Highlight 5. TEMPTATIONS OF CHRIST

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1 To Know God and Make Him Known BIBLE SCHOOL FOR THE NATIONS LESSON 5a (5) Highlight 5. TEMPTATIONS OF CHRIST Matthew 4:1-11 Lecturer: Hank Overeem Student Notes Matthew tells us that Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. It is good to take note of the following facts: Only moments before Christ had been baptised in water (to fulfil righteousness) And with the Holy Spirit (for empowerment). First testing Physical Temptation a. The tempter s scheme - The Temptation of the Flesh The Son was by himself alone for 40 days - have any of us ever been alone for 40 days? After fasting for forty days and nights, Jesus was left physically weak, hungry and had been without human company. Yet spiritually, he would have been astutely perceptive and discerning! Satan begins with an acknowledgment of Jesus as the Son of God. Although he doesn t say You are the Son of God He cannot say that! b. Devil s temptation If You are the Son of God command that these stones become bread 1) He tempts Jesus in the weakness of His human flesh 2) He wishes to set His Godhead against His manhood 3) He is trying to create conflict between the flesh and the spirit Satan starts his temptation with something relatively minor. Just turn a few stones into a bit of bread of course the Father will understand? This seemed such a minor temptation so what s the worry? Wrong! There is nothing minor about this temptation! 1

2 The question in reality that he puts to Jesus is: Why should the Son of Man suffer physically? Is that really necessary? After all, he had all this God-given Holy Spirit power at his disposal! (He had just been empowered by the Spirit). The purpose of this satanic question is clear. If Jesus would withdraw from suffering in the flesh, as a fully human being, all flesh would be lost! There would have been no cross! No redemption! That s it! If Jesus had given in to a relatively small sacrifice, how could he have ever faced the very purpose of His coming to earth the sacrifice of all sacrifices the cross? Jesus reply It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God Jesus does not violate the Word of God. Even as the Son of God he stands under the Word of God. (Christ is the Word the unchangeable truth) I, the Lord, do not change (Malachi 3:6) Jesus is wholly reliant on the Word of God - it is truth. It is staggering that Satan, as a created being, could actually have believed that the uncreated God-Man Jesus could ever give in to his temptations. (Although, he must indeed be a very persuasive creature, as he got, besides Adam and Eve, one-third of the angels to follow him). All of man Body, soul and spirit, ought to be in submission to the Word of God. Suffering of the flesh is never an excuse to violate the Word of God. Jesus quoted Scripture - He quoted from the Torah - the Book of Deuteronomy chapter 8:3: He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but from every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. c. Turning Stones into Bread We need to understand that Jesus could easily have turned these stones into bread - no worries! After all he was able to change without any difficulty water into wine or feed the 5000 from just a few loaves and fishes. So what is the difference here? The difference is that Jesus will only do the Father s will! No on else s! 2

3 d. Could we possibly turn stones into bread? Amazing works of power and miracles can be done in the name of Christ and yet the vessel may not be in fellowship with Jesus (see (Matthew 7:21-23). We too have the capability to turn stones into bread! That is a scary thought. Can we really? Yes we can! It is not only possible it happens and we have probably all done it to various degrees! e. The challenge to us today is: Have we turned stones into bread even using his Name? Are we still doing it? Have we started with Christ and ended up with self? Second Testing Soul, Mind and Will The second temptation of Christ is even more subtle. In the spirit, the tempter takes Jesus onto the pinnacle of the temple. The pinnacle, reminds me of being the highest point the pinnacle of religion! a. The tempter s scheme - quoting Scripture out of context This time he picks-up on Jesus effective previous response and he himself is now quoting God s Word against Jesus. Satan begins as in the first temptation with the words: If you are the Son of God? Then he actually quotes Scripture (just like Jesus did himself in the first temptation). He is trying to trap Jesus with the wrong use of the Word of God. b. The temptations progressively increase in intensity c. The Devil s Temptation If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down for it is written, He will command his angels concerning You; and on their hands they will bear You up in, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone (Satan quotes Psalm 91:11-12). Jesus is now tested in his Sonship, as Satan is demanding a sign from God. It is not the truth of God s Word that is in question but rather the right use of it. Satan is the father of all lies and he can even twist Scripture to make it look like truth. Twisting Scripture has led many to destruction even to the point where they have tempted God. The Church, historical, has done horrific things in the name of God. Appalling things have been done to Jews, Moslems and to fellow Christians with different views. The cruelty employed by some in the Church has been on par with even the most godless in society. 3

