LOC – 014 – Jesus is Tempted in the Wilderness

Lesson Objectives

Jesus needs time to be alone with God also.

The Devil is REAL!

Jesus is vulnerable to temptation just like we are. He understands what it is to be tempted!

Temptation must be confronted and exposed for what it is.

God always provides us a way to deal with temptation before it becomes sin.

Lesson Commentary

Read Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13

We have been building the birth and preparations for Jesus’ ministry. It will soon be time for Him to start preaching, doing His miracles and proceeding on His way to the Cross. Before He gets there, the Holy Spirit moves Him to go into the wilderness for some serious testing from the devil. It is a time for serious meditation confirming Who He is, why He is here, and what is about to happen. By His very nature, we presume that Jesus spends time with His Father and the Holy Spirit before He starts His Ministry. Before He leaves the wilderness, we are going to witness a duel. The duel is between the Woman’s seed and the serpent himself, God, the Son and the devil. There is much to be learned here from this period of Jesus’ life. Let’s continue see what happens.
The wilderness on the west side of Jericho. A monastery has been built on the sight of where Jesus was supposed to have been tempted. Photograph courtesy of Glen & Sylvia Copple

Jesus Seeks Time With God

Mt. 4:1; Mk. 1:12; Lk. 4:1 – After being baptized by John the Baptist, Jesus is led into the wilderness during which time He will be seriously tempted by Satan. Look at the differences as to how Matthew, Mark, and Luke approach this subject. Matthew and Luke say Jesus was “led” by the Spirit into the wilderness. Mark (showing “power”) says the Spirit “sent” (other translations use “drove”) Him out into the wilderness. The “Wilderness” is the area near the west side of the Dead Sea, (see map). The Jews believe it to be a habitat of evil spirits. This will not be the only time that Jesus is tempted. It is only the time that the devil approaches Him so directly. We will see other temptations as this study continues.

Being tempted presupposes that the one tempted is vulnerable to the temptation, otherwise it is not a temptation. Being vulnerable places the decision to yield or resist on the one tempted. If Jesus were incapable of saying “Yes” to Satan, then these would not be temptations. In fact, as we will see, Jesus says “No,” showing that He is willing and able to choose to do God’s will rather than enjoy the pleasures of this world. Jesus voluntarily took upon Himself a human nature capable of sinning or not sinning (see Hebrews 4:15).

Where does that put you and me? Like Jesus, God has given us the power and ability to say “Yes” or “No” to every temptation just like Jesus. God will never let us be tempted beyond what we can bear (see I Corinthians 10:13). That leaves us “Guilty as Charged” for our sinful behavior. Praise God for His GRACE and the forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Mk. 1:13; Lk. 4:2 – Here is an area of great debate for which there is no absolute answer this side of Heaven, namely, how fully does Jesus understand the nature and details of His calling prior to His baptism and 40 days of soul-searching in the wilderness? He is totally committed to God the Father, but does Jesus, the man, know what His Father knows?

Mt. 4:2 – It would seem reasonable that after inaugurating His ministry through His baptism by John, Jesus would go through a period of testing by the devil. The devil confronts Jesus straight on. He does not send another demon or some other means. He needs to go head to head with God’s Son to see who is going to be in charge. The outcome of this scenario will only preclude the outcome of all future conflicts with Satan (in which the devil loses). Let’s see how it is done.

Jesus is tempted three times. Each focuses on a different aspect of Jesus, and our, nature. We will look at each in turn, following Matthew’s chronology because it flows better than Luke’s does. We really have no indication as to the actual order of the temptations. Luke finishes up with the Temple just as he also brings Jesus ministry to a conclusion at the Temple. How much time is involved after the 40 days? What is the order of events? Luke lists the first temptation as personal but also social: will this be the ministry Jesus will have? The second in Luke is political: will Jesus submit to the ruler of this world to achieve good for people in this world? The final temptation is religious: will Jesus win Jerusalem and all it symbolizes and will Jesus avoid death there by the exhibition of supernatural power?

The chart below on “Comparisons of Temptations of Jesus and Eve” shows us some similarities and differences in how man is tempted. All heroes of the Bible, and of any other time, have gone through a period of testing. This time proves that they are made of the “stuff” heroes are made of. The first chart compares the Temptations of Jesus with the temptations of Eve in the garden. A second chart on page 35 compares the 40-day fasts of Moses, Elijah and Jesus. Notice that only Jesus was successful in the mission of His fast.

Jesus is Tempted Physically

Mt. 4:3; Lk. 4:3 – The first temptation appeals to Jesus’ physical desire for food. “If you are the Son of God” (some translate this as “Since you are…”) the devil is trying to promote “situation ethics”. This is a test of Jesus’ SONship. The devil is trying to justify the action based on a perceived need (Jesus is hungry!), not on whether it is moral or ethical. Satan is trying to get Jesus to indulge himself, compromise the situation, which Jesus could easily do. Satan plays the “If . . . then . . .” game. How many times has that phrase been used to persuade you to do something that your spirit was warning you not to do?

