Dale Ridge church of Christ

No one would deny that we live in a world full of temptations.  We are bombarded daily by images of worldly pursuits that we are told would be pleasurable if we engage in them.  How should we as Christians deal with these temptations and overcome them?  Let’s look at Jesus’ example in Matthew 4. 

                In Matthew 3:13-17, we read of how Jesus came to John the Baptizer in Jordan to be baptized of him.  Upon John baptizing Jesus, the Spirit of God lighted on Jesus as a dove, and a voice from Heaven stated, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

                Immediately after this, in Matthew 4:1, we are told that Jesus was “led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”  It is interesting to note that very soon after Jesus’ baptism, Jesus was going to be tempted.  Satan does not waste any time trying to lead us astray once we have become a Christian. 

                We see in Matthew 4:2 that Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights and was very hungry when the devil came to tempt him.  Just as he did with Jesus, Satan often tries to tempt us when we are at our weakest point. 

                In Matthew 4:3-4, we find how the tempter comes to Jesus and challenges him to turn the stones to bread if Jesus is indeed the Son of God.  Notice that the devil tries to test Jesus’ pride as well as plays upon Jesus’ hunger.  The devil knows that Jesus is in a state of hunger and sees this as a point of weakness.  We see in verse 4 how Jesus answers the tempter by quoting God’s word by stating “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”  When we are faced with temptation, we would do well to remember what the Scriptures say.

                In Matthew 4:5-7, we see how the devil, not to be outdone, takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and again challenges his relationship to God by saying that if Jesus is the Son of God, He can cast himself down off the temple and that angels will come to save Him.  It is interesting to note that this time, the tempter actually quotes God’s Word to justify what he is telling Jesus to do.  This fact reminds us of how we need to be sure and study God’s Word so that we may be able to defend what we believe against those who may try to use it against us as the devil did to Jesus.  As we know from verse 7, Jesus answers the devil by stating “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” 

                In Matthew 4:8-10, we read of how the devil then took Jesus up to a very high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and told Jesus that if all of these things the devil could give Him if He only fell down and worshipped him.  We know Jesus’ response: “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”  When we are faced with temptation, our attitude should be as Jesus’: “go away, Satan, for it is written….” 

                In Matthew 4:11, we see how the devil left Jesus, and angels came and ministered unto Him.  When we endure temptation and resist it, we will be rewarded with a crown of life (James 1:12). 

                Let us always remember also Paul’s exhortation in I Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

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Filed under: Devotional, Michael Carter on February 2nd, 2009