Series: All: All Authority, All Nations, All Allegiance
Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11 (Main); Hebrews 2:18, 4:15; James 1:13-15; 4:7;
Title: How to deal with temptation
Heavy credit: David Platt and Douglas Sean O’Donnell (See below for bibliography)
Summary of chapter: “The Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil.” (Outline Bible)
Bottom Line: We handle temptation by following Jesus’ examples of preparation and action.
Jesus’ temptation was…
God-ordained but not God-inflicted. Therefore, we trust God’s sovereign authority. (Spirit leads)
When his flesh was weak. Therefore, we deny ourselves and rest in his power. (Weakness)
Unique yet universal. Therefore, we rest in his faithfulness.
He resisted with the word of God. Therefore, we believe his word.
Tough but temporary testing. Therefore, we embrace the season of testing.
Opening:
In the Lord of the rings trilogy Frodo Baggins has to deal with the temptation that comes whenever he put on the ring of invisibility or the ring of power. Because with that power he could envision himself doing all kinds of things. That power was corrupting him over time and tempting him to change. It is a reminder of how the enemy tempts us through power.
We’re all tempted every day via flash, by the world views were surrounded by, and by the enemy himself. Temptation itself is not evil. Being tempted is part of the test. Sin comes when we give into temptation.
Last week we said sin has consequences.
Two weeks ago we said repentance and faith removes the penalty of sin.
This week we’ll deal with the enemy, the flesh and the world tempting us to sin.
Discussion questions for group and personal study:
Note: We encourage you to use our sermons and discussion questions to gather with some friends and talk about the passage together. Pray and ask God to guide you. He is faithful. Questions? Email us at info@GraceToday.net
Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast
Goal: The goal isn’t to ask every question. The goal is to encourage people to engage the scriptures together.
Reflect and Discuss
1. What images come to mind when you hear about demons and spiritual warfare? Are these thoughts biblical? If not, explain why.
2. List some things that distract us from seeing the spiritual battles all around us. What are some specific ways we can battle our ignorance and apathy toward spiritual warfare?
3. Which sins are especially prevalent in our culture today?
4. Explain how Jesus' triumph through temptation is both our example and the basis for our own victory in temptation. What is the danger if we only see Jesus as our example?
5. How would you answer the following question: "If Jesus was fully God, then how can His victory over temptation help a weak and sinful person like me?"
6. Of Satan's three temptations in this passage, which one do you struggle with the most? What promise from Scripture might help you battle that temptation?
7. Explain the following statement: Jesus triumphed where Adam and Israel failed.
8. What attributes of God strengthen you during temptation?
9. How do Satan's temptations seek to undermine the purpose of the cross?
10. How does the promise of eternal life and the believer's future reign with Christ affect your everyday battle with sin?
Scripture:
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 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.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 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 will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.”
Matthew 4:1-11 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.4.1-11.NIV
Opening:
We all struggle with temptations. (Examples in my life??)
God helps us when we are being tempted (Hebrews 2:18)
God sympathizes with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15)
So we’re looking at Jesus’
Outline:
5 Characteristics of Jesus’ temptations so we can become resistors of temptation
Jesus’ temptations were…
I. God-ordained but not God-inflicted. Therefore, we trust his sovereign authority.
A. Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness (God-ordained) to be tempted/tested by the devil (not God-inflicted).
B. Jesus is both
Tested: Is he really the true Son of God? Will he hold fast to God’s plan of salvation?
Tempted:
To exalt himself
To avoid the pain and suffering of the cross
To bow to Satan’s rule
C. Lesson: “If you want to follow Jesus, know that the road to Heaven is not paved with gold and lined with daisies. Jesus who was loved by God was sent into the wilderness to be tested. If you are his follower, you can expect the same.” —DSO
“Perhaps you have heard the story of a congressman from Tennessee who, after serving his first term in Washington, was seeking reelection. He returned to his home state of Tennessee to seek support for reelection, and in those efforts he went to the home of a wealthy farmer who had been a key supporter in his first election. The congressman said to the farmer, “I’m running for a second term. Will you support me again?” The farmer shook his head no and said, “No, I’m sorry, Mr. Crockett. I’m not going to support you again.” He continued, “Do you remember what happened last year when there was a fire in Washington that displaced people from their home? You voted to give the displaced people the money they needed to build a new house. You didn’t take that money from your own pocket, but you voted to take it from mine.” In other words, the money distributed by the congressman had not been his to give.”
Excerpt From Matthew - An Expositional Commentary, R.C. Sproul
II. When his flesh was weak. Therefore, we deny ourselves and rest in his power.
A. Wilderness/desert, no shelter, hostile nature, extreme weather, no creature comforts.
B. Solitude - alone, no companionship.
C. No food.
D. “We should be prepared to fight when we are most weak.” —DSO
Or think about Adam and Eve. Read what James Montgomery Boice says about them in contrast to Jesus:
“Adam and Eve were in paradise; Jesus was in the vast, desolate wilderness of Judah. Adam and Eve were physically content and satisfied. They were
free to eat from any of the trees of the garden, save the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; Jesus was hungry, having fasted for forty days and forty nights. Adam and Eve were together. They had each other for company and mutual support; Jesus was alone. Yet Adam and Eve rapidly succumbed to Satan's wiles, carrying the entire human race into sin, misery, destruction, and both physical and spiritual death, while Jesus stood firm as the Savior who was to bring life and salvation to the race.
