Last week we started looking at Matthew, Chapter 4. We saw that the Holy Spirit led Christ Jesus out into the wilderness after His baptism. There Christ Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights in preparation for His encounter with Satan. We saw how Satan tried to tempt Christ Jesus with a physical need, since your hungry, “turn these stones into bread.” Christ Jesus was not tempted, but instead rebuked Satan with Scripture, "It is written, "MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'" (Matthew 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3). But Satan wasn't ready to give up. In today’s sermon we see Christ Jesus facing more temptations.
Good morning and welcome to the Panhandle, and happy New Year. I read something last week reminding me that just like last year we face two choices every day. We will be tempted by Satan to follow him or we will choose to follow Christ Jesus. William Baeta (a Presbyterian pastor) reminds us, The first temptation was in the Garden of Eden where Satan tempted Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. Eve blamed the serpent by saying “the Devil made me do it”. God had given man power and authority over all creation, including the Devil. The only power Satan had was the power that Adam and Eve gave him. Adam and Eve gave him that power when they listened to him and believed his lies rather than what God had said. In Adam “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”, (Romans 3:23) and for this reason all of us today have became slaves of sin and Satan.
Satan that old deceiver is going to try and beat Christ Jesus as His own game so to speak. Satan is going to use Scripture to tempt Christ Jesus in his second temptation.
Matthew 4:5-11
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 "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.'"
7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: `Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: `Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
1. Show The World Who You Are (vs. 5-6)
Satan took Christ Jesus to the pinnacle or highest point of the temple Herod had built. The pinnacle was located on the southeast corner of the temple. At this corner the Royal Porch and Solomon’s Porch met and looked out over the Kidron Valley. The pinnacle was about 600 feet above the of the brook Kidron.
Satan’s temptation was to suggest that Christ Jesus stand on top the pinnacle and leap down and, land unharmed. Augsburger and Ogilvie note in their Commentary on Matthew, A rabbinical tradition reads, “When the King Messiah reveals Himself, then He comes and stands on the roof of the Holy Place.” This means to appear from above, miraculously introducing His national leadership.
In this, the second temptation Satan again did not challenge Christ Jesus' Son-ship. Before Satan had tried to force Christ Jesus to divinely intervene by turning stones into bread. This time he was trying to get God the Father to divinely intervene on Christ Jesus' behalf. If Christ Jesus would jump and land unharmed He would present Himself to the multitudes as a wonder-worker, and the Messiah. I like the way Stuart Weber states it in his Commentary on Matthew, “Once more Christ Jesus was tempted to exercise improper dependence to “force” divine intervention. That is sin.”
To support his temptation, Satan quoted from the Old Testament, “He shall give His angels charge over you, in their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone” (Psalm 91:11–12). The tempter used Scripture, but took it out of context and bent it to his own advantage. He left out a phrase that was not suited to his purpose, “in all your ways,” The verse actually reads ~ For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone.”
I know it's just four words and to some it may seems like something trivial or insignificant. But it was a subtle challenge to Christ Jesus. That is how Satan works, he doesn't have to turn you completely just make you swerve or turn slightly. Make you doubt, or make you question. Unless you are honest with the Bible, interpreting it in its context and historic meaning, you can use the Bible support any position you want. Anyone can take and make a perversion of the Scripture. You must be on guard ~ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7).
Christ Jesus will keep your mind and heart in a strong place or castle. Your hearts- is the seat of all your affections and passions, and minds- is your understanding, judgment, and conscience. Christ Jesus alone is able guard these for you. Do not be deceived by Satan, Christ Jesus is the only way to a restored relationship with the Father. Ask Christ Jesus into your life today?
2. Do Not Test Your God (vs. 7)
Christians sometimes fall prey to seeking proof-texts to back up an idea of their own. When they do this they usually end up taking Scripture out of context. But Christ Jesus, who is God knows the Scriptures well. This is why He was able to quote Deuteronomy 6:16 ~ It is written again,” as a direct answer to Satan’s misquoted temptation, “you shall not tempt the Lord your God.”
