THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS

Matthew 4:1-17

Key Verse 4:10

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ”

In today’s passage we see that Jesus is tempted by the devil. What was it like for the Son of God to be tempted by the devil? We know that temptation is a real thing and that there is real suffering the moment of temptation. Jesus also suffered when he was tempted by the devil. But in God’s eyes there was a good purpose for Jesus’ temptation.  Jesus did something that no man in history had ever done--he overcame the devil and all his temptations. Because of this he knows what it’s like for us and he can help us. Let's see how Jesus won the victory over the devil and what this means for us.

The Spirit led Jesus into the desert - Background (1)

Look at verse 1. “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.” In the previous passage Jesus had just been baptized by the Holy Spirit. He was ready to begin his ministry with power from on high. But the Spirit first led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil. Why did Jesus have to face the devil like this? 

We can understand this event’s importance when we think about the goal of Jesus’ ministry. What was the purpose for which Jesus came into the world? It was to save his people from their sins (1:21) and establish the kingdom of God beginning in the hearts of men. But the problem is that there is another kingdom currently ruling men’s hearts and lives, and that is the kingdom of Satan the devil. In fact, the devil has held people in his firm grip of slavery. 

How did this happen? The very first time we see the devil, he appeared to the first man Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. What did he do at that time? He tempted them to disobey God's commands and sin. He planted doubt about God’s love in their hearts and he led them into sin. Adam failed against his temptations and now all men are slaves to sin and to the devil. We can understand this reality even when we think about what happens we face temptation. We know that what we are tempted to do is wrong. We don't feel good about ourselves at all. We don't want to do it. And yet a voice inside tells us to do it, and we do. We do what we don't want to do. That is slavery to the devil. Today, people simply say that sinning is “human nature” and “just who I am”.  Since the time of Adam, no man has been able to stand against the devil and overcome his temptations. The devil is a liar and a murderer. We needed someone to stand in the place where we failed and help us.  As we’ll see from the devil’s temptations, his kingdom is evident even today in the actions and value systems of peoples lives. But Jesus came to defeat the devil and rescue fallen man and open the way to the kingdom of God. Being led by the Spirit and empowered by the Spirit meant fighting the spiritual battle. Let’s see how it happened.

The temptation to seek bread (2-4)

Look at verses 2-3. “2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’ ”

When Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert, he did not charge into the desert and say, “Devil, come out and fight!” Instead, he fasted forty days and forty nights. The devil felt threatened by Jesus’ coming, and thought that he saw an opportunity to strike Jesus down. After Jesus had fasted for forty days and forty nights he was hungry. Street magician David Blaine once fasted for 44 days. Afterward, he lost 25% of his body weight. His skin clung to his bones after his body ate away all the fat and muscle on his body. After forty days of fasting, Jesus' body was ready to collapse. He was exhausted and at his physical limit. Then the tempter came to him in a reasonable voice and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” He tempted Jesus to use his power as the Son of God to make bread for himself and survive. What he said sounded so reasonable. Jesus really needed to eat and take care of himself. Any ordinary person in this situation would have said, “Yeah, you’re right.” 

But his temptation is full of deceit. Simply, the devil’s temptation implies that man’s life is about seeking bread by any means, and he challenged God’s perfect provision for his Son. This viewpoint of man’s life is so twisted and cursed. Before man sinned, the land yielded food for him. He didn’t labor to eat just to get to the next day. Man lived for God and sought him first. But after man sinned, the curse of sin effected his life in this very way. Man was cursed to work by the sweat of his brow for bread until he dies. Every day was merely the meaningless pursuit to eat to live to the next day. He lost his holy mission to serve God, take care of God’s world, and be fruitful. But even if you secured bread and your material needs everyday, you are still going to die. Because of the curse of sin, the devil has led many people to live in fear as bread seekers.  

Why do most people go to college these days? It is to get a good job. The main goal is to get a good job to secure your future. We need to find a way to make it in this world. This is the main thought behind this temptation. High level survival is the mainstream definition of success. But living for physical survival is still living for physical survival, whether you're a janitor or a high-payed college grad in a large corporation. The problem of securing bread is very scary and real to us. 

Jesus was hungry and in an emergency situation. But he didn’t use his power as the Son of God to make bread for himself. How did he answer the devil? Look at verse 4. “Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ’ ” Jesus first said, “It is written.” Jesus answered the devil according to the word of God. Even though what the devil said sounded so reasonable at the time, Jesus didn’t live according to the devil’s word, but he lived according to God’s word and God’s way, even in this most difficult situation. And the word that Jesus stood on was “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” The word of God tells us that man’s life is not just physical, but man is both body and soul. Jesus did not say, “I,” but “Man.” Jesus was answering the devil as a representative of all mankind. In his fasting and in becoming a human like us, Jesus humbled himself and faced the devil at our level. Jesus restored the dignity and value of man. Man is not just a physical being who lives by physical bread, like the animals. Man is made in the image of God with a body and a soul. Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Jesus says that man is not supposed to be a bread seeker. Man is a God seeker. That means seeking God and following all of God's words. God's word created the whole universe and gave life to all things. Getting bread is the most basic need for our physical survival. But it is not what life is all about. God provides all we need. 

