Year A. First Sunday of Lent Matthew 4: 1-11
February 17, 2002
Title: “Methods all Christians need to use in order to remain faithful to their identity as children of God.”
After his baptism Jesus overcomes temptations to misuse his God-given powers by consulting Scripture and following its teachings.
Mark, the first gospel to be written, a copy of which Matthew had before him, simply states that Jesus was tested. Matthew and Luke elaborate on that. Each gives three examples of the content of those tests, although in different order. There is no satisfactory explanation for the different order, even though they clearly derived their accounts from the same source, “Q.” Jesus’ identity as Son of God and his mission as Servant of God were, no doubt, tested throughout his life. He was constantly being tempted to use his extraordinary powers to take shortcuts to successfully completing his mission and to make even his own life more comfortable. These tests or temptations are presented not only as examples of Jesus’ overcoming his own challenges, but also as typical examples of how his followers are tempted and how they are to overcome them. Jesus’ method, asking “What does Scripture say?,” is the method all Christians are to use in order to remain faithful to their identity as children of God and their mission as servants of God.
In form, this scene resembles how rabbis would debate, the Jewish equivalent of the Greek Socratic method. Each one would quote from Scripture to bolster his point. Arguments were settled by determining which side presented the truest and fullest picture of what Scripture really and completely says. Matthew is teaching by using that method. Jesus is presented as “fulfilling,” Scripture, as the one who not only says what Scripture says but does what Scripture says. Matthew and Jesus establish the basic hermeneutical principle: the best commentary on any verse of Scripture is the rest of Scripture itself.
In content this scene unpacks what was said of Jesus by God at his baptism. He is simultaneously God’s Son, in being, and God’s Servant, in doing. The people understood themselves to be God’s son collectively, like a corporate personality. They failed to both be and do what they should. Jesus succeeds where they fail. He accepts the challenges of life as so many tests of integrity and fidelity, as opportunities to grow spiritually, all the while refusing to test God’s integrity and fidelity. These three scenes are to be understood as consequences of Jesus’ acceptance of his divine sonship, not as doubts about it.
In verse one, wilderness: The locale of the desert is not important. It is a symbol for a place of testing, and reminds of the Israelite wanderings. They failed where Jesus succeeded. Even Adam in the lush and plush circumstances of the garden failed. It is not circumstances, but attitudes, which explain the difference.
The Spirit: The same Spirit who descended upon him at baptism, now leads him through the trials and tests and temptations of life. That Spirit does not shield him from negatives, but strengthens and enlightens him to conquer them.
To be tempted: The verb Greek peirazein, has two senses: to tempt and to test. On the human side the appropriate sense is “tempt.” On the divine side, since God tempts no one, James 1:13, the appropriate sense is “test.” God can use the efforts of evil people, even of Satan himself, to accomplish his purposes. Satan here tries, attempts, to seduce, but God views it and uses it as a test.
By the devil: In pre-exilic times God was seen as the “tester.” In post-exilic times Satan was more appropriately understood as having that role. However, “testing and tempting,” is all he can do. Satan cannot make things happen, only lure humans into seeing them as good and desirable. In that sense Satan remains under God’s ultimate control.
In verse two, fasted: Though none of the evangelists say why Jesus fasted, there would seem to be little choice in a desert. Fasting is and was known to be an aid to clear thinking and serious prayer at least, up to a point.
Forty days: This was an expression for a prolonged but limited period of time, although it would remind of the forty years Israel spent in the desert and the forty days Moses and Elijah fasted.
In verse three, If you are the Son of God: “If” here means “since,” expressing assumption, not doubt. Satan appeals to human pride, goading Jesus to “prove,” himself by miraculously feeding himself. If Adam, who was not even hungry, would literally bite the bait amidst a garden of plenty, why would not Satan think Jesus would amidst a desert of stones? Jesus would later work miracles to feed others, but he would not use, misuse or abuse his power as Son to feed himself.
In verse four, it is written: Jesus tells Satan why he will not do the common sense thing or take the easy way out. Scripture says so. It says “no.” That’s enough for Jesus. Case closed.
Not on bread alone: Jesus does not deny the importance of food. He just refuses to make it more important than it is, to give it exclusive or supreme importance. That place is reserved for God’s word, a resource open to all his followers as well. Jesus is quoting from Deuteronomy
8:3.
