4 - Tempted In The Wilderness

Satan tempts Jesus three times, and Jesus isn’t in his full strength at that point. He actually had just fasted forty days in the wilderness.

Luke 4 gives an account of Satan’s tempting of Jesus, as does what we have read in Matthew 4. As we go further into the Gospels, a lot of harmony and confirmations of miracles (through numerous accounts) are involved.

> Luke 4:2 - Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

So apparently, Jesus had been tempted during those days by the devil as well as at the end. Though tempted, He did not succumb to the enticement (ooh, big words!). He didn’t give in at any point.

Giving a sneak peek into Hebrews, we will find more information about why Jesus is our Perfect atonement (payment) for our sins and went through His life on earth spotless and without blemish, even though He was tempted in every way we are.

> Hebrews 4:15 - For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Interesting how the devil tries to attack especially when we are weakest. He can try to grab a hold and discourage us, but we are commanded to, well, 1 - Put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6), and 2 - Rejoice in everything and take things to prayer (Philippians 4 and I Thessalonians 5), and 3 - Don’t let the devil even get a foothold!

> Ephesians 4:27 - Neither give place to the devil.

Reading the Bible, prayer, and fellowship with Christians are EXTREMELY good shielding from the darts of the devil.

> Ephesians 6:13-18 - "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"

Jesus was well equipped for the devil’s attacks

Parallel to Genesis 3, where Eve is tempted by the serpent (Satan), Matthew 4 talks about Satan tempting Jesus.

> Genesis 3:6 - And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Both these passages follow right along with I John 2:16.

> I John 2:16 - For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Lust of the Flesh -

Genesis 3 - Tree was good for food. Devil tells her to eat from it.

Eve’s response: Mmm! Mmm!

Luke 4 - "And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread." (4:3)

Jesus’ response: "And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." (4:4)

The source is more important than the bread! Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 8:3 in this part of the temptation. That was a big ’no’ to the devil!

Lust of the Eyes -

Genesis 3 - Tree was pleasant to the eyes.

Eve’s response: Maybe I can disobey

Luke 4 - "And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine." (4:5-7)

Jesus’ Response: "And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." (4:8)

Satan is sometimes called the ’god of this world,’ and in Job, we find that he wanders to and fro on the earth, but a sick part is that he doesn’t realize that he’s already been defeated by the Blood of the Lamb, Jesus will reign over all, and simply, the devil himself won’t win!