Wrestling with Temptation

MEMORY SELECTION: “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.” —Hebrews 2:18

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Matthew 3 and 4

THE Holy Scriptures abound with illustrations of the fact that trials and temptations are necessary for the growth and development of the fruits and graces of the Spirit of Christ. We know this is true because we are imperfect and have fallen—mentally, morally, and physically—from the likeness of God. It is also true because of the great hope which is set before us of attaining glory, honor, and immortality, and the privilege of sharing as joint-heirs with our Lord in his kingdom.

The question arises, however, why it was necessary for Jesus to be tempted, he being a perfect man and knowing no sin. For the Scriptures inform us that he was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. We know, too, that before he became a man he was perfect as a spirit being and the only begotten Son of God.

The Apostle Paul, in the context of our memory selection, explains that “we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, … in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” (Heb. 2:9,10) From this passage we can see that it was necessary for Jesus, although a perfect man, to prove his loyalty to the Heavenly Father by suffering even unto death.

In bringing many of God’s sons unto glory, Jesus is able to assist them to greater zeal and faithfulness because of the experiences which he endured at the hands of sinners.

In the selected scripture readings for this week’s lesson we learn about the events surrounding Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist (ch. 3), and the temptation in the wilderness (ch. 4). Matthew tells us that no sooner had Jesus been baptized and received the Spirit of God (when the heavens were opened unto him and he saw the Spirit descending like a dove) than he was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil.—3:16; 4:1

After Jesus had fasted for forty days and forty nights the Devil came unto him and said, “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” (4:3) The temptation was in the nature of a suggestion that he use divine power to satisfy his hunger, which he realized would be a misuse of that power. Therefore he answered Satan, “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”—4:4

Satan, the Devil, however, was not yet through tempting our Lord, for he took him up “into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.” (4:5,6) In this instance the great Adversary even quoted scripture himself to entice Jesus to call on divine power to make a spectacle before the people so that they would see that he had unseen superhuman power and protection. Jesus, of course, did not yield to Satan’s trick but replied, “It is written again, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”—4:7

Our Lord wrestled with temptation a third time when “again, the Devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” (4:8,9) This presented a compromise arrangement that would have eliminated the need for Jesus to suffer and die as the world’s Redeemer. It also would have assured Satan a continuation of his own power. Jesus knew that such a course would have been out of harmony with the Heavenly Father’s will and would not have accomplished the purpose for which he had given up his spiritual nature and had taken upon himself the nature of a man that he could take the place of Adam and keep God’s law. He replied instead, “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”—4:10

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