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!
Jesus busted the devil’s request by quoting Scripture from Deuteronomy (chapter 6, verse 23) and ended the request abruptly. There is Power in the Word of God!
Pride of Life -
Genesis 3 - Eating from the tree would make Eve wise.
Eve’s Response: Disobedience, turning into her being ashamed and guilty of sin.
Luke 4 - "And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone." (4:9-11)
Jesus’ Response: "And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." (4:12)
Satan took his quote from Scripture out of context. Jesus put him in order right away. Jesus knew the Scriptures, and even so, He was, is, and WILL be the Word of God!
> John 1:1-4 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men."
We need to be well equipped in the Word of God, meaning read the Bible, know it, and live it! The more you know Him and about Him, the more AWESOME life is!
Jesus said that we err (make mistakes) because the Word is not in us. The Word was certainly in Him, so let’s follow in His Footsteps there!
> Psalm 91:1-3 - "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence."
Notice something about Jesus’ Divinity? Even though He was fully God while fully man, He never did miracles to improve His Life. He could have forced everyone to give Him riches and things of earth, but He didn’t. Jesus always helped the helpless and the lowly, as well as higher authority figures (example: the centurion in Matthew 8)
Jesus could have been huge in His first ’trip to earth,’ but He became as a lowly servant. He could have blasted the devil off the map if He wanted to, and all temptation in the wilderness would not have even existed! Jesus even prayed later on for God the Father’s Will to be done. Jesus could have done a miracle to get down from the cross, but He didn’t. He was the Son of God who died for the payment of our sins, even though He did nothing wrong. He then rose again, conquering death and hell (Revelation 1:18) and proving that He is the Son of God!
He will be back, however, and THIS time, He will be King over an everlasting Kingdom. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11). Everyone, willing and unwilling, will do so. Will you be joyful and willing, with a life of peace ahead? Will you have life more abundantly here on earth?
Jesus came that we would have life, and life more abundantly (John 10:10), and it’s a free gift. If you haven’t accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and King, and wish to, pray this prayer to Him: "Jesus, be my Savior. Forgive my sins, make my heart clean and new. You are the Son of God. Thank You for what You have done for me, and what You are doing, and will do, in Jesus’ Name, Amen."
God is Good, and that’s not just part-time!
> Psalm 145:3 - "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable."
May the Lord bless you this weekend, and set your hearts on things above, and trust in Him, because He will lead you into the best path for your life!
