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"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"
The Temptation Of Jesus (Mt 4:1-11)
INTRODUCTION
1. One of the blessings of having Jesus as our Savior is His ability to
comfort and aid those who are tempted...
a. This is because He too was tempted - He 2:18
b. He is sympathetic, and can provide mercy and grace to help in
time of need - He 4:14-16
2. One of His greatest periods of temptation was at the beginning of
His public ministry...
a. Immediately following His baptism by John - Mt 3:13-17
b. Just prior to starting His preaching ministry - Mt 4:12-17
3. Studying "The Temptation Of Jesus" can be fruitful for several
reasons...
a. It reminds us that Jesus can understand our own temptations
b. It reveals how we can be more successful in overcoming temptation
[With that in mind and using Mt 4:1-11 as our basic text, let's begin
with...]
I. THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS REVIEWED
A. THE SETTING OF THE TEMPTATIONS...
1. Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness - Mt 4:1
a. The same Spirit which descended upon Him in bodily form as
dove - Mt 3:16; Lk 3:22
b. It was likely the wilderness of Judea, a desolate place
2. To be tempted by the devil - Mt 4:1
a. It appears that this challenge was known beforehand by the Spirit
b. For it was the Spirit who led Jesus to the wilderness "to be tempted
by the devil"
3. Where Jesus fasted for forty days - Mt 4:2
a. His fasting is reminiscent of Moses and Elijah - Exo 34:28;
1 Ki 19:8
b. Mark mentions wild beasts - Mk 1:13
-- Thus it was after forty days of fasting that we find Satan
approaching Jesus for a "climax" involving three particular
temptations
B. THE THREE TEMPTATIONS...
1. The first temptation - Mt 4:3-4
a. Satan's appeal to the lust of the flesh
1) Having fasted for forty days, Jesus was naturally hungry
2) Challenging Jesus' identity, Satan appeals to His
fleshly hunger: "command that these stones become bread"
b. Jesus responds with Scripture
1) Quoting Deu 8:3 , "Man shall not live by bread alone..."
2) There is more to life than just fulfilling physical
desires; man is dependent upon the Word of God to truly
live!
2. The second temptation - Mt 4:5-7
a. Satan appeals to the pride of life
1) Again challenging Jesus' identity, Satan sets Jesus on
the pinnacle of the temple, tells Him to "throw Yourself
down"
2) Quoting scriptures himself, using Psa 91:11-12
b. Jesus responds with Scripture
1) Deu 6:16 , "You shall not tempt the LORD your God"
2) While the passage Satan quoted is true, it would be an
abuse of it to purposely test God
2. The third temptation - Mt 4:8-10
a. Satan appeals to the lust of the eyes
1) Taking Jesus to high mountain and showing Him the
kingdoms of the world
2) Offering to give Jesus all the kingdoms if He will
worship Satan
b. Jesus responds with Scripture
1) Deu 6:13 , "You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him
only you shall serve"
2) Though offered a shortcut to receiving power over the
nations, Jesus does not take the easy path -
cf. Rev 2:26-27; Rev 3:21
C. AT THE END OF THE TEMPTATIONS...
1. Angels came and ministered to Jesus - Mt 3:11
a. Exactly what they did is not mentioned
b. Perhaps they provided bodily nourishment (Hendricksen)
2. This would not be the last time Satan would seek to tempt
Jesus - cf. Lk 4:13; Mt 16:21-23
[With forty days of overcoming temptation behind Him, especially the
temptation of taking a short cut to His rule as the Messiah, Jesus was
now prepared to begin His public ministry.
What observations might one make regarding "The Temptation Of Jesus"?
Here are a few...]
II. OBSERVATIONS FROM THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS
A. WE HAVE THE SAME ADVERSARY...
1. Jesus was tempted by the devil, and so are we - 1 Pe 5:8-9
2. The devil now directs his attention towards the disciples of
Christ - Re 12:17
-- We should not treat him lightly, for the conflict is real!
- Ep 6:12
B. WE HAVE SIMILAR TEMPTATIONS...
1. The lust of the flesh - e.g., immorality, especially when
young
2. The lust of the eyes - e.g., materialism, especially when
middle-aged
3. The pride of life - e.g., pride and arrogance, especially when
elderly
-- These we must overcome, if we wish to have the love of the
Father - 1 Jn 2:15-16
C. WE HAVE THE SAME TOOLS TO OVERCOME...
1. Jesus appealed to the Word of God, and so can we - cf. Ep 6:17
2. Jesus had faith in the plan of God (victory through
suffering), we need a similar shield of faith - Ep 6:16;
cf. He 10:35-39
3. Jesus undoubtedly prayed, for He taught us to use prayer in
overcoming temptation - Mt 26:41
-- The Word of God, faith, and prayer...against these the devil
has no chance!
D. WE HAVE SIMILAR BLESSINGS WHEN WE OVERCOME...
1. Jesus was administered to by angels, angels will carry us home
- cf. Lk 16:22
2. Jesus received wonderful blessings when He ultimately overcame
and ascended to heaven; He has promised similar blessings for
us - cf. Rev 2:10; Rev 2:26-27; Rev 3:21
E. WE CAN LEARN SOME IMPORTANT LESSONS...
1. Material sustenance alone cannot truly satisfy, we need the
spiritual sustenance from God's Word
2. While we are to trust in the Lord, we should not foolishly
tempt Him
3. Scripture can easily be abused, as well as used - 2 Pe 3:16
4. The way to glory is not quick and easy, but long and hard
- Ac 14:22; Rom 2:7
CONCLUSION
1. But perhaps the greatest lesson to glean from "The Temptation Of
Jesus" is that we have a Savior who in all things was made like
us...
a. That He might be our merciful and faithful High Priest - Heb 2:17
b. That having suffered, being tempted, He can aid us when we are
tempted - Heb 2:18
c. That He might be sympathetic, providing mercy and grace to help
us in time of need - Heb 4:15-16
2. Are you burdened with temptations?
a. Look to Jesus as your example in learning how to overcome
temptation in your life!
b. Look to Jesus as your High Priest when you need to approach God
in prayer and receive mercy and grace for those times when you
succumbed to temptation!
As in all things, look to Jesus, as the writer to Hebrews exhorts us...
"looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who
for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising
the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of
God.
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against
Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."
- Heb 12:2-3
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