Matthew 4:1-11
The Temptation of Jesus
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 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 “On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.”
Jesus said to him, “Again it is written. You shall 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 glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
Satan uses things such as power, greed, prestige, possessions, ego, money, and lust to tempt us. These are his tools. They are easily identified when you contrast them with God’s fruits of the spirit, which are love, patience, kindness, peace, joy, goodness, and self-control.
So, if God were to tempt us, it might look something like this:
Matthew 4:1-11 The Temptation of Rich
“Then Rich was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by Jesus. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And Jesus came and said to him, “If you are God’s child, take these loaves of bread and give them to those who are hungry. But Rich said, I won’t for I fear I will have nothing to eat for me and my family. Then Jesus took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are a child of God, surrender all you have to the holy God, for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you,” and “On their hands they will bear you up.”
Again, Rich said, “I can’t for it took me my entire career to get to where I am. What will everyone think of me?” Again, Jesus took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Rich said to him, “Be gone, Jesus! For it is written, I fear that if I worship you that you will ask that I give all that I have away to the poor or the widow and I will be left with nothing.” Then Jesus left him, and behold, Satan’s angels came and were ministering to him.”
Jesus will encourage, prompt, convict, nudge, challenge, and stretch us to die to ourselves each day through acts of surrender, generosity, serving, caring, and loving those around us and by releasing our grip on the things we have acquired so they may be used for His glory.
God’s temptations will always be to the glory of Himself, the care of another, and the spiritual growth of each one who believes in Him.
Just a Thought…
