Bulletin Article 02.11.07 -- Tackling Temptation (Matt. 4:1-11)

We all like to see ourselves in things, right? When you (or myself) see a group picture, you immediately look for yourself. It’s a natural impulse we have as human beings. It’s an important principle to “look for ourselves” in the Bible as well.

When we read of Jesus’ temptations found in Matthew 4 (also Mk. 1; Lk. 4), we see ourselves. We see our specific temptations in this life and we can relate to our Lord’s temptations. Hopefully, we should see ourselves in Jesus’ responses and resistance of those temptations. There is an abundance of fruit to be born from this account. We could have a series of articles that last for months if we discussed a majority of what can be discussed in this brilliant account. For this week, however, let’s spend our time learning some lessons about the story as a whole.

Temptation is unpredictable. I find it interesting to notice Jesus’ situation—it proves in part that temptations can be unpredictable. In an obvious way, Jesus was weak. He had been fasting for 40 days. He was in need of physical nourishment. That’s why Satan tempted him to make bread from the stones around Him. We are often tempted when we are weak. It is then that we must lean on Him who is strong.

On the other hand, notice that Jesus was strong at this point as well. It’s not as obvious as his weakness, but I think it’s there. He had been fasting for 40 days. Fasting is typically understood to be the removal of something important to emphasize something that’s even more important. I would guess that Jesus spent those 40 days away from food by focusing on His calling as the Son of God. He was getting prepared to do the work of His Father. He was about to depart the wilderness to “seek and save the lost.” That’s why I think Satan preceded his temptations twice with “If you are the Son of God…” He was calling out Jesus’ very Deity on the biggest stage: before all eternity.

We need to be aware of the temptations that lurk when we’re at our strongest. That was part of Paul’s admonition in 1 Corinthians 10 regarding the Israelites, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (10:12). Satan wants us at anytime, but he wants us when we’re strong to keep us from getting stronger.

There is always more at stake than it seems at the moment. There was certainly more on the line with Jesus’ temptations than some loaves of bread, than jumping from the pinnacle of the temple, or casually bowing before Satan. The eternal destiny of all of mankind hung on Jesus’ decisions that fateful day. More than a simple piece of fruit from an otherwise ordinary tree was on the line in the Garden of Eden. With us today, more is on the line than a few dollars when we report our taxes. More is at stake than cheating on a test that we failed to study for. More hangs in the balance than a seemingly simple insult of a brother or sister in Christ.

We could easily formulate a long and scary list of things we risk when we face temptation to sin. We could list our futures, families, finances, friendships, security, peace, and so on. However, the thing that hangs in the balance the most is our trust in God. Jesus’ temptation to turn stones into bread put His trust in God to provide food later on the line. Satan’s temptations for Jesus to prove He was the Son of God put His Father’s ability to prove that fact in a different way in limbo. In order to resist Satan’s temptations, Jesus had to possess an unfailing trust in God to provide. Do we trust God enough to resist Satan’s offers?

There is always a way out. Jesus’ reaction to each of Satan’s temptations is well-documented. He used the holy scriptures to refute and resist Satan’s attempts. The specific principle is obvious: the Bible holds the key to us standing firm. The more we know about sin (and by association, temptation), the more equipped we are for standing up against it. The response by Jesus showed He was fully submitted to the will of God. His purpose in living was to carry out the Father’s will. Therefore, He know to whom to submit when in the face of danger. If the author of the book of James is indeed the brother of Jesus—as many conclude—it is truly interesting to see many principles that were lived in the life of Jesus explained and encouraged in the epistle from James. Notice what James says in 4:7, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Jesus submitted to God and Satan fled. We should do the same.

Have a great week in service to Him!