Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church
Sunday Worship Service
13th February 2005
Text : Luke 4:1–13 (cf. Matthew 4:1–11)
Title : Temptations Along the Way
Introduction
There was a poor village pastor who was mad at his wife for being a spendthrift. He angrily confronted his wife with the receipt for a $250/- dress she had bought. “How could you do this to me!” he exclaimed. “I don’t know,” she wailed, “I was standing in the departmental store looking for a dress. Then I found myself trying it on. It was like the Devil was whispering to me, “Gee, you look great in this dress. You should buy it.”
“Well,” the pastor persisted, “You should know how to deal with the Devil! Just tell him, ‘Get behind me, Satan!”
“I did,” the wife retorted, “but then he said, ‘It looks great from back here, too.’”
In the state of Oregon, US, a middle school was facing a unique problem. A number of girls had been putting on lipstick in the bathroom and pressed their lips onto the mirrors, leaving behind dozens of little lip prints.
Finally, the headmistress decided to do something about the problem. She summoned the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the janitor. She explained that the lip prints left on the mirrors caused a major problem for the janitor who had to clean the mirrors every day. To demonstrate how difficult it was, shed instructed the janitor to clean one of the mirrors. He took out a long-handled brush, dipped it into the toilet bowl, and scrubbed the mirror. Since that day, there had been no more lip prints on the mirrors.
When tempted to sin, if we could only see the real filth we would be kissing, we would not be attracted to it.
Lent is the special time of preparation for that moment on Easter Sunday when we will publicly declare our intentions to put away all evil from our lives. That is why today we are asked to reflect on the temptations of Christ, and on the role of temptation in our own lives. If we don’t deal with temptations in the right way, then we are on the road to becoming unfaithful friends of Jesus Christ. When Easter arrives we will be totally unprepared to say, “I do”.
What are temptations and what are testing and trials? We seem to use these words and terminologies interchangeably, confusing their source and nature. Look at the table given in the sermon outline:
Temptation Testing / Trials
Origin Satan, flesh and world God
Object To succumb To sanctify / strengthen
Opportunity Trust / Obedience Trust / Obedience
Overall Outworking of God’s sovereign will
James 1:13 makes it very clear to us about the difference between the sources of temptations and trials: “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone”. While the New Testament writers use the same Greek verb peirazō for both actions to test and to tempt. The distinction must be made in each of the context of the motivation and expectation of the tester, be it God or Satan. God’s tests are motivated by His love for us while Satan’s temptations are motivated by His hatred for us. God tests us with the expectation that we triumph and thereby being sanctified and strengthened in the process. Satan tempts us with the intention to seduce us to succumb and thereby being defeated and defiled in the process.
Nevertheless, despite the distinctions we make about testing and temptation in terms of their origins and objects, we must be clear that we have a supreme God who even overrules Satan’s power and ploys. Thus, we may say that both temptation and testing offer Christians the opportunity to exercise trust in God and obedience to Him, And when we do so, God’s holy and perfect will is worked out in those whom He has chosen and called, i.e. you and me.
Putting together the accounts of Christ’s temptations in the wilderness, I see the Fourfold Purposes of this episode:
• To reclaim the victory over temptation lost in the Garden of Eden (Romans 5:12–21). The apostle John seems to have the Fall in the Garden of Eden in mind when he writes: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” With these three primary areas of temptations, we see the parallels between the temptations in the Garden of Eden and that of Christ in the wilderness in the Gospels − “the tree was good for food” vis-à-vis “command this stone to become bread”; “it was pleasant to the eyes” vis-à-vis “the devil showed him all the kingdoms of the world”; and “a tree desirable to make one wise” vis-à-vis “throw yourself down from here”.
Temptations: The Two Adams Contrasted
1 John 2:16 Genesis 3:6 (First Adam) Luke 4:1–13 (Second Adam)
“the lust of the flesh” “the tree was good for food” “command this stone to become bread”
“the lust of the eyes” “it was pleasant to the eyes” “the devil showed him all the kingdoms”
“the pride of life” “a tree desirable to make one wise” “throw Yourself down from here”
• To reinstate the victory of Israel lost in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 6:13, 16; 8:3). All of Jesus’ quotations from the OT come from Deuteronomy where Moses makes references to the historical experience of the nation Israel. The period of forty days and place in the wilderness parallel the historical experience of Israel being tested for forty years’ of wandering in the wilderness. What the nation Israel failed, Jesus the Son in whom God the Father is well pleased, passed all the tests of trust in God and obedience to Him.
