The Temptation - Matthew 4:1–11

 

The Significance of the Temptation
(Matthew 4:1–11; Romans 5:12–19; Hebrews 4:15)
The temptation of Jesus Christ is among the most important accounts in Scripture. It displays how Jesus Christ the Messiah was tempted under hard conditions and succeeded where Adam failed (Romans 5:12–19). It displays how our Savior overcame the Enemy without the use of His divine power or authority, but simply by relying upon the word and authority of the Bible (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). The way every human should. It is also one of the clearest passages illustrating spiritual warfare in the whole Bible (Ephesians 6:10–17). Satan squares off personally with the newly recognized Messiah (Matthew 4:3). He has home field advantage, and his opponent is weekend from hunger and thirst that has been building up and assaulting His senses and his resources for the past forty days (Matthew 4:2). In so many ways, this is Satan's game to lose.

The Nature of Satan’s Temptation
(Matthew 4:8–10; Luke 4:5–7)
The Accuser comes to Jesus at the end of His fast and begins to tempt Jesus (Matthew 4:3). Offering Him all the things that God will give the Messiah (Psalm 2:7–8). How could he think that these temptations would land when the Christ was already promised these things by God? Satan offered them without having to go to the Cross (Luke 4:5–7). Had Jesus relented there would be a kingdom, but it would be a kingdom of the damned. With no final payment for sin each person would live a pleasant life and then spend eternity apart from God in punishment (Romans 6:23). Satan offered the Crown without the Cross. Jesus knew that there was no other way to achieve His glorious goal (Philippians 2:8–11).

Misunderstanding Spiritual Warfare
(Ephesians 6:11–17)
The challenge of the concept of spiritual warfare is the modern misconception. We think of spiritual warfare in terms of physical comparison. Weapons, armor, foxholes, open combat. All these ideas are understandable as they are rooted in the imagery which the Bible uses (Ephesians 6:11–17). Physical warfare is exactly the picture that we are incited to draw upon throughout the word of God's description of this eternal conflict. Yet, we often fall off the edge of this illustration. We take the combat to be some kind of mystical physical-spiritual hybrid. We expect to see swords and draw them in some other-dimensional sense.

This has been made worse by sensationalist authors who have proclaimed that somehow this is what the believer is involved in (2 Timothy 4:3–4). Swords hacking off angel limbs in the unseen realm. It becomes more off-putting and clearly fantastical the more one hears from these types of well-intended spiritual charlatans. But this passage answers that question clearly.

In the great confrontation between Jesus and Satan the battle is clear. They do not arm-wrestle, draw swords, or have a fiddle contest. Quite to the contrary. They have a war or words. Of ideas.

Satan approaches the Messiah with temptations that seek to abuse scripture - use bad interpretation to twist it to selfish and self-glorifying ends (Matthew 4:6). Jesus response by correcting Satan from scripture (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). This is the heart of spiritual warfare. Speaking the truth against lies (Psalm 119:11). No fanciful interactions with the world unseen, no false claims to an authority that we have not been given. Simply correcting false doctrine and error with the truth.

Paul’s Example of Spiritual Warfare
(Ephesians 6:17; 2 Corinthians 10:3–5)
Paul does the same (Ephesians 6:17). His warfare is not physical (2 Corinthians 10:3). No holy water, no tarot cards, no anointing oil, nor incantations, or soaking prayers. The entire armor of God is symbolic of the doctrinal truth that matters in the spiritual war that goes on around us (Ephesians 6:11–17).

In a manner, when it comes to making an offensive action, Paul tells us that it is pulling down strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4–5). Not some kind of strange binding that exists on the unseen plain, nor a conglomeration of demons that have been founded in a certain city, or building. No! The strongholds are strongholds of the mind. These are worldly thoughts, ideas, philosophies that have exalted themselves against the word of God (Colossians 2:8). These are not demons possessing people, but false beliefs alienating people from God (Romans 12:2).

A Proper View of Authority
(Jude 1:9; Zechariah 3:2)
Finally, it is critical to heed Jude's warning (Jude 1:9). Jesus did not rebuke Jesus on his own authority, but on that of the word of God (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). Michael the Archangel did not rebuke Satan on his own authority but left that to God (Jude 1:9; Zechariah 3:2). It is nor our place to rebuke Satan or any of his fallen angels.

Conclusion: The Sufficiency of the Word
(Hebrews 4:12; John 17:17)
Jesus is the perfect demonstration of what spiritual warfare is when we remove all of the symbolism and mysticism from it. It is relying upon the truth of the word of God over the lies of the world and the enemy of our souls (John 17:17). No fancy magic spells are ever prescribed in scripture. No ceremonies, and no magical amulets. The Word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). Don't be deceived by false “deliverance ministries” which cause nothing but confusion (Colossians 2:8). Rely upon the word of God and speak it against the lies of the enemy - even those that wear Christian clothing and offer supernatural deliverance.

