Pastor’s Pen Pulpit                                                                                                                                                          

March 20, 2005

 

LESSONS FROM THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS

Mathew 4:1–13

 

There are some very practical lessons we can learn from the account of Jesus’ temptation.  We are going to look at Matthew’s account in this pen pulpit.

 

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

  2.   And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.

  3.   And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

  4.   But He answered and said, “It is written, MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.”

  5.   Then the devil took Him into the holy city; and he had Him stand 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,

  7.   “HE WILL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE CONCERNING YOU; and ON THEIR HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, LEST YOU STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.”

  8.   Jesus said to him, “ON THE OTHER HAND, IT IS WRITTEN, YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.”

  9.   Again the devil took Him to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory;

10.   And he said to Him, “All these things will I give You, if You fall down and worship me.”

11.   Then Jesus said to him, “Begone, Satan!  For it is written, YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.”

12.   Then the devil left Him; and behold, the angels came and began to minister to Him.

 

•   Temptation within self is not a sin.  Jesus was tempted in every way, just as we are yet was without sin.  A misunderstanding of this defeats many people before they begin resisting temptation.  A false guilt grips them and they begin to lose the battle before they begin to fight it.

 

•   All people go through temptation.  Even Jesus as a man experienced it.

 

•   Jesus taught us how to win over temptation by meeting temptation with appropriate Scripture.

 

•   We are often tempted at our weakest point.  Jesus went forty days without food.  He was hungry.  This is one of the areas where the devil tempted Him.

 

•   As Jesus was tempted to fall down and worship Satan, so we too are often tempted to substitute something else in place of God.

 

•   As Jesus was tempted to jump off the pinnacle of the temple – sometimes we are tempted to do stupid things in order to gain attention from others.

 

•   Temptation often follows a high point in our life.  In Jesus’ case His baptism preceded His temptation.

 

•   Also temptation often precedes something we are about to accomplish for God.  Jesus was about to begin His ministry to mankind who was held in slavery by sin and Satan.

 

God always allows something good to come out of temptation.  In Jesus case, to prove that the Last Adam would win over temptation.  In our case, to strengthen our faith in the Word of God.  May that truth go with you this week so that it may be one of triumph!  God bless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suggestions for prayer  - Pray that the Holy Spirit would direct your steps today in a way that would be victorious for God.

 

For further study -  Read Luke’s account of the temptation in Luke 4:1-11.  Study the two accounts carefully.   Compare the similarities and differences.