Matthew 4: 5-11 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down.
For it is written:
“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
In this passage, Jesus faces Satan for two more rounds of temptation.
First with tempting Jesus, to prove that he was the Son of God, by telling him to throw himself down from the top of the temple.
The devil knows that Jesus is ‘The Son of God’
He thinks he is so clever quoting the verses from Psalm 91.
Jesus counters with Deuteronomy 6:16.
It’s like a sword fight with God’s very words as the weapons.
Jesus’ enemy comes again on a very high mountain and promises to give Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, if he will bow down and worship him.
How arrogant that little devil is! To tell Jesus, The Son of God to worship him!
This shows us how much stronger Jesus is than Satan. Even when he felt physically weak from fasting, Jesus overcame the devil’s schemes and was victorious against him!
Jesus was led by the Spirit of God, into the desert, to the holy city, and then to the high mountain, to be tempted by the devil.
Through it all, Jesus knew who he was. He was, ‘The Son of God and the son of God!’
God announced who Jesus was after his baptism, and told that he loved him and was well pleased with him!
Jesus had the backing of God, His Father in heaven as he faced the temptations and challenges of the fallen world that he was sent to.
What God is saying to me from this, is that through Jesus I have His support when I am tempted to listen to the enemy and not God!
The devil takes on many different forms,
He might not be tempting me to jump off a high building or to bow down and worship him directly. With us his attacks are more subtle. We are easily distracted, by all that is going on around us.
I know for me it is a daily struggle to stay focused on God and what he is directing me to do.
The Spirit of God was with Jesus during each temptation, and he used God’s Word to counter each of Satan’s attacks.
Like Jesus, we have the Spirit of God to help us, and by His power we can tell the enemy to get lost! Jesus used his authority over Satan to command him to leave. By the power of the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ, we have that same authority!
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for coming and fighting the devil for us, and for showing us that with you we can standup to anything that he throws at us. Help each of us to be bold and strong as we face daily temptations. Knowing that you are right there with us, giving us strength and assurance we need each day. Amen
Patrice