4 Even today atrocities are committed in the name of God Christians, who truly know God, his character and have a personal relationship with him; who study and mediate on his Word will never engage in such atrocities. Those who walk according to the Spirit of God will never be involved in such gross hostilities to God s Word. Jesus reply: On the other hand it is written, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test This temptation was all about the transgression of the Word of God To tempt God would have to be one of the highest spiritual temptations. (Dietrich Bonhoever) Jesus again quoted from the book of Deuteronomy, do not test the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 6:16) Jesus did not quote the second part of Deuteronomy 8: 16 which says, It is interesting to note that the actual quote did not include the second part of this verse. There was good reason for that as Jesus was addressing Satan on the question of tempting God. Yet, if we have a closer look at the second part of this verse we get a far better understanding as to what happens when you test the Lord your God or go outside of the boundary of his Word. Second part of Deut 8: 16 says, as you did at Massah (or the waters of Meriba) So what happened at Massah? (Numbers 20:2-13) Moses violated God s holiness Moses acted outside God s clear instructions, publicly, and thus took into question God s holiness. Because you did not trust in me enough to honour me as holy in the sight of the Israelites Severe consequences In the case of Moses and Aaron it was irrevocable! Both, Moses and Aaron are reminded just prior to their death, why they are not entering into the Promised Land. It was for this reason only that Moses did not enter the Promised Land: Aaron He will not enter the land I give the Israelites because both of you rebelled against the command of the Lord (Numbers 20:24). 4

5 Moses Then the Lord said to Moses, Go up this mountain in the Abarim range and see the land I have given the Israelites. After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, for when the community rebelled at the waters in the desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honour me as holy before their eyes (Numbers 27:12-14). Accountability Factor Moses had been closer to God than any living person on earth A lesson for us all! Third Testing - Spirit and Worship a. The tempter s scheme - Satan attempts to see Jesus worship him. No longer he employs any subtle hidden snares, no longer hiding behind the Word of God and half-truths, no, he comes out with it directly and his intentions are unmistakably clear. b. There is more to this temptation than then one thinks at first Bypassing of the cross! c. Devil s Temptation Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to him, All these things I will give you, if you fall down and worship me ( Matthew 4:8-9). This temptation seems outright stupid. How could Jesus possibly fall for such a ridiculous temptation? Jesus reply Because the tempter has fully revealed himself, Jesus addresses him personally. Jesus said to him, Go Satan! For it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and Him only. What a response! There are no ifs and buts here - just simply Go Satan! Christ would have replied with holy anger. How dear you Satan! (We saw a glimpse of that holy anger when Jesus cleared the temple court - his Father s House!) Satan s response: Then the devil left him (To use a human expression: With his tail between his legs. ) 5

6 Heaven s response: And behold angels came and began to minister to Him. To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, Be blessing and honour and glory and dominion forever and ever (Revelation 5:13). Deuteronomy once again Again, Jesus used the written Word of God to counteract the third temptation. It came once again from the Torah, the Book of Deuteronomy chapter 6:13 You shall fear only the Lord your God; and worship Him and swear by His name. Any worship or service, other than that of God is, Idolatry! Of all the sins man commits, idolatry would have to be high on the list of the sins that God hates. Winkie Pratney asking what would have happened, if the impossible had taken place and Jesus had actually given in to Satan s temptations? First Two of the Ten Commandments D. Challenge for us today: Spirit and the Word We need to return to a far more balanced faith. (The Spirit and the Word). There is therefore a great need for more biblical, expository type, teaching. Jesus withstood the devil s temptations by quoting the authoritative Word of God. How can we, and others in the Church of Christ, possibly withstand the tempter without knowing Scripture? Should that not be our main concern as shepherds and leaders of the flock? Ought we not to lead the flock to green pastures of God s Word, where they will grow into maturity? The challenge to us today is the temptation of by-passing the cross 6