How Christ Handled Temptation

“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil.”  Matthew 4:1

After Jesus was baptized and given the authority to begin His earthly ministry by His Father, He departed into the wilderness for solitude and an opportunity to commune with His Father.  Time alone with God is necessary to gain the insight and fortitude to withstand the onslaught of the enemy, Satan.  We must be aware that, while solitude is necessary for restoration and refreshment of our spirit, it is also a prime time for the devil to tempt us.  However, according to the above verse, Jesus went into the wilderness to purposely encounter Satan who would test Him.  Christ submitted Himself to the temptation of the devil because He wanted to experience what others had to face.  It is not a sin to be tempted, but a man or woman who gives in to temptation can very well be committing sin.

Before Satan first came with his challenges, Jesus had been fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, and He was very hungry.  Unger’s Bible Dictionary tells us that fasting is “to manifest a…profound humbling of the soul before God in repentance and mortification on account of one’s sin…”  Of course, Jesus did not have any sin of which to repent or be mortified, so why would He fast for that length of time?  He was about to enter the most difficult three plus years of His life, and fasting was a Hebrew custom for those about to enter hardships.  He fasted to show submission to and dependence upon His Father, and He fasted as an example to us.  At the end of His fast, Satan came to Him and said, “If you are the Son of God, turn these stones into bread”.  Satan wanted Jesus to doubt God’s goodness.  He was implying that God didn’t really care about His Son if He allowed Him to go so long without food.  But Jesus let him know instantly that His Father would always take care of Him and anyone who trusts in Him.  Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 3:8:  “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”  Satan was not yet discouraged by Jesus’ response.

The next temptation involved Satan escorting Jesus to the highest point of the temple and dared Him to jump off.  Satan had not succeeded in making Jesus question the goodness and care of His Father, so he was going to try and convince Jesus that His Father wasn’t concerned about His safety.  Satan never gives up in tempting God’s people to do or say anything contrary to the word and work of Almighty God.   The first temptation was out in the wilderness, just the two of them, but this challenge was in Jerusalem where many people would be watching.  One never knows when or where Satan will show up to do his dirty deeds.  Satan’s goal was to tempt Jesus to purposely show off His power which would have been an insult to His Father.  The devil is not all powerful.  He can persuade folks to do something they shouldn’t but he can’t compel them or force them.  When we sin, it is on us.  After Satan’s temptation to jump off the temple, Jesus said, “Thou shalt not tempt the LORD thy God.”

The third temptation is the most preposterous of all.  Satan escorted Jesus to a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world.  He then said, “All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me.”  All those things already belonged to Jesus.  How could Satan give Jesus something that He already had in His possession?   And wouldn’t Satan know that?  Ephesians 2:2 calls Satan “the prince of the power of the air” meaning he has control over the hearts of many, but he doesn’t own God’s creation.  He is also called “the god of this world” which means that he is worshipped by multitudes of people whether they realize it or not.  I suppose it was just another way to insult God’s Son.  To tempt God to prove Himself is to not trust Him.  Satan was very jealous of Jesus.  Satan wanted to take God’s place as the divine ruler of the world.  That’s why, as one of God’s angels, he was cast out of heaven.  This time, Jesus had just about enough of Satan’s lies.  He said, “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the LORD thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.”

The devil obliged Jesus.  He really didn’t have a choice.  After his departure, angels came to Jesus and ministered unto Him.  Jesus experienced temptation so that He could sympathize with us, but He also brings us a remedy for that temptation.  He always makes available to us a way of escape (I Corinthians 10:13).  Jesus will bring us sweet relief if we will listen to and follow Him.