Matthew 6:9-13 - After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive
our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.
The Sermon for This Week is: The Temptation Of Jesus - Matthew 4:1-11 - Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he
had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be
the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written,
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh
him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast
thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their
hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high
mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will
I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan:
for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him,
and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
INTRODUCTION
1. One of the blessings of having Jesus as our Savior is His ability to comfort and aid those who are
tempted...
a. This is because He too was tempted - Hebrews 2:18 - For in that he himself hath suffered
being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
b. He is sympathetic, and can provide mercy and grace to help in time of need - Hebrews 4:14-16 - Seeing
then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 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. Let us therefore come boldly unto
the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
2. One of His greatest periods of temptation was at the beginning of His public ministry...
a. Immediately following His baptism by John - Matthew 3:13-17 - Then cometh Jesus from Galilee
to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou
to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so
now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus,
when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit
of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom
I am well pleased.
b. Just prior to starting His preaching ministry - Matthew 4:12-17 - Now when Jesus had heard
that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon
the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet,
saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow
of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom
of heaven is at hand.
3. Studying “The Temptation Of Jesus” can be fruitful for several reasons...
a. It reminds us that Jesus can understand our own temptations
b. It reveals how we can be more successful in overcoming temptation
[With that in mind and using Mt 4:1-11 as our basic text, let’s begin with...]
I. THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS REVIEWED
A. THE SETTING OF THE TEMPTATIONS...
1. Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness - Matthew 4:1 - Then was Jesus
led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Matthew 3:16 - And
Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the
Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: - Luke 3:22 - And the
Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved
Son; in thee I am well pleased.
a. The same Spirit who descended upon Him in bodily form as dove - Mt 3:16; Lk 3:22
b. It was likely the wilderness of Judea, a very desolate place
2. To be tempted by the devil - Matthew 4:1 - Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into
the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
a. It appears that this challenge was being initiated by the Spirit
b. For it was the Spirit who led Jesus to the wilderness for this purpose
3. Where Jesus fasted and was tempted for forty days - Matthew 4:2 - And when he had fasted
forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
a. His fasting is reminiscent of Moses and Elijah - cf. Exodus 34:28 - And he was there with
the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of
the covenant, the ten commandments. - 1 Kings 19:8 - And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength
of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
b. Luke reveals that temptations occurred over the period of forty days - Luke 4:2 - Being forty
days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
c. Mark mentions wild beasts - Mark 1:13 - And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted
of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
-- Thus it was after forty days of temptation that we find Satan approaching Jesus for a “climax”
involving three particular temptations
B. THE CLIMAX OF THE TEMPTATIONS...
1. The first temptation - Matthew 4:3-4 - And when the tempter came to him, he said,
If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It
is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
a. Satan’s appeal to the lust of the flesh
1) Having fasted for forty days, Jesus was naturally hungry
2) Challenging Jesus’ identity, Satan appeals to His fleshly hunger: “command that these stones
become bread”
b. Jesus responds with Scripture
1) Quoting Deuteronomy 8:3 - And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee
with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread
only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. - “man doth not live by bread only...”
2) There is more to life than just fulfilling physical desires; man is dependent upon the
Word of God to truly live!
2. The second temptation - Matthew 4:5-7 - Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city,
and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written,
He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee
up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again,
Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
a. Satan appeals to the pride of life
1) Again challenging Jesus’ identity, Satan sets Jesus on the pinnacle of the temple, tells Him
to “throw Yourself down”
2) Quoting scriptures himself, using Psalms 91:11-12 - For he shall give his angels charge over
thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash
thy foot against a stone.
b. Jesus responds with Scripture
1) Quoting Deuteronomy 6:16 - Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah. - “You shall not tempt the LORD your God”
2) While the passage Satan quoted is true, it would be an abuse of it to purposely test God
2. The
third temptation - Matthews 4:8-10 - Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth
him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt
fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou
shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
a. Satan appeals to the lust of the eyes
1) Taking Jesus to high mountain and showing Him the kingdoms of the world
2) Offering to give Jesus all the kingdoms if He will worship Satan
b. Jesus responds with Scripture
1) Quoting Deu 6:13, “You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve”
2) Though offered a shortcut to receiving power over the nations, Jesus does not take the easy path -
cf. Revelation 2:26-27 - And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to
him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be
broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. - Revelation 3:21 - To him
that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
C. AT THE END OF THE TEMPTATIONS...
1. Angels came and ministered to Jesus - Matthew 3:11 - I indeed baptize you with water unto
repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with
the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
a. Exactly what they did is not mentioned
b. Perhaps they provided bodily nourishment (Hendricksen)
2. This would not be the last time Satan would tempt Jesus - cf. Luke 4:13 - And when the devil
had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. - Matthew 16:21-23 - From that time forth began
Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests
and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it
far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind
me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
[With forty days of overcoming temptation behind Him, especially the temptation of taking a short cut
to His rule as the Messiah, Jesus was now prepared to begin His public ministry. What observations might one make regarding
“The Temptation Of Jesus”? Here are a few...]
