The Temptation of Jesus

Matthew 4:1-11

Temptation

Matthew 3:16 - 4:11 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;

17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." ESV

him.

Matthew 4:1 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.

Devil comes at time of vulnerability when we are weakest

3 And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread."

First Temptation

Since you are God’s Son there are certain advantages to be exploited

3 And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread."

First Temptation

Isnt’ this perfectly legitimateHe was hungryBody temple of HS 40 days excessiveUnreasonanly harsh?Fasting is entirely voluntary

Martin Luther

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.'"

Jesus reply

Bible study more important than supper?Perfectly reasonable to eat is it not?Magic words used to ward off SatanBasis for memory verses

Exodus 4:22-23 22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, "Let my son go that he may serve me." If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.'

Israel and Jesus

IsraelJesus

Son

Vine

Light

Deuteronomy 8:2-4 2 And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.

Israel

Deut 8:3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know,

Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil

Testing is deliberate

3 ....that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

Testing to determine the presence of trust and obedience

Learn to trust completelyOn Him . We live by His Word which reveals His will

Learn to disregard what we feel or think or what our sensesTell us but to implicitly trust and obey

3 Deuteronomy 8: 4 Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the LORD your God disciplines you.

Testing to determine the presence of trust and obedience

3 Hebrews 5:8-9 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,

Testing to determine the presence of trust and obedience

Discipline is not punitive it is method to grow a son

Discipline is not punitive it is method to grow a son

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.'"

Gods purposes

WHO DO YOU REALLY LIVE FOR?

When you are involuntarily brought to a

difficult position

Legitimate Human needs and Desires..appetite

God’s WillNeed for lovecompanionship

Pain is the Price

Pleasure is the price

Pleasure is the price

To Trust God to provide for you when He has brought you

•

Did God say He will provide?Not turn bread to stoneBut give up on GodFind yourself A wife , any wifeTake things in to your own hands

Busy executive---no balance...decide if you live by bread aloneIs this all tht will characterise your lifeWe are all in a desert.....where the things of the world and all our desires Shouts out at usDid GOD say He will provide...only basics lah If you want you have to take it!

Illness

• Does God know ? Does He not care?

• Why did God let this happen?

• Surely He is in control

• Why me

• Curse God and die

• Do not bother to pray to live for Him

Spiritual desert ....everything else tempts us to live by bread aloneTo live for feeding and clothing our bodies..I won’t live by bread aloneFriend of mine Cheah Wing Yin ....elections, DAP

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him

Temple of Jerusalem

, "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.'"

The leap of faith

Here I am God catch me

Psalm 91:9-12 9 Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place- the Most High, who is my refuge- 10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

Twists God’s Word to his own disadvantage instead of submitting to it

2nd Temptation

Redefined faith

sensational , cheap that usurps God’s sovereignty

• Use text to squeeze blessing out of God

• Manipulation of God

Blackmail God to action

Tension

Blessings

Tom the prophet

Philippians 4:19 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Korean Hostages

Goes to Afghanistan to help out in the hospitalsIn the middle of Taliban territoryGoes in the name of God

Philippians 4:19 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

George Mueller

Never asked for funds

Jim Elliot

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose

Waodani peopleEcuador 1956

7 Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

2nd Temptation

• Genuine conviction that this is what God wants you to do. God led action

• Not to test God’s fidelity Man led action

• "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, "' He will command his angels concerning you

• Forces God to prove Himself• God to move Science block

The motive

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.“

Attacks first commandment

Temptation is to avoid the pain of the cross

3rd Temptation

An appeal to self gratification

Avoid the crossAvoid the pain

Money, Money, Money…

What if I gave you RM 1,000,000

It is the price that is the problem

• 1 Timothy 6:9-10 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Blessing Theology God serves us

Eves temptationTo make me wise as God

ALL THAT IS NEEDED TO WORSHIP SATAN IS TO NEGLECT OF GOD

...It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith

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.'"

God does not exist to bless us. All things made by Him and for Him

Jesus Anwser

True Worship

ValuesBehaviour

True Worship

PurposeProgressPower

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

God does not exist to bless us. All things made by Him and for Him

God’s Reply

Things go wrong we start to doubt God and take things in to our own hands

Can’t I trust God with my computer

Is He not in charge of power supplies

I am not tempted to turn stones to bread

Jesus serves as a model to how to survive temptation

Martin Luther

But I am tempted to live as if God does not exist.. You blaspheme...No you do you act like it

Hebrews 2:18 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

DA Carson-

Not with omniscience but with experience

Jesus is a very real and present help

3 Hebrews 5:8-9 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,

Jesus Saves Us Through His Obedience

Stands with sinners at baptism

Recapitulates Israel

New Israel

Whole new humanity

New Adam

One mans obedience death conquered

Lays foundation by substitution

Wrestled with temptation but know no sin

In weakness He rises

We too will one day have no more sin

JESUS SAVES US