WHEN THE TEMPTER COMES
INTRODUCTION
1. Matthew 4:1-10 (NKJV) Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. {2} And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. {3} Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." {4} But He answered and said, "It is written, ’Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’" {5} Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, {6} and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ’He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ’In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’" {7} Jesus said to him, "It is written again, ’You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’" {8} Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. {9} And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." {10} Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ’You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’"
2. Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into a dangerous situation. He faced rigorous tests.
a. Alone in the wilderness. The wilderness of Judea was a remote mountainous area.
b. Hungry. He intentionally fasted for 40 days and nights.
c. Powerful opposition. The devil is a dangerous adversary [1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.] The stakes in this battle were unbelievably high. If Satan could succeed in overcoming Jesus, he would win the battle for the souls of humanity. If Jesus failed in this challenge to "stand against the wiles of the devil" [Ephesians 6:11], it would have become impossible for Him to offer us salvation.
3. Satan was quite direct in hurling forth his challenge to Jesus’ identity as the Son of God. His first words were, "If You are the Son of God . . . " What did Satan say such a thing? He knew exactly who Jesus was. The man possessed with a legion of demons pleaded with Jesus. He said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me." [Mark 5:7 (NKJV)] These demons (devil’s angels) knew that Jesus was the Son of the Most High God! Certainly Satan himself had access to the same information. The devil is trying to provoke Jesus into performing a miracle to show off His power.
4. Thus, the first temptation was to turn stones into bread -- lust of the flesh [1 John 2:16-17 (NKJV) For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; is not of the Father but is of the world. {17} And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.]
5. Next in Matthew’s account, the devil took Jesus into the holy city of Jerusalem. He offered the temptation for Jesus to throw Himself from the pinnacle of the temple -- pride of life. Prove to the people that God will keep you safe. If you are the Son of God, you will not be hurt. Scripture proves it. The devil is quite adept at quoting scripture when it suits his purpose to twist it and make what he is saying sound good.
6. Finally, Jesus faced the temptation to fall down and worship Satan -- lust of the eyes (v. 8, "the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.")
7. Jesus responded to all three temptations with "It is written. . . ." [v. 4, v. 7, v. 10]
I. JESUS WAS TEMPTED.
A. God cannot be tempted [James 1:13 (NKJV) Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.]
B. The human aspect of Jesus was tempted.
1. Matthew 4:1 (NKJV) Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2. Hebrews 2:18 (NKJV) For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
C. The advantage for us in Jesus having been tempted
1. He can sympathize with our weaknesses [Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.]
2. His example encourages us to know that temptation can be resisted. [James 4:7 (NKJV) Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.]
II. JESUS RESISTED TEMPTATION
A. Scripture was Jesus’ defensive weapon against the wiles of the devil. He replied to every temptation with "It is written. . . . "
1. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God [Deuteronomy 8:3]
2. You shall not tempt the Lord your God [Deuteronomy 6:16]
3. You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve [Deuteronomy 6:13-14]
B. The word translated tempt in Matthew 4 can mean either tempt or test. In Jesus’ case, both meanings apply. As God, Jesus was not subject to temptation, but before He could be perfected (made complete) as a human being, Jesus had to pass this test.
1. He must be able to resist whatever temptation Satan could dangle before Him to entice Him and seduce Him to act apart from the Father’s will. Jesus passed these tests with flying colors!
2. After Satan failed three times to lead Jesus astray, we’re told that ". . . the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him" [Matthew 4:11 (NKJV)].
III. WE CAN ALSO RESIST THE TEMPTATIONS OF THE DEVIL
A. God will not allow Satan to overpower us [1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. That is not a promise that we will not be tempted. It is a promise that there will be a way of escape so that we will not be tempted more than we are able to endure.
B. We must be prepared to defend ourselves against the devil’s devices.
1. Ephesians 6:10-13 (NKJV) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. {11} Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. {12} For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. {13} Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
2. Notice the connection between the articles in the whole armor of God and the Bible [Ephesians 6:14-17 (NKJV) Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, {15} and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; {16} above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. {17} And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;]
a. Waist Girded With Truth -- God’s Word is truth [John 17:17]
b. Breastplate of righteousness -- the righteousness of God is revealed, witnessed by the Law and the Prophets [Romans 3:21] and more fully explained in the New Testament. In the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith [Romans 1:16-17].
c. Feet shod with preparation of the gospel of peace
d. Shield of faith [Romans 10:17 (NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.]
e. Helmet of salvation -- how can we know how to be saved apart from God’s revelation?
f. Sword of the Spirit -- the word of God [Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.]
3. Jesus fought the devil by knowing and using the Scripture to refute whatever Satan said. We must equip ourselves to do the same thing. [2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.]
a. Know what the Bible teaches with regard to sin and sinful behavior.
b. Be willing to use the tool God has given you. Be committed to doing what God wants instead of what Satan wants.
CONCLUSION
