Christ in Temptatio

nMatthew 4

17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all

things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining

to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of

those who are tempted. Hebrews 2:17–18 (NASB95)

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without

sin. Hebrews 4:15 (NASB95)

The Methods of the Master Tempter

Satan always seeks us at our most vulnerable

The Methods of the Master Tempter – Exploiting Vulnerabilities

“…He then became hungry”

Reasonable Suggestion

Intense Desire Easy Solution

The Methods of the Master Tempter – Exploiting Vulnerabilities

“It is written…” Jesus recognized the “trap”

Quotes a passage teaching dependence on God for provision

The condition Jesus was in gave Him no reason to abandon His trust in the Father

The Methods of the Master Tempter – Exploiting Vulnerabilities

Application Extreme situations do not

indicate a need to abandon Divine wisdom

Happiness is found only in obedience

Ends do not justify means

The Methods of the Master Tempter

Satan always seeks us at our most vulnerable

Satan recognizes strengths may become weaknesses

The Methods of the Master Tempter – Exploiting Strengths

“If you are the Son of God”

Not questioning His identity, but His commitment to that identity

“Son of God” references the humanity of Jesus but also the submission of Jesus to the will of God

The Methods of the Master Tempter – Exploiting Strengths

“Throw yourself down”

Satan takes a general promise and applies it to a specific and different situation

The passage encourages humble faith, Satan encourages a boastful demonstration

The Methods of the Master Tempter – Exploiting Strengths

“On the other hand…”

Jesus appeals to scripture and the law of harmony

Faith mixed with pride becomes a weakness rather than a strength

The Methods of the Master Tempter

Satan always seeks us at our most vulnerable

Satan recognizes the lure of instant gratification

Satan recognizes strengths may become weaknesses

The Methods of the Master Tempter – Exploiting Impatience

“…I will give you”

Satan’s offer was instant reward without self-sacrifice

Such offers always have an extreme downside

Satan’s offers are always hollow

Christ in Temptatio

nMatthew 4

The Nature of the Temptation

Temptation to do evil

The Nature of the Temptation – to do evil

Tempt can mean to test or to tempt to do evil

True temptation was a large part of the incarnation Heb 2:10

Overcoming true temptation was needful for Jesus to serve as High Priest Heb 4:14-16

The Nature of the Temptation

Temptation to do evil

True temptation – implies the possibility of failure

The Nature of the Temptation – true temptation

“Since the children share in flesh and blood…” Heb 2:14

“flesh and blood” indicates the frailty of humanity

Human frailty allows us to fall to temptation and thus sin

“partook” – to have a share in

The Nature of the Temptation – true temptation

Were it impossible for Jesus to give into temptation, “it would be

logically impossible for New Testament writers to appeal to His

temptation a a ground of confidence or the believer’s

overcoming temptation (Harrison, pg. 82)

The Nature of the Temptation – true temptation

Foreknowledge does not prohibit freewill

Freewill was a component of every temptation which Jesus faced

The Nature of the Temptation – true temptation

The cross itself was a testament to the freewill of the Christ

Jesus’s sacrifice was authorized by the Father, but executed by the Son’s choice John 10:17-18

The Nature of the Temptation – true temptation

“…I lay it down of Myself” KJV

“…but I lay it down of My own initiative” NASB

“…I lay it down of My own accord” ESV

The Nature of the Temptation – true temptation

The cross itself was a testament to the freewill of the Christ

Jesus’s sacrifice was authorized by the Father, but executed by the Son’s choice John 10:17-18

Scripture records the anguish this choice produced Heb 5:7-8; Luke 22:35

The Nature of the Temptation – true temptation

7 In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications

with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He

was heard because of His piety. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which

He suffered. Hebrews 5:7–8 (NASB95)

The Nature of the Temptation – true temptation

7 In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications

with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He

was heard because of His piety. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which

He suffered. Hebrews 5:7–8 (NASB95)

Victory in Submission

The key to Jesus obedience was simple submission

Jesus put the will of the Father above even extreme physical need

Repeatedly through temptation He showed complete devotion to the Father

Victory in Submission The key to Jesus obedience was

simple submission

Submission was integral to the incarnation

He voluntarily emptied Himself Phil 2:5-8

Submission was seen in Gethsemane Luke 22:47-54

Submission was seen when entering periods of trial Matt 4:1

Victory in Submission

The key to submission is trust

The Spirit led Him into trial, but angels ministered to Him after Matt 4:11

Despite crying out in agony He was still sent to the cross Heb 5:7

Victory in Submission Psalm 22 details the amazing trust Jesus had in

the Father

Circumstances seemed to indicate defeat Psa 22:1-8

The moment the enemy seemed strong Jesus seemed weak Psa 22:12-18

In this moment Jesus placed all trust in the Father Psa 22:19-21

In this trust and submission Jesus found victory Psa 22:21-26