Jesus says that we are made to live on a spiritual level based on the word of God. All our hard work at school and at our jobs can be so burdensome and meaningless. But when we live by the word of God, our work is not burdensome but exciting as we work for the Lord. Living by the word of God, we are free from the stress of survival and security. As we set ourselves to follow God's word and seek God first, he provides all we need. Following the word of God and God’s ways is the way of life. “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” 

As a poor college student and now as an even poorer husband and father who's been unemployed for a long time, I've been hungry many times and I've been without money. But for as long as God called me to be his servant, he has provided with all I've needed perfectly. I didn't have to worry. These days was a different matter. I started to worry because of my growing family. My daughter, Noah, is 11 months old and starting to better communicate with me. When she’s hungry, she can’t yet say, “Daddy, I’m hungry.” But she came to me once and put her finger in her mouth to signify, “Put something in here.” I felt bad that I couldn't give nice things to my daughter, but my mom and my father in law love to spoil her with lots of gifts. I have yet to buy a single article of clothing or a toy for my daughter. And they always ask me about my job situation. I felt ashamed. But this passage gave me great victory and peace in my heart. For it says that I don't live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. The real way to have life is seeking God’s word and living according to God’s ways. 

By this word, Jesus overcame the devil's temptation. He fully relied on God's word for his life. And he was determined to live by God’s ways in his word and not the devil’s word or his own feelings. But the devil did not stop there. He quickly attacked Jesus again. 

The temptation to test God (5-7)

Look at verses 5-6. “Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down. For it is written: “He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” ’ ” The devil is so low, and so crafty. This time he thought he could use the word of God to tempt Jesus to sin against God. Here the devil quoted a Bible verse that clearly promised God’s protection to those who trust in him. Then he urged Jesus to jump from the highest point of the temple to prove God’s love and protection. This was very difficult for Jesus. He still had not yet eaten. He was tired from the first temptation. When the devil brought him to the holy city, and to the highest point of the temple, he could have felt secure being in God’s city and at God’s temple. To carry out his mission as the Son of God was dangerous and difficult. There were many sufferings ahead. At this time, Jesus might have felt the weight of his mission on his shoulders. It sounded right to ask for a sign of assurance that God really was with him. But really, the devil’s temptation implies that you can’t trust God, and, instead, in fear, you need to test him. 

It seems so difficult to live as a servant of God and to be trained by God to grow up as his people. And that’s because, as servants of God, everything in this world and even spiritual influences, are against God and against us. Hardships will be natural. But in those times we are often tempted to demand or test God to prove that he will indeed take care of us throughout the spiritual battle, or else we can’t go forward. We want to demand that he prove he’s really with us. For it is very difficult for a servant to face the challenges and hardships involved in making disciples of all nations. We face persecution and opposition from our family members, friends, coworkers, strangers, and especially from the devil and all types of evil, spiritual forces. So we cry out a lot.

But Jesus had an answer for this temptation. Look at verse 7 again. Jesus answered him, 1) "It is also written: 2) 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' " The devil had badly misinterpreted God’s promise of protection. The same God who promised to protect those who trust in him also commanded, “Do not test me.” In the past, God’s people had tested him by asking, “Is God really among us or not?” It was an accusation against God’s love, God’s provision, and God’s protection. It was to blame God for difficult situations and hardships with bitterness. But what a terrible sin against God. We must not test God. The devil tests God, but we must live by faith in God. God is good, and he is good all the time. He only works for the very best for his children and in this respect he never compromises. Jesus’ response teaches us faith in God by remembering God’s commands, especially not to test him. We have to keep the commands of God in our hearts to protect us. When we keep God’s commands, faith in God can grow in our hearts and comfort us for the spiritual battle. 

This section shows us how important it is to set our hearts on obeying the word of God. The word of God is so powerful. Even the devil used the word of God, but for evil and murder. God’s word became Jesus’ weapon in this spiritual battle. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit to help us in the spiritual battle (Eph 6:17).

But the devil did not stop here. He was relentless and came to attack Jesus one more time. 