In verses five to seven, having rejected the first temptation because he trusted God to supply his need, Jesus is again tempted on the basis of that very assurance. That the scene shifts to the Jerusalem temple is an indication that these are interior experiences rather than geographical transports because; only the first temptation has the desert as the backdrop. It is immaterial where Jesus actually was. Satan himself quotes Scripture to bolster his challenge that Jesus can throw himself down from lofty heights and land safely. He quotes Ps 91: 11-12 to tempt Jesus to do this to “prove,” that God, through his angels, will, as promised in the Psalm, ensure that even the slightest mishap, like stubbing one’s toe, is impossible for those who trust God. Satan is like the religious person who takes a quote from Scripture out of context to justify his or her position. Jesus counters by citing another passage that the devil’s interpretation is wrong, thus establishing the basic hermeneutical principle that any verse of Scripture must be interpreted in the light of the rest of Scripture. The demand for the miraculous- like the case of the Israelites demanding a miracle at Massah- is not acceptable to God. The servants of God cannot demand that God miraculously intervene to meet their manufactured or exaggerated needs to prove himself. To put oneself in danger, like jumping from tall buildings, and then look to God to avert the natural and foreseeable consequences of such an act is offensive to God, creating a hazard where none previously existed. Trust needs no such test. Satan is wrong again, regardless of the pious clothing he masked his error in.
In verses eight to ten, the fact that there is no mountain high enough to see the whole world alerts us to consider these temptations as interior experiences going on in the mind’s eye. They do remind of Moses viewing the promise land from Mt Nebo, though. The temptation must have been great to compromise on a principle, to shortcut, in order to establish a worldwide kingdom where everybody worships God. But the price was too high. He could not “serve the devil,” even once in order to rule the world. The end does not justify the means, no matter how lofty. He will pay an even higher price, the cross, but only because that is God’s way.
In verse eleven, the devil left him: In 16: 23 Jesus will address Peter as “Satan,” a reminder that Jesus recognized Satan’s voice, his lure, his “be realistic and compromise,” attitude, even in the voice of people he loved and who thought they were giving good advice. The devil never really left him, only left him alone for the time being; remember the devil never leaves or stops trying to tempt us to do evil we must always be on guard. The scene ends with the “angels,” ministering to Jesus, giving him divine aid on God’s terms only.
Sermon
In the end the angels did miraculously feed Jesus. The Greek word for “minister” (diakonein) also means “to wait on table.” Matthew does not say it so clearly, only obliquely, in order to prevent misunderstanding. God will work miracles, but not on demand, not to prove he’s God, not to reward trust, not to be manipulated into it, and not to get people to worship him. God will meet our needs, but only our real ones, ones he sees as needs, not ones we manufacture or dream up. The ones we think are needs because of our individual ego demands.
Jesus as a human had to learn what it meant to be him, the unique Son and Servant of God. He rejected each temptation to misuse his unique position and powers, even for a good cause. And he used Scripture rightly, all of Scripture, not just what served his preconceived purposes. He clearly wants us to do the same. We can only derive the strength and light that Scripture affords when we approach Scripture properly- as an obedient child and servant. Where Adam failed, where Israel failed, Jesus succeeded. He did not twist God’s words as did the snake, but really listened and obeyed. He, of all people, accepted the limits of his life, limits imposed by his Father, and those limits actually freed him to do what he did. Limits are not barriers, but boundaries, freely accepted as contexts for behaving and being. These boundaries of being human should be looked at like all problems that come into our life, both should be treated as opportunities to grow spiritually. We are really points of awareness or spiritual beings having a physical experience and we must learn not to accept the realities we see with our physical eyes but with are spiritual eyes.
While we may never be tempted to turn stones into bread because we know we cannot or jump off a cliff because we know we would not survive, we are tempted to lose our identity as a child of God and misuse our powers. Even Baptism does not act as a barrier to that. Just as Jesus was tempted after his baptism, so are we. And we should expect it. After the Father said all those glowing things to Jesus and about him, after the Spirit descended and remained upon him, he still was tempted to renege on it all, and tempted to do so in the name of God and holy religion! Should we think we are exempt? The Spirit’s presence does not prevent temptation, but makes it possible to not give in to it. That is so if, and only if, we cooperate with his power to enlighten us by study of his word. True, the Spirit can work miracles from nothing, but God’s clear preference and ordinary way of doing things is to have us consult his word to discover his way and be empowered to carry it out. For that to happen we have to know his word better than Satan and his cohorts. It is important to remember that God appears to prefer to do things for us, through us, when we cooperate with His will.