• To reveal His FULL humanity in subjecting himself to the temptations that are representative of the full range of human weaknesses. In Hebrews 4:15 we read: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.”
• To reject any notion that temptation itself is sin and disobedience (James 1:15). To be tempted is not sin but to yield to it is; this is attested by the fact that Jesus the Son of God is not spared of temptation during His earthly life. William Shakespeare rightly makes the distinction when he says, “’Tis one thing to be tempted, another thing to fall.” Someone wisely says, “While we cannot stop the birds from flying around our heads, surely we can stop them from nesting on our heads.”
The Will of God
“…led by the Spirit into the desert…” (NASB)
The Spirit that descended on Jesus at His baptism in the Jordan River to attest His anointing is the same Spirit that now drives Him into the desert to be tempted by Satan. There are two implications about temptations here. First, when we are experiencing spiritual “high” we must be on full alert because our arch enemy, Satan, will seek the earliest opportunity to cause our downfall. The Israelites had experienced God’s mighty acts of deliverance − the Ten Plagues, the leading of God by pillar of fire by night and pillar of clouds by day, and the opening of the Red Sea − yet, despite all these miraculous, we read about the Israelites’ sin of worshipping the golden calf almost immediately after being delivered from slavery in Egypt and the pursuit of the Egyptian army.
Second, though temptations come from the Evil One, capitalizing on our weaknesses, nevertheless, they work out to be fulfilling God’s will. This is a great mystery, that God is able to superintending personalities and events to accomplish His will, even through evil agencies like Satan. Did not God fulfill His plan of delivering the Israelites and the purpose of glorifying Himself through the stubbornness and wickedness of Pharaoh? Did He not also fulfill His purpose of sacrificing His Son through the betrayal of one of the disciples, Judas Iscariot?
Though Satan tempts us with the purpose of “embarrassing” God and sabotaging His plan, God nevertheless is able to turn around the situation into victory − the obedience of the believer and display of His glory! Take for instance the case of Job, though it was Satan who sought to deprive Job of children and personal comfort (through boils all over his body), hoping to cause him to curse God instead of celebrating Him, God nevertheless turned the situation around for His pleasure and purpose. At the end of the book of Job, we read of Job’s humble submission to God and God’s doubling His blessings on Job in return.
The Work of the Devil
Conventionally, many bible studies and sermons would focus on Satan’s three lines of attacks against Christ − turning stones into bread to satisfy His own hunger, bowing down to Satan to avoid the cross and inherit the kingdoms of this world, and finally, jumping off from the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem to test out God’s promise of protection. For our meditation purpose, I like to raise a few issues arising from this story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness concerning the work of the Devil.
• Testing our strength – “if you are the Son of God…”
The first line of temptation was the Devil’s taunting Jesus to turn into bread the round-shaped stones that were abundant in the wilderness of Palestine. Many preachers and Bible commentators have rightly pointed out that this line of attack was opportunistic because Jesus must have been extremely hungry after having fasted for forty days. In other words, many people see this temptation as an attack the weakness of Jesus.
However, I beg to differ. In my opinion, the attack was intense and aggressive because it attacks the strength of Jesus. The taunt from the Devil was “If you are the Son of God…” You and I will never know the intensity of this temptation of turning stones into bread because it is not within our power to do so. But for Jesus, who is truly the Son of God, surely it was chicken feat for Him to turn the stones into bread. After all, it was justifiable for him to use the Divine power to meet needs, and for that moment, it was His own hunger pangs that He needs to meet! No one should fault Him if He had chosen to use His power in that way.
But what is at stake is not the question of whether a need and the use of power to meet that need. Rather, there are two serious implications in listening to the Devil’s suggestion, which sounds so lovely and logical.
First, it has to do with whether Jesus would take the Father’s Word at face value? He had just been publicly declared by the Father as His Son and that the Father was well pleased with Him. Should Jesus test out the truthfulness of the Father’s Word of endorsement and endearment? Would Jesus accept and believe in the Father’s Word even when it means jeopardising His own physical satisfaction and psychological security? Thankfully, Jesus did take the Father’s Word at face value, with childlike trust, knowing that the Father indeed love Him and would care for Him. Thus, Jesus, with integrity, was able to say, “It is written, ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’” Jesus had put His own physical and psychological well-being on the line. He did not need the use of any power, human or divine, to prove His identity.
