The Temptation of Christ

Topic: Temptation
Passage: Luke 4:1–13

May 27, 2019

Commentary

Before I made a trip to Israel I used to think of the wilderness mentioned in the Bible as a huge forest. However, I found out it was just barren land with lots of rocks. It is thought that the place where Jesus was first tempted is a barren area northwest of the dead sea and Jericho (v. 1).

The things that Satan tempted Jesus with were very human in character:

  1. An appeal to the “lust of the flesh.” It was that Jesus could satisfy His hunger by commanding the stones to become bread (vv. 2-3). Jesus answered him, saying,  “It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” (v. 4). Keep in mind that Jesus was on a forty day fast at the time. Thank the Lord for His answer drawn from Deuteronomy 8:3.
  2. An appeal to the “lust of the eyes.” This was an offer for Christ to control all of the kingdoms of the world if He would just bow down to Satan (vv. 5-7). The Lord  rejected the temptation by quoting Deuteronomy 6:13. Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve” (v. 8).
  3. An appeal to the “pride of life.” This time Jesus is asked to put Himself in a place of danger to show how the Father can deliver Him (vv. 9-11). We are never to bring ourselves into a position of danger simply to “show off” or to demonstrate what great faith we have. Again Jesus rejects the temptation by quoting Deuteronomy 6:16 and the devil departs (vv. 12-13).

Application

A big reason I need to memorize the Word of God is so I can use it when Satan tempts me. I need to continue working on memorizing the weekly memory verses.

Luke 4:1– 13 (NET)

1 Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he endured temptations from the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were completed, he was famished. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone.’”

5 Then the devil led him up to a high place and showed him in a flash all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “To you I will grant this whole realm —and the glory that goes along with it, for it has been relinquished to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish. 7 So then, if you will worship me, all this will be yours.” 8 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”

9 Then the devil brought him to Jerusalem, had him stand on the highest point of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ 11 and ‘with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 12 Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 So when the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until a more opportune time.