#1213 Matthew 4 Part 1 The Temptation

 

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.’”

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.’” 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. Matthew 4: 1-11 ESV

Matthew 4: 1-11 Jesus Tempted In The Wilderness

…15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4: 15-16

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil - The pure, undefiled Lamb was given a sinner's baptism, as part of fulfilling all righteousness. He doesn't make claims figuratively, without testing, no, when He takes my place, He is tested, but without sinning. He is led up by the Spirit to be tempted in the wilderness by His adversary, the devil. He is not tempted by God because God tempts no one. When He pays for my sin, He pays it's literal wages, giving His life, but because He has no sin Himself, death cannot hold Him. He will not be king by mere lineage, or a title thrown to Him, but as a true conqueror, defeating sin, death, the grave, and here in the wilderness, this body that was prepared for Him. Here He conquers temptation; He shows His body to be in full submission to His will, which has been entrusted to the Father. 

…17For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people. 18Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2: 17-18

12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. 13When tempted, no one should say, “ God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. 14But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.… James 1: 12-14

And after fasting forty days and forty nights - This tempting has gone on for quite sometime, and really, do we even last 40 seconds without being tempted of the things that are already inside of us? Satan is hunting for a foothold, and that is easy to find in most men, don't kid yourself, you probably don't even make it onto his radar, because you are already good enough at making your own stumbling blocks. When people say, "the devil made me do it", I shake my head, because he probably doesn't even know your name. 

He was hungry - Understandably so, He has added humanity to His deity, has taken on the form of man, become a servant, and men get hungry, especially after not eating for forty days. This speaks to His humanity, and hunger is not wicked of itself, but quite the opposite, it is our bodies way of telling us it's time to refuel. Now the devil has been watching mankind for sometime now, and men are a broken lot, fallen in every way, perverting even our food, turning to gluttony, stealing, hoarding, not trusting God. 

12“Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything. 13“ Food for the stomach and the stomach for food,” but God will destroy them both. The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14By His power God raised the Lord from the dead, and He will raise us also.… 1 Corinthians 6: 12-14

If You are the Son of God - The devil knows who He is, but he approaches Jesus much differently than he does us. He gets to approach Him as a man with the hunger, but also as God, with all the power of deity available to Him. It's like saying, "you're hungry, nothing wrong with that, but do You really need to wait for the Father's permission before You eat? Do You really have to wait for His provision like Elijah did by the brook? Or like the people in the wilderness, do you have to wait for God to give water, to trust in Him and His timing?" You see, Jesus has set aside the privileges of deity to live the life I could not, in my place, satisfying the righteousness of the law, which righteousness I myself could not obtain through the law. Remember the "out of Egypt I have called My son", how that was Israel coming out of the land of Egypt, yet it is also a picture of Christ in the OT. They murmured and complained, did not trust God and even longed to go back to the slavery of Egypt in their delusions. He is coming to accomplish all that man did not. The first Adam ate the apple, the second Adam only does what He sees the Father doing.

…18Because of this, the Jews tried all the harder to kill Him. Not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. 19So Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does. 20The Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does. And to your amazement, He will show Him even greater works than these.… John 5: 18-20

Command these stones to become loaves of bread - Satan couldn't tempt me like this, and for one reason, I don't have that kind of power. Men would love that, "I am hungry, where's my wand, I am about to go Harry Potter here and sit down to a nice spread." Jesus is God the Son, and there was nothing that was made on this planet that wasn't made through Him and for Him. He is the Word become flesh to dwell among us, and with a word He could call down angels or a banquet into being. He is not going to be ruled by His flesh though, and He knows that the Father's time is perfect, and that the Father will provide.

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.… John 1: 1-3

But He answered, it is written - If you are a pastor then this is a huge application. While Jesus is out there living the life I didn't, being the light that Israel hadn't, here is how he dealt with temptation. Satan will twist the word of God, but Christ cares more for it's intended meaning, the right application. The Word is two fold here, a shield and a sword. We know that faith is the shield, and how does it come, by the Word of God. Faith, that absolute trust in God, comes through the reading of His word, that is how we grow, that is where we see what God actually says. The sword of the Spirit is also the Word, the Word rightly understood and applied. Take a look:

…16But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. 18But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”… Romans 10: 16-18

…16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.… Ephesians 6: 16-18

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God - There is something far worse than being hungry for food, and that is the soul that does not know to be hungry for the Word, for when the body goes, the soul lives on, but you were born into this life Spiritually dead. You need to hear the good news and you need to respond to the good news. Starvation in this life is nothing compared to eternity.

…62Then what will happen if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before? 63The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. 64However, there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him.)… John 6: 62-64

Throw Yourself down - Prove You're God. Some say this pinnacle is some 450 feet above the valley below, and false messiahs and prophets would love to be able to give a demonstration like this, for the people love sensationalism. One false messiah did attempt to jump from here and another tried to part some water. People don't learn from the OT, God provided manna, parted the Red Sea, brought water from a rock, destroyed the Egyptian army, did a lot of miracles, but the people didn't repent. Some people only come for the fish and the bread, as we will see as we go further into the gospels. People love a good show, they love feelings, and magic, so any "church" that is advertising and appealing to such things is one to stay away from.

