“The Temptation of Jesus”


    Before a King can rule others, he must prove that he can rule himself. (This is why Saul lost his kingship – he was unable to control himself and obey God). This chapter shows the King meeting His enemy, “the prince of this world” (John 14:30) and defeating him.


I. The Typical Message 
    In this temptation, Christ appears to fulfill two Old Testament types:

  1. The Last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45)
          A. Adam was tempted in a beautiful garden; Christ was in a lonely wilderness.
          B. Adam was at his best when tempted; Christ was hungry.
          C. Adam was the king of the old creation (Gen 1:26); Christ is King of the new (spiritual) creation (2 Cor. 5:17).
          D. Adam sinned and lost his dominion (Heb. 2:6-9); Christ obeyed and regained what Adam lost (Rom. 5:12-21).
          E. Adam was defeated and brought death to humanity; Christ was victorious and brought life to all who will trust him.
  2. The Son of David (Mt. 1:1).
          A. Both David and Christ were from Bethlehem.
          B. Both were chosen and anointed by God.
          C. Both were “exiles” and persecuted.
          D. Goliath dared Israel for 40 days; Satan attacked Christ for 40 days.
          E. David used one stone from five to slay the giant; Christ used one book (Deuteronomy) from five (the law of Moses) to defeat Satan.
          F. Goliath was a strong man; Satan is compared to a strong man (Mt. 12:22-30)
          G. David cut off the giant’s head with his sword; Christ overcame Satan with the Sword of the Spirit. (Heb. 4:12)

    II. The Message
  1. The First Temptation
        Satan appeals to the body, desires of the flesh. There was no sin in being hungry!! Yet Satan suggested that, if Jesus is God’s Son, God should not let Him hunger. Satan always wants us to think that God is “holding out on us.” (Gen. 3:5) The suggestion was, “God must not love you, if He did, He would take better care of you.” For Christ to use His divine powers out of the will of God would be defeat. He always did what pleased God. (John 8:29) Christ met this temptation. Feeding the spiritual man is far more important than feeding the physical. God test us and proves us in the ORDINARY things of life, like eating and drinking. Jesus lived under the authority of God’s Word; so should we.
  2. The Second Temptation
        Satan “dares” Jesus to prove the faithfulness of God. “Since you believe the Word of God,” says Satan, “then why not prove one of God’s promises?” (Psalm 91:11-12) “If you really believe in God’s care,” Satan says, “then throw yourself down and let the angels catch you?” Christ answered him from Deut. 6:16.
        Satan left out the important phrase, “in all thy ways” (Psalm 91:11-12). God keeps His promise when we keep His ways. Jesus said we should live by EVERY word God utters, but Satan always adds to the Bible or takes from it. He will twist the Bible and give carnal Christians all kinds of “Bible reasons” to sin. Beware of taking promises out of their context, claiming promises when you have not met the conditions.
        To do something without Bible authority is to sin, “For whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” (Rom. 14:23) Deliberate disobedience is an invitation for chastening.
  3. The Third Temptation 
        Satan offered Christ an “easy way” to become King. As the prince of this world (John 14:30), Satan is permitted by God to have a certain amount of control over its kingdoms. According to Psalm 2:6-9, God had already promised these kingdoms to Christ. (NOTE how Psalm 2:6-7 takes you back to Christ’s baptism, “Thou art my son…”) But He would have to die on the cross to gain this kingdom. Satan was trying to tempt Him away from the cross.
        Christ defeated Satan with Deut. 6:13. Whatever we worship is what we serve. If a man worships money, he lives for money and obeys it. If he worships God, he lives for God and obeys Him. He cannot do both. See Mt. 6:24
        One day in the future, Satan will hand over the kingdom to the Antichrist (Rev. 13) But Christ will come to take these kingdoms (Rev 19:11-21) and set up His own kingdom for 1000 years.

III Christ Was Defeated as Man and Defeated Satan as Man.

REMEMBER!! Where you are is no protection from the Devil. He tempted Christ in the wilderness, in the temple, and on a high mountain. YOU can be tempted in the church as well as out in the world or anywhere else.


LOOK AT THE CHANGES OF THESE TEMPTATIONS:

    The first temptation was REASONABLE; the second was QUESTIONABLE; the third was openly OBJECTIONABLE.
    Because of Christ’s victory, we claim I Peter 5:9 and James 4:7.

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