What Adam didn't do, Jesus did. P. 85
III. Unique yet universal. Therefore, we rest in his faithfulness.
A. Unique temptation—because he is unique
Remember who he is: (Matt 3:17; Psalm 2; Isaiah 42)
Son of God
Suffering Servant
Of course, this is why Satan’s point of attack centers on
Questioning his identity, and
Challenging him to take the crown without the cross.
B. Universal temptations—Aren’t we all tempted to grab the crown without the cross?
To think that the physical > spiritual?
Seek out the gospel through gimmicks, entertainment, and worldly means—our own version of turning stones to bread?
By the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life. (1 John 2:16)
From holy reliance on the Father to an unholy independence?
The tempter tempts him to take the shortcut to glory by bypassing Gethsemane and Golgotha. That's what all these temptations are about.
Just look at the least obvious—verses 3, 4. Here it's as if Satan says,
“Look, Jesus, you're hungry. The whole world is hungry. If you can turn these stones into bread, which I know you can- because you're God's Son!—then feed yourself, and feed the world. Use your power for what people most need and want—their bellies to be filled—and then watch the whole world
"run after you like sheep, grateful and obedient." You will have the world literally eating from your hand. Give people what they really want—not the Word of God but food from God.” -Douglas Sean O’Donnell, p. 87
IV. Resisted with the word of God. Therefore, we believe in his word.
A. While we could go to the sword analogy (Eph 6:17) as the word of God, DSO suggests we go to the shield analogy instead: The shield of faith.
B. Because we acknowledge God’s word is powerful. But do we really believe it? Do we live by “every word” of God?
C. The shield of faith is more defensive by nature. It extinguishes the fiery darts of the enemy.
Not darts tempting towards obvious evil but good things that can trip us up as well.
Romans 10:17 Faith comes from hearing…
D. Questions to consider
Do you know the word of God? It’s content?
Do you know how to interpret it correctly?
Do you trust what God has said and written?
V. Tough but temporary. (10-11) Therefore, we embrace the season of testing.
A. James 4:7
B. 1 Cor 10:13 makes it clear, there’s no temptation that is
Not common to everyone,
Not beyond your ability to resist with our Lord’s help (Heb 2:18),
From which God does not provide a way of escape—if you say “NO!” he will go.
C. “Our God only allows Satan to tempt us for our good, to try and test and refine our faith.
Conclusion:
Let’s do this and lead others to do the same!
Pray
My Other notes:
Resist seems a key action (requires faith)
Fasting seems a key strategy or power source (prayer = faith in action)
Scripture seems a key weapon (requires faith) (truth)
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7 NIV
https://james.bible/james-4-7
“Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
1 Peter 5:9 NIV
https://1peter.bible/1-peter-5-9
Verse 1
“Then” - follows his baptism where he’s affronted in his character and identity as the Son of God.
“led” - Jesus followed, didn’t just lead.
“By the Spirit” - Holy Spirit/Spit of God is who Jesus followed modeling this perfectly for us.
“Into the wilderness” - the most uncomfortable place to be is away from shelter, food, family, and friends. Especially for an extended length of time.
“To be tempted” - This is why the Holy Spirit led him there. This is the Spirit testing and preparing Jesus for what is to come.
“By the devil” - the Tempter, the Accuser; Father of lies.
Verse 2
“40” - A significant Bible number—combination of 4, earthly things and 10, divine perfection. A long time to not eat! No wonder he was hungry! Also, the number of years Israel wandered in the desert with Moses being tempted, tested and led by the Spirit of God.
Verse 3
“the Tempter” - Satan, the devil; what he does.
“Came to him” - Has Jesus in his crosshairs.
“‘If you are the son of God’” “If” is his way of introducing doubt. Satan knows exactly who Jesus is.
“Son of God” - who Jesus Christ is.
“Tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus could have done this. He likely was tempted as a man. Yet he did not give in.
Verse 4
He resisted this temptation by fasting, praying, and recalling scripture and quoting it to Satan.
“Answered” - Jesus dialogues with Satan, whom he knows well.
“Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” LIfe is spiritual as well as physical. God’s word feeds our soul and faith even as food feeds our body. We need both. And God still speaks (through) his word.
Verse 5
Verse 6
“If” - once again, Stan questions/raises doubts to tempt Jesus to doubt his own identity.
“Throw yourself down” - i.e. test. Psalm 91:11-12 by jumping so the angels will rescue you. But to what end? To prove to himself he’s really Son of God? To prove to Satan? The world?
