When we are going through a particularly difficult or trying time it is often helpful to know that someone else has gone through a similar experience. Our Scripture passage today gives the account of Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness. There are some who hold to the belief that if there is a God who set creation in motion, he is not involved in our lives in any personal way, and that he certainly does not relate to anything we go through. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Not only did Jesus Christ, the Son of God, become man and live among us, He was tempted in every way that we are, yet He did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). He went through similar temptations and tests like we do, and He came through victorious. Let’s take a closer look at this account of our Lord’s temptations, and see what we can learn, so that we, too, can come through triumphantly.
After His baptism, Jesus went out into the wilderness for a period of intense prayer and fasting to prepare for His ministry. While there, Satan came to tempt Him into sin. God never tempts us (James 1:13). He does test us, to see if we really love Him, and will obey and follow the path He has for us. Yet it was Satan who tempted Jesus into sin, and will also come against us, tempting us into sin, as well. He tries to get us to doubt God’s Word and His promises. He wants us to believe that God cannot be trusted.
The first temptation that Satan brought against Jesus was to turn the stones which lay at His feet in the wilderness into bread (vs. 2-4). Jesus had been fasting, and naturally would have been quite hungry, with a natural, physical need for food. He tempted Jesus to use His divine power to satisfy His need for food. Jesus had given up the unlimited independent use of His divine power when He became man. Satan tried to get Jesus to question whether God would provide food and provide for His needs. He frequently tempts us in this way, as well. Jesus responded with the Word of God, by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3. He would depend on God, and focus on His purpose. Jesus’ example shows that we should not try to satisfy a normal desire in a wrong way, or at the wrong time.
The second temptation that Satan brought to Jesus was by bringing Him to the pinnacle of the Temple, and for Jesus to dare God to rescue Him (vs. 5-7). We sometimes question whether God will protect and provide us with security, calling upon Him, saying “If you love me, You’ll do this or that”. Our best tactic against that is to know God’s Word, so we can rightly apply it. God is not our magician to perform miracles at our request. Jesus responded to Satan’s temptation by again quoting Scripture in Deuteronomy 6:16. We should never ask Him to do something to prove Himself for us. God wants us to live by faith, not by special signs. Don’t manipulate God by testing Him or asking for signs.
Satan also thought that he was smart by throwing some Scriptures back at Jesus, quoting Psalm 91:11-12. However, he was misapplying the verses he quoted. He twisted it and its meaning. It is a passage about trusting in God, yet Satan twisted it to justify testing God. Unbelievers who oppose Christianity will sometimes come against us, using God’s Word against us, always misusing it.
The third temptation that Satan used was to promise Jesus riches, power, and fame if He would bow to him (vs. 8-10). Satan has temporary control and free rein over the earth because of mankind’s fall into sin. He tried to distort Jesus’ perspective by having Him focus on worldly power, not God’s plan. Again, Jesus responded with the Word of God by quoting Deuteronomy 6:13. Satan tries to get us to desire quick power and easy solutions. He even tries to get man to try to prove equality with God, and entices us with materialism and power. We should never compromise with evil, and instead put our focus on God.
What can we learn from the temptations Jesus went through? As I John 2:16 says, we are tempted by the lust of the flesh (vs. 2-3), the lust of the eyes (vs. 8-9), and the pride of life (vs. 5-6). We must trust God to provide for us. Satan tempts us to crave physical gratification to the point we are preoccupied with it. He tempts us to acquire things to the point we bow down to the god of materialism, and lust more and more possessions.
Satan hates God’s Word. Yet that was the only weapon the Lord Jesus used against him. He was repelled by the Word of God when Jesus quoted it. That is the reason Satan tries to keep us from reading and studying the Bible. God’s Word is like the rain that comes down and waters plants. We need to drink in everything that God says, and eat every word He speaks. The Bible will nurture our spiritual needs which will benefit us for eternity.
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