Jesus is weary, hungry, and alone in a vast wilderness. Having gone forty days without food and fellowship leaves Him in a weakened physical, emotional, and spiritual state. Satan seeks to take advantage of His weakness to try to trip Him up. Jesus doesn’t receive the ministering of the angels until this is over. He has to fight this battle alone! Matthew says “stones” referencing all of Israel. Luke says “stone” making this a personal matter for Jesus to undergo. Have you ever desired a moment of physical pleasure, like sexual temptation, or to desire a certain car, clothes, hairstyle, etc. over your relationship with God?

Mt. 4:4; Lk. 4:4 – Jesus replies, “Man shall… live… by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Jesus knew that nothing is as important as the Word of God. Bread only lasts for a season. God’s word lasts for eternity. Jesus sites God as His authority. Who’s your authority? Man needs bread to live, but he needs the Word of God to find eternal life. Which life is it more important to have? Jesus always defers to God’s will and authority in any situation. While it is true that Jesus is hungry, it isn’t time for Him to break His fast yet.

Satelite photograph of the wilderness from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea to En Geddi. This is the area where Jesus fasted for 40 days after being immersed by John the Baptist. Map courtesy of Google Earth

Jesus is Tempted Mentally

Mt. 4:5; Lk. 4:9 – Satan now takes Jesus to Jerusalem and puts Him on a pinnacle of the Temple. Satan appeals to the intellectual fact that Jesus is God’s Son, and as such, He can do anything. Satan is trying to get Jesus to justify His power and place with the Father. (How did Satan get Jesus to the temple?

Did Jesus walk, was He “beamed” like in Star Trek? Remember both Jesus and Satan have sufficient power to accomplish such a thing.) The highest point of the temple area is at the Southwest corner where the Kidron Valley is 450 ft. below. It is uncertain whether this is where Jesus stood or if it was 30-60 feet up on the actual Temple structure itself. Regardless, it will be a foolish thing for Jesus to jump.

The Panicle of the Temple mount on the southeast corner overlooking the Kidron Valley. One of two possible places where Satan may have tempted Jesus to jump. That is about 50 ft. above the valley floor.
Photograph courtesy of Glen & Sylvia Copple

Mt. 4:6 – Satan could be referencing Psalm 91:11-12 to get Jesus here. Many Jews expected the Messiah to come down to the Temple from above. Here is a perfect place for that to happen! Satan quotes Malachi 3:1 to try to entice Jesus to jump. Here, Luke concludes the temptation account, in Jerusalem, just as he concludes his entire theology.

You are the Son of God . . .”: Satan challenges Jesus’ belief system, His knowledge as to who He is. He builds on the first temptation to tempt Jesus in the area of display or popularity. He knows that Jesus can “fly” down and not get hurt. He challenges Jesus to go ahead and do it as proof of His Messiahship NOW. It is not based on trusting God, but on presumption that God will protect Him.

Lk. 4:10 – He even misquotes Scripture to try to justify Jesus allowing this thing to happen. The devil knows Scripture and can quote it as well as anyone, however, he only uses it to his advantage and always out of context. Satan works the same way on us today, only he uses his demons instead of confronting us himself.

Lk. 4:11 – Just because someone is quoting Scripture does not mean they are quoting it in context. Always search out the immediate context of a Scripture before you apply it to any situation! How many times have you or your friends quoted Scripture to serve your own purpose without regard to its context? Satan works the same way on us today, only he uses his demons instead of confronting us himself. How would you have responded if this were you? Would you jump to prove God or not?

Mt. 4:7; Lk. 4:12 – Jesus responds back to Satan again with Scripture, correcting Satan’s misinterpretation, and citing a more correct Scripture to answer the situation. He replies, “Don’t tempt God.” Don’t take His Word out of context. There is a difference between tempting God and trusting God. Jesus reminds Satan that there is more to what he said. He has twisted God’s word to his own benefit. Have you ever altered God’s word to suit your own circumstances? Have you ever tried to justify a feeling or belief with Scripture? How often have you quoted the Bible without checking to see if that is really what that passage meant?

Jesus is Tempted Spiritually

Mt. 4:8; Lk. 4:5 – Now Satan appeals directly to Jesus’ relationship and allegiance to God. “All the kingdoms” Satan takes Jesus to a high mountain where He can see for a long distance. Unless Satan shows a “vision” of all of the Kingdoms, this can only be figurative since the earth is round and many kingdoms exist beyond the horizon. To “Worship” literally means to “bend the knee” before another in giving them honor. Here, Luke references more of a vision and shows Jesus the political domains.

Mt. 4:9; Lk. 4:6 – Everyone would like to “rule the world”. Everyone wants to feel some degree of power. Luke also adds the comment in v. 6 that the others omit. Satan does have some “reign” over the world, but that will be short lived.

Lk. 4:7 – Satan offers the world to Jesus for Him to rule over, but at what cost? After all, didn’t Jesus come to establish an eternal kingdom over this world? The price that Satan exacts conflicts with the glory that God has in store. Two points are established here. 1) Satan could give Christ the kingdom (this earth). This is a point that Jesus doesn’t argue. 2) If Jesus takes the kingdom and rules, we will die in our sins without a Savior. Jesus chooses allegiance to God over the seeming rule over the entire world. What would Satan have to do to get you to choose popularity, fame, glamour, glory, and fortune over your relationship with God and Christian friends? Is there anything worth more than your eternal salvation?