“He will command his angels concerning you…” - The Lord protects his son when he wants to…but not before and on the cross.
Verse 7
Verse 8
Verse 9
“All this I will give you…if you will bow down and worship me.” - Because Satan has this authority right now. Price? Allegiance and worship of Satan. This is what Satan ultimately wants.
Jesus responds with scripture once again to resist temptation powerfully as his leaning on the same authority that gave Satan temporary authority over the world.
“Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” - Ourallegiance is to the Lrod God alone. Even the Son of God bows to him while in the flesh. He submits to him as well (the cross; incarnation)
Verse 10
Verse 11
Notes from RC Sproul’s commentary
“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
James 1:13-15 NIV
Therefore, God isn’t tempting Jesus—Satan is.
God led Jesus there knowing that would happen and using it to test him.
Yet, same issues is at stake: The serpent came to Adam & Eve with a question: “Has God really said…?”
In the wilderness, Satan suggested three times, “If…”
The Devil’s point of attack is the same in both cases—the trustworthiness of God’s word. Adam and Eve did not believe God’s word. Jesus did. RCS
Jesus submitted to baptism in part to identify with his people.
Maybe a bigger miracle is Jesus’ sinless life. If he’s not sinless, then he’s not an acceptable sacrifice. No cross, no salvation. So all that is on the line here in the wilderness.
Could Jesus have sinned?
Divinely speaking, no.
Humanly speaking, yes. But he didn’t. As a man, Jesus had the ability to sin, or he’d not have been truly human nor truly tempted. It would have all been a scam.
Satan plants the suggestion that if Jesus really was the son of God, he’d not have to endure suffering but use divine authority to eat.
“It is written” is Jewish shorthand for the words of God or scripture.
Life requires more than physical food. We need bread plus spiritual food.
What else? “Every word” not just some words of God.
“Jesus’ meat and drink was to do the will of the Father. He had a zeal that consumed him.”
“The word that came from the Father was more important to him that his bread.”
“Let’s see if the Bible is true. Jump and see if the angels catch you.”
Hermeneutics - laws/rules that govern the interpretation of scripture.
First principle: the “analogy of faith” = scripture Has it’s own interpreter. That is we interpret scripture with scripture.
God never speaks a lie.
God’s word is coherent and unified.
God never contradicts himself.
Therefore, what he says in Judges can never contradict what he says in Ephesians.
Therefore, if we set one part of scripture against another we violate this first principle of bible interpretation.
This is exactly what Satan is doing.
BQ: Have you ever considered your personal point of vulnerability if Satan were to come to you with a test?
What would he put in front of you?
He offered all of these things to Jesus in exchange for one thing—worship.
Jesus already knew he was getting all of that. But Satan was tempting him to get it with a shortcut—without the cross.
BQ: How do you respond to Satan’s temptations when you’re alone and no one can see you?
“Get our of here, Satan!”
Notes from Warren Wiersbe’s commentary
Temptation 1: Satan appealed to the body; the flesh.
Satan suggests that if Christ were God’s son, he wouldn’t let Jesus stay hungry as if God were holding out on him. (Does God really love you? Answer, see Matt 3:17)
God tests us in ordinary things in life.
Word > Bread
Temptation 2: Satan appealed to Jesus proving himself.
Satan leaves out “in all your ways” (Psalm 91:11-12) when quoting this Psalm.
Temptation s3: Satan appealed to Jesus with an “easier way” to become king. Appeal to by-pass the cross and suffering.
“Whatever we worship (what we order our lives around) is the god we serve.” -WW
We cannot serve both God and god. Matt 6:24
Says Jesus was tested so that every creature would know that Jesus Christ conquerors. Jesus exposed Satan’s tactics and defeated him.
We have victory because he was victorious here and ultimately at the cross.
Adam & Eve Jesus vs Satan
Garden of Eden Wilderness/Desert
Plenty of food, drink Fasting
Shade, shelter No shelter from the weather
Companionship Alone
Suggestion 1: Satan always suggesting that God is depriving you of what’s good (is God really good; does he really love you?); he must not love us!
Suggestion 2: Use your divine power to meet your own needs and those around you.
“When we put our physical needs ahead of our spiritual needs, we sin.” -WW
“Jesus could have turned the stones into bread, but he would have been exercising his powers independently of the Father; and he came to obey the Father.” -WW
God’s word IS our food. John 4:32-34
Third temptation: Shortcut to the kingdom.
“Worshipping the creature instead of the Creator is the lie that rules our world today.” -WW
“If we want to share in the glory, we must also share in the suffering.” (1 Peter 5:10)
No cross—no crown
“Whatever we worship, we will serve.”
Worship and service go together.
Jesus calls others to obey after he obeyed.
References/Bibliography:
“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes
“Matthew” by RC Sproul
“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)
“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)
“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)
Outline Bible, D Willmington
NIV Study Bible (NIVSB)
ESV Study Bible
ESV Gospel Transformation Bible (GTB)
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