Here, we see the beauty of Jesus as a Man, display a childlike trust in the Father, taking His Word at face value. All that matters to who you are and what you are designed to do, lies in not what people and policies may say about you; rather, what really matters is what God has to say about you and that settles it! Adam and Eve fell into temptation because they listened to what the Devil had to say about them instead of what God had already declared “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them… God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” (Genesis 1:27, 31). Today, we live in an increasingly dehumanised world where we are nothing more than a faceless identity with username and password. In a world that is dominated by materialism and pragmatism, we are constantly being evaluated educationally and economically. The intrinsic value of a human being simply because he/she is created in the image of God is fast diminishing. While on the one hand, the advent of internet and cyberspace offers the opportunity to create colourless and classless communities, yet on the other hand, it is creating communities of faceless and anonymous individuals who are facing identity crisis in the vast expanse of cyberspace.
By contrast, we also see the ugliness of sinful human nature. How many of us are often tempted to use and abuse the powers within our means to prove or should I say prop the identity we think we should assume. From time immemorial, kings and rulers, institutions and individuals sought to use or abuse power to secure their prestige and position.
Second, would Jesus fulfil His vocation or calling, i.e. to build the kingdom of God on spiritual realities or practical realities? For Jesus to turn the stones into bread to meet material needs, whether humanity or His, would fall short of meeting a greater and deeper need of humanity, the spiritual hunger for the truth, the Word of God. It was for this purpose that God sent His only begotten Son, the ultimate and fullest revelation of God’s truth. John’s Gospel begins with the declaration: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God…. And the Word became flesh… ” (1:1). Similarly, the book of Hebrews declares: “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
The Gospel and kingdom of God do acknowledge physical needs because Jesus says, “Man does not live on bread alone.” Granted that a man does need to eat in order to live but the fullness of life is more than just mere physical existence! Man is created for a greater purpose and reality − to relate with God by knowing and doing His will!
Later, in the Gospels, we read of two instances where Jesus did perform the miraculous of multiplying the loaves and fishes to feed the crowds. The two miracles testify that indeed Jesus did acknowledge and attempt to meet physical needs of humanity. But the truth remains is this: spiritual realities take precedence over the physical realities. Thus, in John’s presentation of Jesus’ miracle of feeding the 5,000 people, Jesus used the miracle to point to a greater reality, that He is the Bread that comes down from Heaven. In John 6:35, Jesus declares: “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” Jesus offers no cheap substitute by listening to the voice of the Devil to turn stones into bread but instead He listened to the voice of His Father to offer Himself up as the Bread that comes down from Heaven to be broken for you and me, so as to meet the greatest and deepest need of soul, i.e. to be in the right relationship with God.
As Christians and as the Church of Jesus Christ, we too have received the same vocation or calling, to build God’s kingdom on spiritual realities. There are lurking dangers today because the church is fascinating with counselling and psychology. In my counselling sessions, I always emphasis first and foremost to those who come to see me that I am pastor, not a psychologist or a psychiatrist; thus, I am looking for spiritual realities (principles and powers) when dealing with the problems of their lives. The ultimate authority I am using in counselling them is the Bible, the Word of God. Therefore, sin, Satan, self-deception, Jesus Christ, confession and repentance are the basic spiritual realities that they must be prepared to deal with.
• Testing our rights – “…it will be yours.”
This line of attack is one of compromise. If Jesus had simply agreed to acknowledge Satan’s supremacy, then He would not need to face the agony of the cross that awaited Him. Also, Jesus would have achieved in possessing the kingdoms of this world without having to suffer humiliation, pain and death.
Interestingly, the word “compromise” is defined by the English dictionary as “making a shameful or disrepute concession”. Logically, one will only make a compromise when there is a promise or promises to gain. One preacher has perceptively observed that temptation may be defined as “an offer of empty promise”. Didn’t Satan, the ancient Serpent, when tempting Adam and Eve to disobey God, promised them with the prospect of being like God, knowing good and evil? Of course, Adam and Eve found it too late the emptiness of that promise. It is true that they had possessed the knowledge of good and evil but they did not become like God had the nature to always do good and never do evil. What they found was they had the knowledge of something good but unable to do it and the knowledge of something evil but unable to resist doing it.