Mt. 4:10; Lk. 4:8 - Jesus replies, “Get lost, Satan. I only serve My Father!” God’s Word declares that we are only to worship Him. Worshipping Satan or anyone or anything else is contrary to His will.

Mt. 4:11; Lk. 4:13 – The devil leaves. It doesn’t say that Satan has given up, but that he only backs off for the time being. Angels come and minister to Jesus. He possibly needs some spiritual reassurance and help after going through the three powerful temptations He has just experienced.

Jesus never fails to rely on God’s word to answer every situation. Strength can only come through resistance (see James 1:2-4). As we overcome one temptation, it helps to equip us to overcome the next temptation.

Read John 1:19-34.

“Walking With Jesus”

Lesson Commentary

LOC – 014 JESUS IS TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL
How to Defeat Temptation

Most challenging or dramatic event you have ever experienced? Has there ever been a time that after which you needed some time alone to think about it? Evidently, Jesus’ immersion inaugurated something very big. Jesus now wants some time alone to ponder what lies before Him. How much of His future did He know during His childhood and early adult years and how much was revealed on a “need to know” basis?

We are in Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:2-13

Jesus Seeks Time With God – Matthew 4:1; Mark 1:12; Luke 4:1

Jesus’ baptism was a moving experience. Now, He wants some time with God. Matthew and Luke say the Holy Spirit “led”, Mark says, “drove” (power!) Jesus into the wilderness. God now prepares Jesus for what is ahead! This is time for Jesus to commune with God without interruption. It is very intense. He is so deeply consumed in prayer that He doesn’t even bother to eat. Actually, this is a deliberate fast so He can entreat God to know His complete will and make the commitment to carry it out!

Jesus is tempted by the Devil! – Matthew 4:2; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:2

At the end of 40 days, while Jesus is still in the wilderness, Satan seizes the opportunity to try to capitalize on the humanity of Jesus and see if He can be tempted in a time of weakness.

Jesus being tempted presupposes that He could actually say, “Yes” to the temptation. The very definition of the word presupposes vulnerability of the one tempted. Of course, if He had, then He would not have been sinless and we would not be saved. The fact that Jesus said, “No” to the temptation as a human places a greater responsibility on us to likewise say, “No” when we are tempted! We can’t excuse it of as being “human”!

Satan likes to tempt us in private – “no one will know!”

Lets Look at the Three Areas of Temptation

Each focuses on a different aspect of our nature.

Physically – Matthew 4:3-4; Luke 4:3-4

Make the stones into bread. This is a promotion of situation ethics. It is justified if the situation justifies it regardless of whether it is right or wrong. Satan knows that Jesus is very hungry. They both also know that Jesus better eat soon or He will die of starvation. Jesus lost a lot of weight and probably didn’t have that much to loose!

Bread is still only temporary. We need God’s spiritual nourishment much more than we need more bread! We often use “situation ethics” to justify traffic violations, stealing from our employer, etc. Wrong is still wrong, even if others are doing worse things! Jesus replies to Satan by quoting Scripture and citing God as His authority! Who is going to be your authority? When are you going to repent and stop trying to justify your wrong behavior?

Mentally – Matthew 4:5-7; Luke 4:9-12

Satan transports Jesus to Jerusalem and challenges Him to take a flying leap off of the pinnacle of the Temple!. Instantly or by foot, we don’t know. If it is the temple building, that is a 60 foot jump. Both of them know that Jesus is God’s Son. Here, Satan is challenging Jesus to display His power by “flying” down off of the Temple. This would prove that He is more than a mere human being. Satan even misquotes Scripture to try to fool Jesus into thinking that He would be justified to jump off and let the angels catch Him. Jesus knows Scripture better than Satan and corrects his out of context comment.

Have you ever altered God’s word to suit your circumstances? Have you ever tried to justify a feeling or belief with Scripture? Always check the context of a Scripture before you quote it!

Spiritually – Matthew 4:8-11; Luke 4:5-8, 13

Worship me and I will give you the whole world! Satan directly challenges Jesus’ relationship to God. Jesus knows that He is supposed to be the King of the Jews and that His Kingdom will include the whole world. Satan offers Him a chance to make it happen now!

“Worship” means “bend the knee” which is an act of giving honor to another person.(Why some of us kneel when we pray!)This offer of “power” would be a temptation to many people. Satan does have the power to give Jesus this earth. However, Jesus knows that if He takes it this way, He will die spiritually and not be able to save us! Take a hike!

What would Satan have to do to get you to choose popularity, fame, glamour, glory or fortune over your relationship with God and Christians?

CONCLUSION

Temptations come in through the eye, from the world and only show the glitz and glamour, not the degradation, sorrow and death. They focus on this world and hide God’s glory. ALL SIN IS SELFISH!

Next Week, John the Baptist is going to have a few things to say about Jesus. Bring a friend and let’s learn from his message.