Jesus’ Temptation: Part 2
(The Battle from a Specific Perspective)
Luke 4:3-12
1. The Devil wanted Jesus to Doubt God’s Provision (Appetites and Abilities)
3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” Luke 4:3-4 (ESV)
25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. Psalm 37:25 (ESV)
The devil was casting doubt on what God said, as he loves to do. And if Jesus was the Son of God, then why was he on the verge of starvation? How could this be God’s will for his life? 1 Corinthians 10:31; John 4:34; Matthew 6:25-26
3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, 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. Deuteronomy 8:3 (ESV)
2. The Devil wanted Jesus to Doubt God’s Plan (Ambition and Authority)
5 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6 and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” Luke 4:5-8 (ESV); Psalm 2:7-8
God’s pattern: We start with suffering and then end with glory.
25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Luke 24:25-26 (ESV); 1 Peter 5:10
Satan’s pattern is that we start with glory and end with suffering.
13 It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. Deuteronomy 6:13 (ESV)
3. The Devil wanted Jesus to Doubt God’s Promises (Attentiveness and Ability)
9 And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle 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 guard you,’
11 and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” 12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Luke 4:9-12 (ESV)
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. Psalm 91:11-12 (ESV)
The temptation made by Satan was to, in essence, force God into a corner so that He has to act.
16 “You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah. 17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies and his statutes, which he has commanded you. Deuteronomy 6:16-17 (ESV)