.
Instead of waiting for the Father’s approval he’s being tempted to take matters into his own hands and provide for himself
If Jesus does that here than where else might He do it again?
Jesus’ replies with Deut 8:3
He replies with the Word of God
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
HOW DO WE FIGHT TEMPTATION?
We fight temptation with the Word of God
Something else happened here. Here in this moment Jesus succeeded where Adam failed
Jesus is often known as the last Adam or the greater Adam
Where the first Adam was tempted to eat of the fruit in the garden when everything was perfect, he failed
The greater Adam in Jesus was tempted to eat when everything was stacked against Him and succeeded.
He passes test 1
Test 2: The proposed need (PROTECT YOUR PRIDE)
So the apparent need didn’t work and the temptation to use His position to provide His needs didn’t work so now satan is going to make up a need. He’s going to propose a need to test Jesus’ pride.
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
“If you truly are the Son of God throw yourself down. Test God. This is something you need to do.”
You have to show the world that you truly are King. They were at the highest point of the temple. Surely they were looking down at all the religious people of that day and Satan is saying “Look at all of them that doubt you. If you were to throw yourself down and the angels came to save you they would be reminded of Psalm 91 and then know that you truly are the Son of God.
Notice here, Satan is smart. Jesus just replied that He lives by the Word of God alone. So what does the enemy do?
He gives Him Scripture to confirm this supposed need.
Here is where we have to be careful. Knowledge of Scripture is very different than interpretation and application of it.
If Scripture is only memorized and never applied than it is worthless. You’re no better off than Satan himself.
improper interpretation of Scripture can lead you down a dangerous path which is why it’s important to always study yourself and not to rely on someone else and to also be careful who you are listening to and allowing to influence you.
Satan quotes Psalm 91:11-12 word for word but completely misinterprets it and misapplies it.
The whole Psalm is about our trust in the security in the Lord
Jesus’ reply shows us that genuine trust does not demand that the Lord prove himself
Jesus again responds with Scripture. Deut 6:16.
So we fight temptation by knowing God’s word and also:
by applying God’s Word. By rightly dividing God’s Word and then applying it to our lives
So, Jesus doesn’t fall into this proposed need either. He doesn’t allow His pride to show himself as King cause Him to fail. Which leads us to test 3
Test 3: No more needs (CHOOSING WHAT’S WRONG TO GAIN POWER)
Satan couldn’t tempt Jesus by His apparent need and taking advantage of His position. He couldn’t tempt Him by a proposed need coming for His pride so He is going to tempt Him by eliminating needs all together, by the temptation of power
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Satan tempts Jesus by saying, “You will never be in need again. You can have it all.”
John 12:31 John 14:30 John 16:11 Eph 2:2 2 Cor 4:4 all mention in some way that Satan is the ruler of this world
We could obviously spend a lot of time on this and talk about how it happened and why and how it plays in with God’s power and authority over all things
But regardless of your interpretation of what that means is Scripture is clear that at least to some extent Satan has a certain power over this world
And here is willing to give it up for something much greater.
You see, Jesus was born to take on the cross
He was born King, but a Servant King. He came to serve and save the world and Satan is saying, “Let’s by pass all of that and you can have this worldly kingdom. Just worship me.”
Give up what is lasts forever for what is temporary
Forfeit what is right for a gain of power.
Sound familiar?
So listen, we fight temptation by knowing God’s Word, applying God’s Word, and worshipping and serving God alone.
We saw the 3 tests and wouldn’t you know the King passes with flying colors so then we see the triumph
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Jesus know’s God Word, applies God’s word, and worship and serves God alone.
The Father tests, Satan tempts, and Jesus triumphs
Jesus succeeds where Adam fails
He succeeds where Israel fails
Notice every reply Jesus gives is from Deut. 6-8
The same time that Israel is in the wilderness
If we are familiar with that time we know that over and over Israel fails in the wilderness
But here when Jesus goes to the wilderness he succeeds where the people of Israel failed
Jesus secures His right to kingship
He then tells Satan to begone and Satan leaves because he has no other choice.
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
For every temptation there is a way out
As people of God we have to be aware that temptation is coming and we have to be ready for it
We have to be trained and ready for the temptations and the tests ahead. Ready with the Word of God memorized, the Word of God applied, and with our worship and service to God and God alone.