Scripture: Luke 9:23
Here in this text, we see a recording of a victory of our Lord over human sin and temptation.
Matthew’s intention here is to show:
(A)Jesus’ right or qualification as a King of kings and Lord of lords by defeating the opposing kingdom and its king, Satan.
(B)demonstrate patterns to overcome temptation, so that God’s people might follow this model to be victorious over temptations.
Matt 4:1-2
These verses show that after every victory comes temptations. Jesus was baptized and was confirmed by God the father how much He loved Jesus, then was led to the desert to fast for 40 days.
He experiences great victory...after a great triumph, Satan comes. Right when you have experience a spiritual victory, that is when you are most vulnerable. Meaning, that when we have that "too much of confidence" (pride) Satan targets you. You think that you are invincible.
Point 1: (Matt 4:3-4) - Temptation to Serve Self
Since Jesus had fasted for 40 days, He needed physical food; Satan knew the need and so he tempted Jesus to change these stone to bread and fill the hunger of the flash.
Satan is very cunning, he is basically saying to Jesus "Act independently of God" "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." (In our lives, Satan tries to make us doubt "our relationship with God". "If you are a child of God, why this and why that....) -> Satan tries to put doubt concerning most basic yet essential thing to Christianity, which is a covenantal relationship we have with the Father. Also we must think carefully about acting independently of God.
"all we like sheep have gone astray, each of us turning our OWN separate ways..." is and was our sin. We must understand that Jesus is in unity with God. They do not contradict each other.
Jesus is part of trinity and for him to do things independently of the will of the Father is to break the vary nature of God! We believers also must remember that we are in Him and that we are one with God.
We live and breath in Him, we are happy under the provision and care of the loving God who loves us.
Psalms 119:11 - Your word I have treasured in my heart that I might not sin against you. This is the only way in which we can fight temptations, with the "living and active" word of God. And Jesus replied, "It is written that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."
What Jesus is saying here is that, it’s not food that we live by but "the creative, energizing, and sustaining power of God is the only real source of man’s existence."
MacArthur page 92
Yes! When we wait for God’s provision and seek His will, Bible promises that "all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt 6:33)
Point 2: (Matt 4:5-7) - Temptation to Test God
Again here, we see that Satan makes Jesus doubt..."If you are the Son of God...He shall give angels charge concerning You, in their hands they shall bear you up, lest You dash your foot against a stone."
In Psalms 91:11-12 it says, "For He shall give angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone." -Satan uses God’s word incorrectly. He takes it out of context - just like he did with eve. Jesus replied, "You shall not tempt the Lord your God."
If our Lord would have jumped from this high place of the temple, every one in Jerusalem would have considered him to be a messiah. Many have came in the name of God before and after Jesus, performing miracles, doing tricks and magic to win them over to be popular.
These false messiahs appealed to the vary sinful nature of men, to their "faithless sensationalism" Jesus would not perform a miracle to entertain people’s faithlessness. This is why Jesus would not show signs and wonders to people when they asked for one.(Matt 12:38,39) "Jesus knows that the Father’s care and protection can not be proved to others by any means, but FAITH only."
~Do not test God, for you are doubting God and that’s not trusting Him~ In Korea, there was an incident where a woman while reading the Bible, reading about Jesus walking on water left the house and went to the sea and while trying to walk on water, drowned and died.
Her claims were that "...anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these,..." (John 14:12) Obviously, devil has deceived her w/ the scripture verse and brought shame and tragedy to God and her self.
We must remember, no matter how noble our motivation and cause maybe, to test God is a sin!
Unlike the first one, Jesus here is tempted not to act independently to help himself but now he is asked to take a risk to have God move and act in his behalf. But this is still trying to separate the Father and the son.
Our worthy Lord and King Jesus answers by saying, "No! I will not test God!" For our Lord knew that He didn’t have to do anything to know that God cared for him. We know by God’s wonderful promise in His words that we are His in Jesus Christ. (John 3:16) We also know that God will never forsake us in time of need and help.(Hebrews 13:5,6) ONLY BY FAITH WE SHALL STAND!
Point 3: (Matt 4:8-10) - Temptation to Worship Satan
Satan wanted Jesus to renounce the way of His Father and to substitute to his (Satan) own way. As God proclaimed King of Kings, Jesus had a divine right to all kingdoms--Satan’s appeal is
a) "Why should you have to wait for what is already rightfully Yours?"
b) "You deserve to have it now; why do You submit as a servant when You could reign as a king?" Satan may have referred to Psalms 2:8 - Ask of me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance..."
Satan: "All these things I will give to You if You fall down and worship me." - Satan’s plan was to draw the Son of God away from the worthiness by enticing Him to grab the kingdom the Father has promised to give Him. Instead enduring the long, bitter, and painful road to the cross, Jesus could’ve ruled the world now...BUT if Jesus fell here, He would have disqualified Himself not only as King but as a Saviour. MacArthur pages 96-97 summery
In fullness of time (God’s time) Jesus will inherit the kingdom of God, not in the ways of this world. We, Christians must insist on God’s WAY and wait for God’s TIME!
"Can we steal to offer God more offerings?" or "Have a dance party every weekend to have more people come to church?" Would this bring Glory to God and truly expand God’s kingdom? Our answer simply is "NO!" Jesus replied, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ’You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve."
In conclusion, Matt 4:11 we read "Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him." Yes! when God’s people insist in the way of the Lord and trust God’s words, devil has no choice but to leave.
In James 4:7 we are remained, "...Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
We also see here, not only did the presence of evil left but the company of angels ministered Jesus. I am sure that these angels fed Jesus, care for him and reassured him of the Fathers love. When we are faithfully walking in the Lord, there are angels all around us to minister unto us in all aspects of our lives. So let us continue to do good and run our race of faith, "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith..."(Hebrews 12:1,2)
God bless you and may you be victorious over temptations as follow the master’s ways!