Trust in God is not leaving everything to God. It is leaving everything to God’s way and will. And God clearly does not want us to just sit back and order him around. We have to participate in his will by doing those things we can, so long as they are consistent with his revealed word and will. Leaving everything up to God means that part of “everything,” includes what he reveals he wants us to do. The religious stance that says let God do it is an aberration of “Let God be God.” God can and does order us around, though always with the caveat that we can freely say “no.” Of course, there are consequences to “no” as there are to “yes.” Trust in God does not get us off the hook. It is not to be used as a justification to only pray and leave it all to God. Jesus certainly did not do that. Jesus accepted everything about God, even as he left everything to follow God. This is very different from leaving everything to God. He accepted the limits, the boundaries, the context- his humanity- within which he would do and be what God wanted of him. Let go and let God; does not mean we do not do our part to bring God’s kingdom here on earth by forgiving others, helping those in need, visiting the sick and those in jail.
Like Jesus, we are constantly tempted by Satan and our own serpentine cleverness to settle- in the end-for less by reaching for more, to exceed the boundaries of our humanity by breaking one of God’s wise and revealed rules, all the while claiming that we have found a better, easier, quicker way to fulfill God’s purposes. Ironically, God does want us to transcend the sinful humanity we have inherited. That good goal, however, can only be accomplished by doing so his way. Adam and all who followed him are more than ample proof that our way and Satan’s way end up in destruction and death.
There is no compromising on truth, not even for a good cause.
The best interpretation of any verse of Scripture is the one most consistent with the rest of Scripture.
Baptism does not eliminate temptation, but empowers, even ensures, victory over it.
Trusting in God, putting everything in his hands, does not mean doing nothing or eliminate personal responsibility.
Accepting the limits of our humanity, our being a creature, does not confine us but confirms us and allows us to be all God intends us to become.
Flights of Fancy: When we are in scary circumstances, like being alone is a vast desert, or when we feel trapped, like being confined in a bad marriage or job or even a traffic jam, we try to escape by imagining a completely different and much more acceptable set of circumstances. In other words, when we feel we are in the extremes of negative circumstances, we fantasize about the extremes of positive circumstances. Because Jesus was and is human, he did the same thing. Here he was imagining his life and his mission as it might be without all the hassles. He imagined being well fed when he was hungry. He imagined being well accepted when he was rejected. He imagined being successful in his mission when he was failing. Imagination is, of course, a good thing. It is by imagining what we and our life would be like “IF,” we became this or that whatever, if we were in this or that situation, that we plan our future, at least as much as it is within the realm of possibility. At the same time, entering into the world of “IF,” can be very dangerous. There are no limits in the world of if, no rules really. We can imagine anything and not everything we imagine is good, good for us, good for others or good for the world. Oh, it seems good in the world of “IF,” because in that world we are the creator of the scenario and we always come off as good and always the ones calling the shots. We have removed ourselves from the world of “IS,” where God is ultimately, if not immediately, in charge and have placed ourselves in a world of our own making and imagining. Some folks, as we know from the profile of criminals like serial killers imagining themselves avenging the wrongs done them by others, will try to make that “what if” into an “is” and do wrong, all the while convinced they are doing right, even claiming that they are doing the will of God. Now, most of us do not go to such extremes, but the process is the same, though, thank God, the results may not be so horrendous and heinous. When we say that Jesus “overcame temptation” we mean that he avoided that trap, “trap” being the truly confining limit. He refused to be captured by his own human imagination, for he knew that in that “desert” evil lurked and could ultimately rule his life if he were not careful. Being “careful” meant being close to God’s word at all times, allowing God’s word to resonate throughout his consciousness, even when it was in the “what if,” imagining mode. God’s word, what seems to be some as a flight of fancy itself, brings us back to reality, God’s reality and anchors us in truth.
Confirming vs. confining: Jesus accepted the limits of his humanity and refused to use his extraordinary powers, powers other humans could only imagine having, in order to make his life more pleasant or more successful as humans define those terms. Yet, in accepting those limits, the limits of being a creature, he received strength. He was confirmed in his mission and thereby empowered to reject rejection, the rejection of his own people. He would not let their behavior determine his. He would not place himself above the laws of nature and turn stones into bread though he would multiply bread to feed others. He would not do magical tricks to wow and woo people into accepting him though he would miraculously cure others. He would not compromise himself privately in order to succeed in his mission publicly. In accepting the limits of his freely-chosen humanity, he actually did accomplish and continues to accomplish his mission, but as God wants it done. Consulting God’s word confirmed him, assured him, that he was on the right path. Amen.