Within the Divine counsel, Jesus knows the plan and purpose of the Father in bringing all things, heaven and earth, physical and spiritual, in subjection to Him ultimately. Does not the apostle John in his heavenly vision of the future see and hear the heavenly hosts proclaim, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” What this means is that Satan’s second temptation was an empty promise because it was not within his jurisdiction and power to offer the kingdoms of this world to Jesus! Jesus believes in His right to inherit the kingdoms of this world but not on insisting on His rights but by submitting to the Father’s will. As the apostle Paul says of Jesus in Philippians 2:6−11
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
A man who is away from home, alone in the pub, is tempted to cheat on his wife because of a promise of thrill and pleasure, yet the consequences of compromise are not spelt out − i.e. broken faith and family. A rebellious teenager is tempted to shoplift because it promises instant manhood and bravery, yet the consequences of embracing the empty promise are not detailed − i.e. enslaved to stealing and embarrassment to self and family.
We have the right to the pursuit of enduring peace, prosperity, prestige, power, and pleasure, but not by self-assertion but by submission to God’s will. Do not believe in the empty promises of the Devil!
• Testing our steadfastness – “…the devil…left him until an opportune time.”
It will be a serious mistake on our part if we think that Jesus’ face-to-face encounter with the Devil confined only to this episode. Luke makes it unmistakably clear to us that the Devil did not stop tempting Jesus after a complete failure in tempting Jesus in the wilderness to compromise His mission and message of the kingdom of God. Satan left Jesus alone until an opportune time, that is, until another opportunity to tempt Jesus arises. The battle against temptation coming from the Devil was experienced by Jesus throughout His earthly life and ministry. Now, if the Son of God was not spared of constant tempting and testing, how much more would it be for you and me, especially when we are bent on doing God’s will. The road to discipleship is the road to trials and temptations so that our faith and commitment will be proved sure and steadfast, like Jesus’!
The point for us as Jesus’ disciples is this: One victory over temptation in an area of life does not preclude future Satanic attacks in the same area of our life. The 14th Century monk, Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380–1471) wisely says, “Some people are tempted most strongly at the beginning of their spiritual life, others near the end. Some are troubled all their lives. Still others receive only light temptation. Such things are decided by God, and we can trust his wisdom.”
The Word of God
“It is written…” and “…it says…”
Jesus’ response to each line of attack from Satan is noteworthy. First, it was unapologetically straightforward. Jesus did not reason with Satan and rationalise the seduction. There is a high chance that we will succumb to temptation when we linger at the source and scene of temptation, reasoning and rationalising. Eve fell into temptation because she lingered on under the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, reasoning with the Devil (“Did God say…” and “but God said…”) and rationalising the temptation (“it was good for food”, “it was a delight to the eyes”, and “it was desirable to make one wise”).
Second, it was thoroughly Scriptural. Jesus demonstrated for us the best armoury against Satan’s temptation is not our competence or cleverness in argumentation. Rather, it is simply the Word of God, nothing more and nothing less! In dealing with the Devil’s scheme against us and our own propensity toward self-deception, we dare not rest on our own strength and strategy. We must answer Satan’s seduction with Scriptures through and through. This means, like Jesus, we must soak ourselves in Scriptures so that the Holy Spirit may call to our minds Scriptural truths to counteract Satan’s lies.
Truth for Life
Here is the STRATEGY for battling temptations:
• Be Scriptural: Is it a temptation to resist or an opportunity to seize? We discern by turning to the truths and principles of Scriptures, not using worldly philosophies or our cleverness to determine. As Christians, we must believe, as Jesus promises, that the Holy Spirit abides in us and will lead us into all truths. If we are truly looking for God’s will and ways to obey, the Holy Spirit will enlighten our minds, embolden our wills, and empower our acts, to the glory of God!
• Be Straightforward: Is it revealing an area of weakness in my life?
• Be Submissive: Is there a way out that God has provided that I am unwilling to obey? (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Here is the CHALLENGE for you:
What is the ONE area in your life that you are currently struggling against temptations? Are you willing to be…?
• Scriptural in assessing the situation?
• Straightforward in acknowledging your sinful inclinations? and
• Submissive to follow God’s provision of a way out? (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Do we mean what we pray and pray what we mean every Sunday in the worship service the petition in the Lord’s Prayer, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One”? The problem with temptation is not that we are powerless or that it is pointless in trying to resist it because there is no way out. Rather, the heart of the problem with temptation is the heart: we don’t want the way out because we will not quit the sin!
