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Matthew 4:1-11
Last week we began looking at Jesus' time of temptation in the wilderness. We are told that Satan tried to tempt him to:
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We commented on the 'then' - the fact that the temptation was immediately after the sign of the Spirit descending on him in the form of a dove and after the token of his Father's voice confirming Jesus was his beloved Son.
We observed that temptation may occur when we have been blessed and are stronger in the Lord, and that it may also come to keep us humble.
We noticed how Satan may tempt us when we are at our lowest with the things that he knows we are most susceptible to.
Today we continue with the second specific temptation which was recorded.
The second temptation used words of God - how this needs to make us on our guard! It shows us how we can easily be confused by Satan if he starts applying scripture to our situation and trying to persuade us that it is okay to do something.
Satan was trying to get Jesus to kill himself by jumping off the temple roof. He was trying to persuade him that angels would catch him because of what we read in Psalm 91:11,12, but in doing so Christ would have been committing a sin - self-murder .
Jesus also teaches us from his answer to Satan, that we shouldn't tempt - or test God.
My Bible references this back to Deuteronomy 6: 16, 'Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Masseh' .
This was a time when the children of Israel were complaining against God because they did not have anything to drink, and were saying is 'God with us or not?'
My Bible notes explain, 'Man is forbidden to test God by questioning His power or protection'.
And yet, dear reader, don't we do this all the time?!
Aren't we often doubting God's working in our lives and fearing things as if God has no power?
We get into situations where we may feel that God has let us down - he hasn't protected us from imprisonment, from emotional abuse, or 'accidents' and we feel as if God doesn't really care about or have control over what it happening to us.
May we be wary of the temptations of Satan in making us think in this way.
Lastly, Satan is trying to make Jesus worship him so that he can have the world - all its glories and wonders - but it wasn't his to give!
What audacity to offer the Creator his creation!
But this last temptation seems to speak to me today - it seems to me to go right back to the first temptation of Eve when Satan drew her attention to the tree from which she was forbidden to eat. He sowed seeds of doubt in her mind and made it seem desirable until she could no longer resist it. 'She took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband' (Genesis 3:6).
Wasn't this exactly what Satan was trying to do to Jesus, and what he tries to do to us today? He tells us or insinuates a lie, emphasising the desirability of something, until we succumb and 'take of the fruit'.
Jesus did not succumb.
Despite his weakened state as a man, he could not fall to Satan's temptations -because he is also God.
He could not sin.
Fellow sinner, what a comfort this is, that our great Saviour has defeated sin and Satan, AND he understands how hard it can be to resist.
He understands when Satan brings something before your eyes - like the adverts - telling of something we just have to have or need to make us happy, beautiful or fulfilled.
It isn't true dear friend...whatever Satan is tempting you with in this life, trying to make you depend your happiness on, trying to make you worship - and indirectly worship him - it will pass away - it will not last,
'For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever' (1 John 2: 16.17).
Is there something tempting you - that you think so much of, that you just must have to be happy - or something you cannot resist - like scrolling too long on your phone - and you detest the temptation and the hold it has over you?
Jesus has conquered Satan. Jesus can help you because he overcame. We must go to him, and ask him to help us. These things which are too strong for me and for you, are not too strong for him.
May we hear his wisdom counselling us, and be upheld.
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