Learning from the Temptation of Jesus –

This Sunday, Pastor Luis Méndez preached the sermon Learning from the Temptation of Jesusbased on Matthew 4:1-11.

One of the most consoling truths for the believer is that Jesus can help those of us who are tempted. He was tempted (Hebrews 2:18) and is pleased to provide mercy and grace to help those in need. Studying the temptation of Jesus can help us by reminding us that Jesus understands us in our temptations and helps us understand how we can overcome them.

Let’s consider the details of Matthew 4:1-11 with three points related to the temptation event.

The temptation begins in Matthew 4:1-2.; having identified with sinners at His baptism, Jesus identifies with them again when severely tempted. Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert just to be tempted. He did not need to be tempted to grow, but he endured temptation in order to identify with us (Hebrews 2:18; 4:15) and to demonstrate his sinless, holy character.. The Holy Spirit can NOT tempt us, but he can lead us to a place where we will be tempted. (James 1:13); the devil is the great tempter. The temptation of Jesus was a direct intervention of the enemy and therefore it was more severe. He endured levels of temptation that we will never experience. Matthew first mentions the desert and then mentions Jesus’ severe physical condition after fasting for forty days and nights. This is a familiar period of testing in the Bible both in the days of Moses and for Israel in the wilderness: Jesus will succeed where Israel as a nation failed.

In Matthew 4:3-10 it is recorded three In the first temptation (Matthew 4:3-4), Satan appeals to the desires of the flesh. Satan said to him: since you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. This was a temptation for God to use his gifts for personal and selfish purposes. The temptation was not only aimed at giving in to hunger and breaking the fast, but also called into question his identity as a “son of God.” The idea was to provoke Jesus into considering that He has the power and the right to meet his own needs. It is an invitation to be guided by his wishes and not by his convictions. But Jesus responds with Scripture, quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, showing that every word that proceeds from the mouth of God should be more precious to us than the very food and desires of the flesh. Jesus declares that life is more than physical needs and that the satisfaction of these is not more important than obedience to God.

With the second temptation, Satan appeals to the prides of life. He took Jesus to the Holy City and stood on the pinnacle of the temple which is considered to be an especially high place and said to him “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written: ‘He will entrust his angels to you’” Satan is tempting Jesus to “force” the Father into a supernatural event and is challenging Jesus’ identity. Satan appeals to the desire within every man to feel God’s approval and to have that approval publicly demonstrated. Satan even quotes Psalm 91:11-12 to him. The problem was that he took it out of context. Jesus knew the Word very well and could discern that it was being misapplied so he also responds with Scripture quoting Deuteronomy 6:16: “You shall not tempt the LORD your God.”

Finally, we see the third temptation in Matthew 4:5-7 where Satan appeals to the desires of the eyes. Satan took Jesus to the pinnacle of the mountain and showing him the kingdoms of the world and his glory. Essentially, this vision invited Jesus to take a shortcut to the cross. Jesus came to win all the kingdoms of the world and the glory that were in Satan’s domain, and Satan offers them to Jesus if he will prostrate himself before him. This is a revelation of the heart of Satan; praise and recognition are much more precious than the possession of the kingdoms of the world and glory (Isaiah 14:13-14). Again, Jesus responds with Scripture quoting Deuteronomy 6:13. Jesus does not give in to the offer to take control of the nations the easy way (Revelation 2:26-27; 3:21).

In Matthew 4:11 we see the end of temptation: The devil left him and Jesus won because he recognized the way Satan attacks: lies and deceit. At that moment, the angels came and served Jesus. Help came in God’s time and in God’s way. The waiting time in God will always be a critical point to overcome or be defeated in temptation since failure usually comes when we get ahead of God’s time

There are five application-specific observations:

1. We have the same adversary that Jesus had; we are also tempted by Satan (1 Peter 5:8-9). The enemy has his focus on the disciples of Christ (Revelation 12:17); We must not treat this lightly, because the conflict is REAL (Ephesians 6:12).
2. we have the same temptations: the desire of the flesh, the eyes, and the life (1 John 2:15-16).
3. We have the same tools to win. Jesus accepted the Word of God, so must we (Ephesians 6:17).
4. Jesus had faith in God’s plan (Victory in suffering); we also have the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16).
5. Jesus prayed with faith; This is how we must also do to overcome temptation (Matthew 26:40-41).

One of the most consoling truths for the believer is that Jesus can help those who are tempted. He was tempted and is pleased to provide mercy and grace to help those in need. Studying the temptation of Jesus can help us by reminding us that Jesus understands us in our temptations and by helping us understand how we can overcome temptations.