The temptation to seek glory (8-10)

Look at verses 8-9. “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you bow down and worship me.’ ” In this temptation the devil offered Jesus all the power and glory of this world. Jesus is the Creator of the universe. He is the Word of God. All things already belonged to him. But when Jesus humbled himself and became a man, nobody recognized him. He had no beauty or glory shining from him that people would come and worship him. He was hungry and alone in the desert. In fact, the world would reject Jesus and crucify him. When Jesus humbled himself to such a position, the devil came and tempted him with an easy way to get power and glory. What a heavy trial for Jesus. Think about all the power that men in this world hold. Even those in middle management are powerful. All the power and glory was right before Jesus’ eyes. All the glory of the romance, wealth, prestige, honor, beauty was offered to Jesus. You could just reach out and take it. But the cost was bowing down and worshiping the devil. So the devil tempted Jesus to get glory in his own way, by siding with the devil. 

Did Jesus consider his offer? Not for a second. He thought about the word of God. Look at verse 10. “Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” ’ ” Again, Jesus stood firm according to the word of God. This verse speaks about the purpose of man’s life. Man was created to worship and serve God the Creator only, not to serve other things, especially himself. The glory of this world pales in comparison to God’s glory. The glory of this world is really the disgusting glory of the devil, rooted in man’s sinful nature and the lust and ambition in his eyes and heart. It is fading and deceitful. The devil really had nothing to offer in this regard. That’s why those who listen to this voice of temptation, who live for glory in this world, for fame and recognition or whatever their glory may be, to compromise and go the easy way--they are so disappointed and heartbroken throughout their lives. They struggle diligently in vain, but have sold themselves as slaves to the devil. 

Actually, Jesus was on a mission to claim the kingdoms of this world and get glory, but it was for God, and in God’s way, which was the cross.  The night that Jesus was betrayed, arrested, and sent to the cross, he prayed to his father. And in John 17:1, he began his prayer by saying, “Father, glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.”  Real glory comes from God--he is the God of glory, and he wants to share his glory with his children--but it comes in God’s way. Jesus’ words show what is really valuable for a man’s life. Worshiping and serving the Lord only. Jesus didn’t compromise his worship and service because he knew true value and true purpose for man’s life according to God’s word. He followed God’s way and purchased men for God through his shed blood on the cross. It was Jesus’ surrender to God in true worship. Jesus would worship God and God alone.

Look again at verse 10. “Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” ’ ” Jesus firmly resisted the devil. He didn’t entertain temptation at all. Then the devil sensed that he lost. The devil had never lost before, but he lost to Jesus completely. Then he fled and waited for an opportune time to attack again. Jesus was so exhausted by this point and angels came and attended him. He fought a most important battle for us. Yet Jesus did not obliterate the devil or remove him from the earth for the time being. He let him run away. And he doesn’t remove temptations or spiritual battles from those who follow him as well. But what he does do, is give us the real power and grace to overcome the devil, win spiritual battles, and live for the glory of God. When we surrender to Jesus, we experience the power and freedom of the kingdom of God. We can live self-controlled lives and serve the Lord joyfully at all times. Jesus can set us free from the devil’s trap. Jesus can enable us to serve God with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength. This is real worship. When we worship God in this way, our cross turns to glory, joy and victory. 

Jesus is the light for all in darkness (12-17)

Look at verses 12-17. “12When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. 13Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: 15’Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—16the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.’ 17From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’ ” John the Baptist was put into prison, but from that time on Jesus began to preach the message of repentance and the kingdom of heaven. Jesus was advancing the kingdom of God and doing away with the kingdom of Satan. 

The prophet Isaiah spoke about Jesus in this regard: Jesus is the great light that has dawned to give light to all people living in darkness and in the shadow of death. No one had ever overcome Satan and his temptations. Not Adam, not even King David, not me, and not you. But Jesus did. Through his victory, he gave all people hope to overcome the darkness of sin and to be free from the shadow of death. In Jesus is real power and hope to be free from the grasps of sin and the devil. The three temptations covered today represent our needs for physical survival, spiritual survival and the purpose of life. Jesus secured these for us. 

In this passage we saw two kingdoms battling for the hearts of men. The characteristics of those who listen to the voice of the tempter, the devil, are bread seeking, testing God, and devil worship in seeking self-glory. Do you want to listen to the devil and live like this? The characteristics of those who listen to the word of God, Jesus Christ, are eternal life, freedom from the curse of sin, enjoying God's perfect provision, knowing God's perfect protection care, freedom to live for the glory of God and having fellowship with God. It is the life of freedom, power, and the glory of God.

We thank Jesus for humbling himself to win this great spiritual battle for us. When we repent and receive Jesus' word, his great light shines into our souls. May God help us to fight the spiritual battle with great victory and save people out of the darkness of sin and slavery to the devil, into the glorious freedom and victory of the Lord Jesus to advance his kingdom.

One Word: Away from me, Satan! Worship the Lord your God and serve him only