The Temptation of Jesus

Matt 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted

by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights,

he was hungry.

3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God,

command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes

from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the

pinnacle of the temple

6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down,

for it is written,“‘He will command his angels

concerning you,’ and“‘On their hands they will bear you

up, lest you strike your foot against a

stone.

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall 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 glory.9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall

down and worship me.”

10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God

and him only shall you serve.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

The Temptation of Jesus

Matt 4:1-11

The Greek word is peirazõ . It’s used in the Bible in two distinct ways:

1. Enticement to do evil - The apostle James uses the word in this way when he writes, "Let no one say when he is tempted [that is, enticed to do evil], 'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone" (James 1:13)

The Greek word is peirazõ . It’s used in the Bible in two distinct ways:

2. The act of "testing" or "trying" someone in order to refine them or to prove the genuineness of their character - much like precious metal is "tested" and "refined" in the fire.

So the Greek word peirazõ can either refer to God subjecting one

of His children to the sort of testing and trying that reveals and refines

their true character, or to the devil's actual enticement to do evil.

1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

John 16:33 (NIV)

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.

But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

1. Use his own powers selfishly for his own use

Matthew 4:3-4

3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is

written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes

from the mouth of God.’”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

How does this relate to us? - When we are physically weak

- Satan will try to get us focused on our own needs & wants instead of Gods plans

- Satan tests us to rely on ourselves instead of God

2. Testing God

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 said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Satan also tried to persuade Jesus to doubt God, but he disguised the

motivation of doubt as an expression of faith

How does this relate to us?

- Tempted to test God

- Esteem our own understanding above His Word

- Obedience Tested

3. GLORY & COMPROMISE

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.

How does this affect us?

- Temptation to Glory & Success

- Compromise Gods ways

- Tested in our giftings

Now here is a great and uplifting truth. What we call temptation is not meant to make us sin; it is meant to enable us to

conquer sin. It is not meant to make us bad, it is meant to make us good. It is not meant

to weaken us, it is meant to make us emerge stronger and finer and purer from the

ordeal. Temptation is not the penalty of being a man, temptation is the glory of

being a man. It is the test which comes to a man whom God wishes to use.

Hebrews 4:14-16 (MSG)

14-16 Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready

access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is

out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing,

experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the

help.