Temptation in the Wilderness

GOLDEN TEXT: “For in that He himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted.” —Hebrews 2:18

MATTHEW 4:1-11

THE record states that Jesus was “led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil.” (vs. 1) Seemingly it was not until Jesus had fasted forty days in the wilderness that the Devil appeared to tempt him. (vs. 2) We may safely assume that during these forty days Jesus was meditating upon the marvelous truths contained in “the volume of the Book” which had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit. Basic among these truths was the fact that he had been sent into the world by his Heavenly Father to lay down his life in sacrifice to redeem mankind from sin.

The Devil’s interest in Jesus was to divert him from following the path of sacrifice outlined for him in the Old Testament Scriptures. Satan would not understand clearly all the details of the divine will for Jesus, but evidently he understood enough to enable him to present propositions to the Master which would put his fidelity to his Heavenly Father to a real test.

Through the Holy Spirit Jesus had miracle-working power bestowed upon him, as was later abundantly manifested by the many miracles which he performed. But he had received no authorization to employ this power in any way for his own benefit. His covenant with the Father was one of sacrifice. He was to lay down his life, not to preserve it. He knew that his Father would give him strength to bear the suffering entailed in sacrifice, but would not bless him in any effort to avoid sacrifice.

So, when hungry from his forty days of fasting, the Devil suggested that Jesus turn stones into bread that he might eat and satisfy his hunger, he knew that this would be contrary to his consecration vow. When, in a natural way, food became available he would eat, but he would not use his miracle-working power to provide it. Jesus’ reply to this temptation was appropriate. He said, quoting Moses, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (vss. 3,4; Deut. 8:3) This simply meant that it was more important to do God’s will than it was to satisfy his desire for food.

Satan’s next temptation was even more alluring. He suggested to Jesus that he cast himself from the pinnacle of the temple, quoting Psalm 91:11,12 to show that God would protect him in any such action, that he would give his angels charge over him to keep him from being injured.

Satan prefaced both of these temptations with the statement, “If thou be the Son of God,” implying that Jesus should be able safely to do what he suggested. To the latter temptation Jesus replied, “It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” (vs. 7; Deut. 6:16) The Israelites tempted God in the wilderness through their unbelief. Miracles were performed to deliver them from Egyptian bondage, yet they had scarcely crossed the Red Sea before they began to complain. God would have destroyed the whole nation in the wilderness but for the pleading of Moses.

Now Jesus applied this lesson to himself. He, too, had witnessed a miracle, the most wonderful thing any human had experienced. He had heard the voice of God, his Heavenly Father, speaking to him from heaven saying, “Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22; Matt. 3:17) The Devil’s statement, “If thou be the Son of God,” was calculated to cast a doubt on this miraculous assurance of divine sonship which Jesus had received; and for him to do anything which would even remotely suggest any lack of faith on his part would be tempting God.

Satan’s final temptation was to offer Jesus all the kingdoms of this world, but on the condition that this rightful King of earth fall down and worship him. Regardless of the reward promised, and the fact that he could make the world a better one by ruling over it, Jesus knew that it would be wrong to worship Satan, so again he quoted the appropriate scripture, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”—vss. 8-10; Deut. 6:13,16

Having had the truth of the divine plan revealed to him from “the volume of the Book,” Jesus knew that in his Father’s due time he would be the ruler of the world, and that “of the increase of his government and peace” there would be no end.—Isa. 9:6,7

In all three temptations the effort of Satan was to divert Jesus from this course of sacrifice. Thus, as our Golden Text states, he was tempted, even as we are tempted, for Satan is ever trying to discourage us from laying down our lives in sacrifice.—Heb. 4:15

QUESTIONS

What wrong principle was involved in the temptation to turn stones into bread?

In what way would Jesus be tempting God by yielding to the second temptation?

When will Jesus be the ruler of the world?

How was Jesus tempted as his followers are tempted?

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