My focus will be verses 1-11.
We have heard many sermons on this passage, most of us have read it a dozen times before. We know the high points, right?
Satan tempted Jesus, we know he tempts us, too. Jesus used Scripture, so we know that’s our defence against Satan. Satan knows the Bible, too.
We read over it because we know the story.
Tonight, however, the Lord showed me a little more.
Chapter 3 ends with Jesus being baptized, the Holy Spirit descending on Him, and God the Father giving His public approval and affirmation that Jesus is His Son.
Chapter 4 begins with the Spirit leading Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. That’s right, this was planned. This temptation was allowed by God. So we are reminded of a few things here. First, that all things go through God’s hand first, including anything done by Satan. Remember Job?
Secondly, God allows temptation, but He is not the one that tempts us to sin. Next, this temptation had a purpose: Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” He endured the same temptation we do, yet He remained without sin, giving us the power to do the same. Satan does not have endless power. He can be resisted.
This temptation came during fasting. Fasting is good, it is commanded, and it is necessary. However, it is not a magic shield to prevent wickedness in our lives. Satan can and will attack at any time.
Jesus answers Satan with Scripture, showing us the power of God’s Word. In a moment we will see the power of God’s spoken word as well.
Let’s take a look at Satan. In this passage he is referred to as: the Devil, the tempter, and Satan.
He questions God’s power and abilities. “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.”
First, I think this statement is very interesting. Satan KNOWS full well that Jesus is the Son of God. If Jesus wasn’t, this conversation never would have happened. Tempting Jesus, with the hopes of getting Him to sin, would have thwarted God’s plan of redemption. That has been Satan’s agenda from the beginning. Had Jesus done ANYTHING Satan wanted, He would have been acting outside of the will of God. This would have been sin. Then He would no longer be the acceptable sacrifice for sin.
Satan uses “if” a lot. He does this with you and I too, doesn’t he? He wanted Christ to prove Himself. This feeds into our pride. How many of us would have quickly turned those rocks into bread? Especially after a 40 day fast! Can I remind you that Jesus doesn’t tempt us to act on our own? He doesn’t tell us to prove ourselves to get His approval. He asks us to surrender to Him and let Him do the work.
Satan wants performance, God wants surrender.
Satan’s offers are enticing. He knows what our flesh wants. He knows what sins trip us up and get our attention. But, there’s ALWAYS a price. He never gives us anything for free. Christ does. He offers grace and forgiveness and love and mercy. He gave us a gift. The free gift of salvation. Where Jesus did all the work, all we have to do is accept it.
Satan just showed Jesus the good parts. The bread and the earthly kingdoms. Satan didn’t say that the cost would be Jesus being in sin, not being the Saviour, and being out of fellowship with God. Guess what? He still works the same way today. He shows us the fun of sin. That sex, drugs, and alcohol make you relaxed and feel good. Just one time. One more time won’t hurt. No one has to know. But he NEVER shows us the truth, the destruction. He never shows the reality of heartbreak and addiction. He feeds us the lies that we are different, that we can stop whenever we want. Friend, these are LIES. John 10:10 tells us that he comes to steal, kill, and destroy. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us he’s a roaring lion seeking to devour. Not annoy or frustrate but to devour. To totally destroy. There is always a cost to sin. Romans 6:23 reminds us that the wages (payment) of sin is death. You cannot play with sin and not get burnt. Your sin will find you out, it’s never in secret.
Satan’s temptations also came right before Jesus began His public ministry. Even after Satan tempts you, you can still serve God. Being tempted isn’t sinful, participating in the sin is.
Satan questions Jesus. “If thou be the Son of God…” sounds a lot like “Hath God said….?” from Genesis 3. He says this to you and I all the time. Satan puts a lot of “ifs” in our minds, doesn’t he? When we do sin he says, “If you were a Christian, you wouldn’t act/talk that way.” Then we begin to doubt our salvation. We get into a works based grace, which is not biblical. Then we begin to question God, too. What about when trials come? Satan says things like, “If God loved you…” and we begin to doubt the love and goodness of God.
What about the way Jesus responded to Satan? Three times He begins with “It is written.” If we do not know our Bible, we don’t know what is written and we can’t use it as our defense.
Jesus said, “It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” He makes it personal with ‘thy God’. This is interesting to me. This shows us His absolute power over everything, including Satan. This is also a command, and we see Satan directly disobey Jesus in the next two verses. Satan lives in opposition to Jesus.
I can’t help but to feel comforted by verses 9 and 10, though. Jesus commands Satan to flee and says the Lord thy God is the only one to be served and worshipped. His spoken word and immediately Satan leaves. Remember on the sea when He said, “Peace be still.”? His spoken word still has just as much power. Satan can disobey God, but when God commands Satan to flee, he has to go. This is true in your life and mine as well. Satan is not welcome in our lives unless God allows it, but once God says for him to leave, he has to. This command cannot be ignored. Satan has power and jurisdiction, but it does not supersede that of Jesus.
We are also reminded that Satan is VERY real. He is not a fleeting bad thought, feeling, or influence. He is as real as you and me. We are no match for Satan on our own. This is why we must use the Word of God against him. Satan has had all of time to learn human behaviour and perfect his tricks and schemes. Most of us have been alive less than 80 years, we cannot compete with him! Jesus stood face to face with Satan and was victorious, enabling us to be victorious as well. Jesus was hungry. 40 days with no food. How many of us are hangry (hungry and angry) after 12 hours and can’t even stand our spouse or children, much less Satan? I imagine Jesus was also tired and physically weak after that long with no food. He was fully human, after all. I know I would be. But, Jesus endured temptation so you and I would be able to withstand Satan, also.
Satan is cunning, subtle, but sometimes he is also direct, like he was here with Jesus. He was very clear with what he wanted Jesus to do. Regardless of how cunning he is, he can be resisted.
Stay in God’s Word and stay close to the Shepherd. Do not try to fight Satan on your own.
With Hope in His Service,
Heather
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