We see many models in the life of Christ to teach us as Christians how to behave. After His baptism, and just before He began his ministry, Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness. He was approached by Satan and was tested three times. Each of the tests that were put before Jesus show us what to expect when we are tempted and how we are to respond. Let's look at each one:
First, "the tempter" says to Christ, "If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." (Matt. 4:3) The temptation was to doubt God's provisions. Jesus was hungry. He had been fasting for forty days. I know how I felt after being on a liquid diet for 24 hours. I was weak, famished, and generally not a happy person. Jesus was fully capable of turning those stones into bread and satisfying himself, yet he answers as we should: "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matt 4:4)
How often do we want those stones turned to bread and our appetites satisfied before the time is right? We want the newer, shinier, more fashionable, or more satisfying "stuff". Or perhaps a relationship has gotten boring and lacks the luster of the past. Besides, there's someone else who is much more interesting that we could see ourselves with.
Does any of this sound familiar? Of course it does! Temptations have been around since Eve chose the apple over God's vast orchard of provisions. Be aware of this temptation... Don't be taking the fast food pick on the menu of life. Wait upon the Lord for His provisions are perfect!
Second, "the tempter" says to Christ, "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." (Matt 4:6) Of all places, this occurred in the holy city at the pinnacle of the temple! Can you believe the nerve of the devil taking the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the King of kings to the holy city and tempting him? Well, he did. And don't think he won't try to tempt you in places of reverence and honor. Like your marriage, your church, in areas of the law, and with people you love...
Here's how our Lord answers: "It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." (Matt 4:7) Jesus had it right (of course). Remember, there was no chance that He was going to fall for any of the devil's wiles. This all happened to show you and me how WE are supposed to react. This temptation is against God's power and protection. God promises us in Psalm 91: 11-12 "For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." This promise of divine protection is for when we are doing God's will. It is God's place to protect us, not our place to test him as a result of our irresponsible whims and actions.
For instance, don't be heading to the casino with this month's paycheck and expect that the Lord is going to save you from loosing it all in one roll of the dice. And don't be flirting with dangerous relationships which could take you down roads where you get into something you can't get out of. And don't be thinking that dodging work or class or any other responsibility "just this once" won't lead to bad consequences down the line. Don't be taking God's promise of power and protection out of context and don't tempt the Lord thy God.
Finally, "the tempter" says to Jesus, "All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." Satan is offering Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory in them. What satan fails to mention, which Jesus knows full well, is that one day those kingdoms will fade away. Were they looking at the Roman empire? Where is that today? Or maybe the focus was the pyramids of Egypt? Where are the pharaohs today? The Kingdom of Heaven, for which Jesus is the King, is an eternal kingdom. The kingdom of earth will fall apart and become rubble. Its Kings and Queens will come and go. As will the little sand castles we build up.
His words as well as their delivery are what we need to note in Jesus' rebuke: "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." Christ's response was quick and firm. When tempted like this to serve the world and its glory, we must not linger in the moment. We must be sure and certain and deliberate in our rebutal and satan will flee from us just as he did here in the passage of Matthew 4:10.
It is easy to point the finger at members of the financial elite: politicians, pro athletes, and Hollywood actors who might build up empires that imitate idolatry. Lest we get too smug here, let's remember that these temptations are to be examples to ALL of us. We need to seek God's will for our lives and allow him to define the nature of our call. Do not let satan be the one who sets the bar in your life. His goal is going to be to hang you up on power, status, money, prestige... you get the picture.
2 Peter: 1: 3-4 reads, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."
Temptation is an inducement to sin. Do not fall for it. Remember these models and the effective and correct way that Jesus responded to each. In the book of Hebrews, we are told that Christ was "tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin." Just as He was victorious, so can we be.
