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.