II. OBSERVATIONS FROM THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS
A. WE HAVE THE SAME ADVERSARY...
1. Jesus was tempted by the devil, and so are we - 1 Peter 5:8-9 - Be sober, be vigilant; because
your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith,
knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
2. The devil now directs his attention towards the disciples of Christ - Revelation 12:17 - And
the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God,
and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
-- We should not treat him lightly, for the conflict is real! - Ephesians 6:12 - For we wrestle
not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places.
B. WE HAVE SIMILAR TEMPTATIONS...
1. The lust of the flesh - e.g., immorality, especially when young
2. The lust of the eyes - e.g., materialism, especially when middle-age
3. The pride of life - e.g., pride and arrogance, especially when elderly
-- These we must overcome, if we wish to have the love of the Father - 1 John 2:15-16 - Love
not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love
of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the
lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
C. WE HAVE THE SAME TOOLS TO OVERCOME...
1. Jesus appealed to the Word of God, and so can we - cf. Ephesians 6:17 - And take the
helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
2. Jesus had faith in the plan of God (victory through suffering), we need a similar shield of faith -
Ephesians 6:16 - Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts
of the wicked. - cf. Hebrews 10:35-39 - Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence
of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a
little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition;
but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
3. Jesus undoubtedly prayed, He taught the use of prayer to overcome temptation - Matthew 26:41 - Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is
willing, but the flesh is weak.
-- The Word of God, faith, and prayer...against these the devil has no chance!
D. WE HAVE SIMILAR BLESSINGS WHEN WE OVERCOME...
1. Jesus was administered to by angels, angels will carry us home - cf. Luke 16:22 - And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died,
and was buried;
2. Jesus received wonderful blessings when He ultimately overcame and ascended to heaven; He has promised
similar blessings for us - cf. Revelation 2:10 - Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some
of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful
unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. - Revelation 2:26-27 - And
he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with
a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. - Revelation
3:21 - To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame,
and am set down with my Father in his throne.
E. WE CAN LEARN SOME IMPORTANT LESSONS...
1. Material sustenance alone cannot truly satisfy, we need the spiritual sustenance from God’s Word
2. While we are to trust in the Lord, we should not foolishly tempt Him
3. Scripture can easily be abused, as well as used - cf. 2 Peter 3:16 - As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood,
which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto
their own destruction.
4. The way to glory is not quick and easy, but long and hard - cf. Acts 14:22 - Confirming the
souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through
much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. - Romans 2:7 - To them who by patient continuance in well doing
seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
CONCLUSION
1. But perhaps the greatest lesson to glean from “The Temptation Of Jesus” is that
we have a Savior who in all things was made like us...
a. That He might be our merciful and faithful High Priest - Hebrews 2:17 - Wherefore in all
things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and
faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of
the people.
b. That having suffered, being tempted, He can aid us who are tempted - Hebrews 2:18 - For in
that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
c. That He might be sympathetic, providing mercy and grace to help in time of need - Hebrews 4:15-16
- 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. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne
of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
2. Are you burdened with temptations?
a. Look to Jesus as your example in learning how to overcome temptation in your life!
b. Look to Jesus as your High Priest when you need to approach God in prayer and receive mercy and grace
for those times when you succumbed to temptation!
As in all things, look to Jesus, as the writer to Hebrews exhorts us...
Hebrews 12:2-3 - Looking
unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him
endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured
such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Matthew 28:19-20 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Mark 16:15-16 - And
he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Prayer:
Lord I truly thank You for giving me the opportunity to present these words to my brethrens. I pray that You will
give them Your eternal blessings and accept them into Your heart - this I pray
in the name of Thy Son, Jesus, the Messiah, Your only begotten son which Ye sent to save mankind from themselves. Amen
Peace
be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace
be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. - Ephesians 6:23-24
This sermon is in the Public Domain - Free for all to use with the only requirement:
That it never be used for profit.