For example Theudas, ah, met the people at the temple, led them all out and promised that he was gonna split the waters of the Jordan River. Well, he didn't. And then there was a famous Egyptian pretender, who said that he would lay flat the walls of Jerusalem. And then there was Simon Magus, and you know what tradition tells, that Simon Magus tried this - splat. It was a terrific dive and it was a rotten landing. These pretenders were forever trying to offer sensational appeals to the people to get instant public acceptance so that they would be thought of as the messiah. Is this what He wanted, is this what God wanted? Did God expect His Messiah to pull off some fantastic stunt, some magic trick - not so. - J Mac

He will command His angels concerning You - Satan doesn't miss a beat. He's soulless, doesn't care about the truth or the Author's original intent, the first dart didn't produce blood so he throws another, and tries to pepper it with Scripture, but he twist it. The Scriptures have meaning, intent, purpose and application built in; it is for us to search it out, it's already there. We do not bring the meaning to the Scripture. You don't use the Bible like a book of spells, as I see the charismatic church and all other prosperity teachers doing, that is another gospel. 

…15From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.… 2 Timothy 3: 15-17

14Remind the believers of these things, charging them before God to avoid quarreling over words, which succeeds only in leading the listeners to ruin. 15Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth. 16But avoid irreverent, empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness,… 2 Timothy 2: 14-16

You shall not put the Lord your God to the test - Again, He answers with Scripture, only we learn from Him what the reformers in every age have found, that you take the whole counsel of God. I knew two elderly people that believed in putting God to the test, and they had come to believe a heresy taught by a group out of California, that Christians aren't supposed to work, and of course this appealed to their natures, so they did everything possible not to work. But, like socialist, they needed other people to work for them, because you still need money, a place to live, the grass needs mowed and the belly aches for food. They would say, "give to him that would ask of thee", but they didn't like it when someone said, "he who does not work shall not eat." I have mentioned before that people will preach whole prosperity messages on "you have not because you ask not", but read the rest of the verse, look at the context. You are preying on peoples lack of discernment, their lack of Spiritual maturity, all the while pretending that you are godly. If God is not telling Jesus to jump off the building then it is vane, and God doesn't want a crowd surfer. Christ can call down legions of angels, but that is not what God wants. Jesus came meek and humble, the perfect image for us to be conformed to. Satan wants to soil that image; he wants to bring the perfect nature of Christ to an end. He wants it to end in His not trusting the Father, being disobedient to the Father, no longer being worthy to be the Lamb without stain. He wants Jesus to become an unacceptable sacrifice. 

…2You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures. 4You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.… James 4: 2-4

Showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory - The world is a part of the satanic system. God is holy and righteous, and the world is not that, it is fallen into an arrogant and evil state. It no longer recognizes God, and when someone righteous appears, He is alien to them. There is only one logical and holy way for the restoration of Creation to occur; it has to be purchased back through a divine and holy nature, an ultimate sacrifice. This present world is in darkness, and it's ruler is the ruler of darkness, the father of lies, the tempter, Satan. Man, in his fallen state, is forfeit, belonging to the devil, the present ruler of this age. So Satan takes Christ up here to cut a deal with Him. 

…3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.… 2 Corinthians 4: 3-5

All these I will give You if You fall down and worship me - He doesn't want Jesus to go to the cross, to be able to say, "it is finished". He doesn't want to lose his kingdom, and so he fights tooth and nail, looking for something, anything in this Jesus that he can latch onto and exploit. "Look, Jesus, I will give you the world, and you can avoid the cross. That is the object, right, and surely the end will justify the means?" 

…29And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe. 30I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming, and he has no claim on Me. 31But I do exactly what the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up! Let us go on from here.… John 14: 29-31

Be gone Satan - You are talking in circles now, you have taken your best shots for 40 days, and then at the point where Christ should be at His weakest, all He can do is look to the Father, to the truth, to the glory laid out before Him. He denies Himself, takes up His Cross, and follows the path laid out before Him, the glory decided on before time. Herein is love manifested.

…10So Pilate said to Him, “Do You refuse to speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You and authority to crucify You?” 11Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin.” 12From then on, Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is defying Caesar.”… John 19: 10-12

You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve - He showed us the way, and He stayed in God's word, and now He could tell the devil to leave, because He had taken all that he had to dish out. 

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.… Hebrews 12: 1-3

Angels came and were ministering unto Him - Times of refreshment will come, and God was faithful to the time He had purposed. 

…52“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”… Matthew 26: 52-54

…30Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall. 31But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40: 30-31

…3“Leave here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan. 4And you are to drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” 5So Elijah did what the LORD had told him, and he went and lived by the Brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan.… 1 Kings 17: 3-5