Temptation

(Today's focus - Matthew 4:1-11)

Temptation is a word that needs little explanation. It is like "red", the second you hear the word red... you see the color in your mind. With "temptation", we might all see something different, a doughnut, a fast car, a pretty woman or a handsome man... whatever comes to your mind is "temptation" for you. It is real and it is ongoing. Some days, temptation is easy and on other days, it is difficult. Sometimes we defeat it and other times it defeats us. That is the nature of temptation.

The Scriptures teach that Jesus was tempted just like us. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15) The Hebrew writer tells us that Jesus experienced temptation "in every respect" that we do. He tells us that He faced it and beat it.... every time! He was able to deal with the enticement of physical and emotional wants and live rightly before God. Why?... so that He would be able "to sympathize with our weaknesses". Good news... great news!

In Matthew 4:1-11, we have recorded the events that occurred after Jesus' baptism and His 40 day fast. He had just heard the voice of God from heaven announcing to the world that He was God's Son. He had just had the Spirit of God descend from heaven and lighting on Him. As a human, Jesus could have allowed these events to puff Him up and He might have displayed His Deity openly and dramatically. Rather, He goes off by himself to be alone to prepare for His ministry.

It was at this time that Satan chose to confront Jesus and tempt Him. Knowing His physical hunger, he tempted Him with food, but Jesus had an answer from Scripture....“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” He tempted Him to prove His Deity and Jesus responded...“Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”  Lastly, he tempted Him with earthy wealth, if He would only worship him, to which Jesus replied...“Be gone, Satan! For it is written,“‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”

John tells us ... Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17) All of our sins, all of our temptations fall into these three categories. All of Jesus' temptations fall into these three categories. That is how the Hebrew writer is able to say clearly that Jesus experienced temptation in "every respect" just like us. He is able to sympathize with our temptations! He understands! Our Savior gets us! Praise God for a Savior that faced down the same temptations we face and came out the other side sinless.

We need to understand this. Jesus loves us and wants us to live pure and holy lives, but He understands our desires and our failings. But He still calls us to change. He still calls us to sinless lives; but when we fall, He is there to lift us up and He says to you and me... "I understand". "I understand"; thank you God for sending your Son in the flesh. Thank you Jesus for facing the same temptations that we face. Thank you for living a sinless life and giving that life for me.