Freedom - The Sweetest Word

 

The Universal Longing for Freedom
Just hearing the word "freedom" elicits an emotional reaction. It is the cry of every student on the first day of summer break. It is in the sigh of a person who retires after a long career of steady and faithful labor. It is the sentiment of everyone who has been freed from oppression, and my eyes still mist over when I sing "Let freedom ring!" in our national anthem. Freedom is beautiful. Freedom from oppression, freedom from slavery (Galatians 5:1).

The Problem of Legalism
There is, however, a great percentage of Christianity that despises the freedom which the Lord has given us in His Son (Galatians 5:1). They continue to cling to their legalism...we really do like our rules, don't we? Perhaps out of the love of control, particularly the control of others. It is also driven by that same attitude that lived in the Pharisees in the time of Christ - the need to be better than others (Luke 18:9-14). In the way of all legalists throughout all time they hide from their obvious failure and need for the Savior by carefully selecting their own rules set (Romans 10:3).

The Hypocrisy of Self-Righteousness
Certainly, they would never commit adultery in public view or steal anything when people could see. Their reputation is very important (Matthew 23:5-7). This is why it is not at all surprising when people of the legalistic/Lordship camp are caught in their infidelity - their legalism is simply a cloak for their license (Matthew 23:27-28). They are not free from sin, nor free from bondage to the principle of law (Romans 6:14). They are twice a prisoner, doubly a slave to two hateful masters (John 8:34).

The Failure of Works-Based Righteousness
The book of Galatians provides the antidote to both errors. To those who are seeking to be sanctified by their own works, they are reminded by Galatians 2:20-21 that there is no way that man's work will produce God's righteousness - unless they would dare to say that Christ's sacrifice was in vain (Galatians 2:21). The foolishness of this legalism is not just to be applied to first century Judaizers, but all legalists and those preoccupied with performance wind up in the same situation (Galatians 3:3). Ultimately unable to keep up appearances, they find themselves in a world shaped and bent to their own self-absorption that is completely free. Free from love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Their carefully crafted facade of "better-than-you" showmanship is like an ancient Roman ruin. Impressive from afar, but quite a mess when inspected up close.

The Bondage of Sinful Living
The one who is slave to sin is in no better position (Romans 6:16). Surrendering to every whim and desire of their Sin Nature there is nothing but slavery (John 8:34). The lust of the flesh brings terrible results in personal relationships, health, and leaving the believer a shell of shame and grief (Galatians 5:19-21). Seeking after our own desires brings us to a bond that allows no visitors (James 1:14-15). Those near the licentious believer are only things to be used until they are used up and moved along. This can reveal itself in the obvious actions of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life (1 John 2:16). It felt like freedom at first but ended up in total bondage (2 Peter 2:19).

True Freedom in Christ
Freedom...freedom...freedom.

We hear the word, we need it, we cry out for it. Then we find it - we hear it from the very Word of God - "It is for freedom that the Lord has set you free!" (Galatians 5:1) Life in the Spirit is free from the terrible bondage of sin just as it is freedom from the bond of law (Romans 8:2). To be free from the things that only brought guilt, failure, and shame and be free to serve God and glorify Him (Romans 6:22). Free to be what were designed to be, and what our heart truly longs to be - in constant fellowship with the God of the Universe and to exist to His glory (1 John 1:3). We are free to operate in this way. Put another way, we are free at last from our self-focus, self-absorption, and the tyranny of constantly having to look out for ourselves (2 Corinthians 5:15).

The Shared Misery of Legalism and License
This life is available. It is this exact life into which ever believer was invited when they accepted Salvation by trusting in Jesus Christ (John 3:16). He did not just give a second chance - He gave everything we needed for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). It comes as a shock. The legalist and licentious people are identical. The legalist sees his own self-effort and self-reliance and resolves to be better than the licentious person (and all of the other less-qualified legalists) (Romans 10:3). The licentious sinner wallows in the failures that the legalist is desperately trying to hide (Romans 7:19). Neither one has any true victory over sin, and each one secretly envies the other (Ecclesiastes 4:4). The legalist envies the licentious person because he is miserable and he thinks that the lush is at least having some fun. The licentious person envies the legalist because he is miserable and thinks that if he were just stronger, or more religious, then he wouldn't be living his hollow hedonistic life.

A Call to Walk in Freedom
Oh believer, find freedom in Christ (John 8:36). Learn what it means to have a new identity in Him - to be truly His in all things (2 Corinthians 5:17). Learn the freedom of relying upon His resources to be the person He created you to be, the purpose for which you were redeemed (Galatians 2:20). Find the freedom and victory in the only Person who can give it - Jesus Christ (Romans 8:37).