Because Christ Jesus understands the Word of God, because He is God; He clearly recognized the devil’s misquote, and knew the true meaning of God’s Word. Christ Jesus’ quote from Deuteronomy 6:16 clearly shows that it is prohibited to test God. By quoting this Scripture Christ Jesus refused improper dependence on God the Father, which would have been a sin.
Faith is an attitude that opens your will to God, that allows God to fulfill His own will through your life. Faith that can respond more to signs and wonders than to the Word of God is not authentic faith. Christ Jesus refused to become a wonder-worker to gain national leadership. He was not cultivating people’s faith in wonders but faith in God Himself.
Christ Jesus’ miracles were unselfish expressions which served the good of others and glorified God rather than miracles for His own self-interest. A changed life, a life free from the penalty of sin is the greatest miracle ever and that is exactly what Christ Jesus will do for you if you will only ask Him to.
"And how does a man benefit if he gains the whole world and loses his soul in the process?For is anything worth more than his soul?” (Mark 8:36-38 – TLB).
3. Not His To Give (vs. 8-10)
The third temptation focused directly on Christ Jesus’ ultimate mission. He had come to seek and to save the lost, to reconcile men to God. And because of this the third temptation may have been the most appealing of the three to Christ Jesus. Why do I say this? Not because of Christ Jesus' anticipation of ruling the earth – that was already the planed. But because the Satan was suggesting that Christ Jesus take another route to win the world other than the way of the Cross. No Cross, no physical pain, no sins of the world heaped upon Him, and no separation from the Father.
The vision of the world that Christ Jesus came to save moved before Him, and the voice of the tempter said, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” As the prince of this world Satan was within his right to make this offer.
God the Father had a plan for the sure restoration of His kingdom and it involved Christ Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross. Satan offered of an “even better” plan, was both deceptive and impossible. Satan was promising a kingdom and all it's glory, minus the suffering. What a deal! Satan was tempting Christ Jesus with the belief that someone else could provide Him a better way than God could. Folks this is always Satan's appeal, whether it involves work, power, money, success, or you fill in the _______.
Christ Jesus knew that He could not defeat evil by compromising with evil. Christ Jesus’ decision was to be faithful to God and His calling, to follow the way which inevitably led to the Cross. Christ Jesus’ response to this temptation was abrupt and pointed. Again He reached into Scripture, interpreted it accurately; and sent Satan packing, “Away with you Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” (Deuteronomy 6:13)
The Bible should be your only authority for right living. The world has bought into the lie that God has competition in Satan. Christ Jesus did not and neither should you. Why believe the created when you can have a relationship with the Creator. If you know Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour then then you don't need anyone or anything else to be restored to the Father.
Satan then departed from Christ Jesus. That is he yielded, and left the presence of Christ Jesus. Think about it, Satan had just offered to be a benevolent master to Christ Jesus, but Christ Jesus' authoritative response and Satan's cowering obedience showed who the real master is. Satan yielded this round, and he would never again directly face off with Christ Jesus during His earthly ministry. But make no mistake Satan was always just out of sight battling; indirectly Christ Jesus. Satan and his demons are still here doing battle with Christ followers today.
Rest assure though God the Holy Spirit is with you always doing battle on Christ Jesus' behalf. And just like in Christ Jesus encounter with Satan in the wilderness, God always wins!
You have at your disposal the same spiritual resources that Christ Jesus used when He faced and defeated Satan. You have the Word of God, fasting, prayer, meditation, and the power of the Holy Spirit. You are more than equipped to overcome temptation.
Temptation itself is not a sin. It is only a sin when you yield to it. You should then not be discouraged when you face temptations but be determined to resist them. The devil tempted Christ Jesus over and over again. Even while He was on the cross, we hear the devil speak through his servants saying, “If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” (Matthew 27:40). Christ Jesus fought off the temptation and with His last words “Into your hand I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46) stayed true to His mission and God's plan. And in doing so offers you a chance to a restored relationship with God, and all you have to do is ask. Won't you ask today.
Thank you for dropping by, I pray you have an awesome day and that the Lord, Christ Jesus be with you and yours.
Biblesurfer
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