Three Major Tests
November 20, 2022
Commentary
Following His public baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness where He fasted for forty days. The wilderness of Judea is a hot, barren and desolate area that lays between the Dead Sea and Jerusalem and is approximately thirty-five miles long and fifteen miles wide. Following this period Satan puts Him through three major tests.
Test number 1 – It took place in the wilderness when Jesus was hungry after this long fast (Personal Temptation). Satan tried to get Jesus to act against God’s plan and to command the stones to become bread. We can never please God by complaining about and demanding what we do not have or by ignoring His will in order to get something we want. Test number 2 – This took place in Jerusalem on the pinnacle of the temple which was probably about 500 feet above the Kidron Valley (National Temptation). Satan tried to get Jesus to do something sensational to prove to the world that He was really the Son of God. Many people will believe anything as long as it is accompanied by fantastic happenings.Test number 3 – This temptation takes place on an exceedingly high mountain (Universal Temptation). He was suggesting to Jesus that He shouldn’t have to wait for that which was already rightfully His. Satan always comes at us in this same way. He appeals to our selfish ambitions and tries to get us to use our schemes to fulfill the promise God has made to us.
Application
How can I compare my own temptation with the temptation that Jesus faced? What is the main thing I have found to be most helpful in resisting temptation? (vv. 4, 7, 10)
Matthew 4:1– 11 (NET)
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After he fasted forty days and forty nights he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the highest point of the temple, 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you’ and ‘with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus said to him, “Once again it is written: ‘You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur. 9 And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you throw yourself to the ground and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and began ministering to his needs.
Illustration: Tools to Fight Temptation
A mirror to show us ourselves – James 1:23A hammer to break the will – Jer. 23:29A fire to melt the heart – Mal. 3:2A sword to pierce the conscience – Heb. 4:12A seed to quicken the soul – 1 Peter 1:23A laver to cleanse the way – Eph. 5:26A light to show the path – Psalm 119:105(From the Book of 750 Bible and Gospel Studies, George W. Noble, Chicago: 1909).