The Opportunity of Temptation

In the previous chapter, we can see, from a human perspective, that when Jesus comes to us, it is usually not an opportune time. But testing and temptation always seems to be convenient. Sometimes, when we sin, we like to blame God for our sin. We want God to over power our will and not make us sin.

On March 24th, 2015, flight 9525 of Germanwings took off from El Prat International Airport in Barcelona to go to Düsseldorf, Germany. The pilot had to go to the bathroom, and while the pilot was out, the co-pilot locked the cabin door and started to descend the plane. It took 10 minutes to descend and crash into the Alps. Since that crash, some have debated that the control tower should be able to override the pilot and redirect the plane.

This is what some Christians God to act in this way. They expect to God override their desires and magically make them desire something else.

God refines v.1

Verse 1 tells us that it was the intention of the Holy Spirit that Jesus would be tempted. The Spirit took Jesus to the wilderness to be tempted. There is a parallel happening here. Israel, who God calls His first born to Pharoah, went into the wilderness and they failed. Moses went up the mountain to receive the Law of God, and while he was up there for forty days and nights, the people created an idol and worshiped it rather than God.

God does not tempt for evil James 1:13

God refines

James 1:12 KJV 1900

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Deuteronomy 8:2 KJV 1900

And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

Job 23:10 KJV 1900

But he knoweth the way that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Satan will make you doubt v. 3-10

Satan has used this technic for a long time. Satan says “If” you are the Son of God

1. He tries to make Jesus doubt His relationship with God

2. He tries to make Jesus doubt the Word of God

Satan offers things that Jesus things that are not bad (except worshiping Satan) and things that Jesus will have.

Food, Security, and Glory

In that of themselves, they are not bad things, except worshiping Satan. God created the body to need food and to look for security, and in the case of Jesus, He should be glorified and receive glory.

The Temptation

It is curious to note that there is an escalation in hight in each temptation (France 2007, 126)

The temptation is to obtain good things out of God’s timing.

Uri Bar-Joseph wrote about an Egyptian spy that helped Israel. The Egyptian was Ashfaf Warman. He was son-in-law of the Egyptian president Nasser. Bar-Joseph describes the personality of a traidor and they have a tendency to divide their loyalties, are narcesist and inflated egos (Bar-Joseph 2016, 28). To sin when one is tested is an act of treason against God.

You have to have faith v. 3-11

Many use this to develop a claim for Bible memorization. But I think that something more important is going on in this text.

1. Jesus knew God’s Word.

2. When Jesus was tempted, Jesus had faith in what was written over His desire.

Conclusion

Related Media

Related Sermons