Jesus' Temptations, and Also Ours

Jesus faces temptations from the devil in Matthew chapter 4.  While we may not have the same literal temptations, we often have similar temptations as redeemed children of God.

Mosaic from San Marco Basilica in Venice, Italy

We may not have the temptation to turn rocks into hamburgers, but we do have the temptation to use the power and influence we have as followers of Christ for our own good.  Unfortunate extreme examples of this would include the list of televangelists who have run into trouble with the law for using their power and influence for themselves.

We may not have the temptation to jump off the roof of tall buildings, but we do have the temptation to twist the words of the Bible to fit our needs instead of trying to understand what God is trying to tell us.   It is important to be careful to listen to what God is trying to say to us and separate out what we would want to hear.  Sometimes it is the same, but not always.

We may not face the temptation of controlling the whole earth, but we do face the temptation of losing track of God's intentions and following our own earthly desires instead.  Later in Matthew, Jesus questions his followers if it is really helpful to gain the whole world while losing your soul.  

Matthew 16

Jesus' response to the devil was to quote God's Word.  It may be that Jesus learned verses so that he had an answer for the devil, but it would probably be more accurate to say that Jesus spent so much time in God's Word that it influenced the way that he thought.  The temptations of the devil immediately triggered a response from Jesus since it conflicted with something in Scripture that he already knew was true.  Even the short quotations would have referenced a larger passage, such as Deuteronomy 6:13-16.

 13 Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. 14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; 15 for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. 16 Do not put the LORD your God to the test as you did at Massah.

Once again, we can see how the incarnation fulfilled the promises of the Old Testament.  Isaiah had many powerful descriptions of what the Messiah would be like, including the promise of his birth that we see in chapter 9.  

Isaiah 9:6-7

6 For to us a child is born, 
   to us a son is given, 
   and the government will be on his shoulders. 
And he will be called 
   Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 
   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace 
   there will be no end. 
He will reign on David’s throne 
   and over his kingdom, 
establishing and upholding it 
   with justice and righteousness 
   from that time on and forever. 
The zeal of the LORD Almighty 
   will accomplish this.

May the love and peace of God surround you so that nothing leads you into temptation and you are delivered from the evil one. Amen.