Moving Through Matthew (Matthew 4:1-11)
Moving Through Matthew • Sermon • Submitted
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Continuing through Matthew...
Continuing through Matthew...
Matthew Chapter 1 begins with a genealogy or a family line, from Abraham through David (14 generations), then from David through the time of the Israelites in Babylon through the time of Jesus’ birth.
In starting his book this way, Matthew is setting up for his Jewish audience to understand that this Jesus was the promised Messiah. The Lord told David hundreds of years before...
(2 Samuel 7:16) And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ”
So as Matthew 1 concludes, we see the fulfillment of this promise of the throne being established forever though the birth of the Son of God.
Matthew 2 shows us how God preserved His Kingdom by using the wise men and an angel to keep Herod from discovering the newborn Jesus.
Two weeks ago we were introduced to a man named John the Baptist in Chapter 3 who was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophesy from 700 years before...
(Isaiah 40:3) A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Then last week we finished Chapter 3 with Jesus arriving at the Jordan River and asking John the Baptist to baptize him. Why? Jesus said...
(Matthew 3:15) “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
And as we closed out Chapter 3, and the baptism of Jesus, we saw that that the Trinity was present. The Father speaking his approval, the Son there being baptized.
Now it’s time for Jesus to begin his public ministry…
Now it’s time for Jesus to begin his public ministry…
but there is one thing for Jesus to do before he would begin to teach, perform miracles, and call for righteousness that leads to repentance and salvation. He will come face to face with the devil.
Throughout Scripture we see the Character of the Devil..
DECEIVER: When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44)
TEMPTER: And the tempter came and said to him… (Matthew 4:3)
THEIF: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. (John 10:10)
MURDERER: He was a murderer from the beginning, (John 8:44)
This is who we face, everyday. This our enemy, and the enemy of God. For us to withstand the works of Satan we must know who we are dealing with.
This is who came face to face with Jesus.
Matthew 4:1-11
Matthew 4:1-11
There are 3 things I want us to see inside this Scripture this morning.
3 Things from Matthew 4:1-11
Satan questions who Jesus is
Satan’s temptation of Jesus
How Jesus Responds
1. Satan questions who Jesus is...
1. Satan questions who Jesus is...
The “If” statements.
“if you are the Son of God, (vs. 3)
“If you are the Son of God, (vs. 6)
The first two “if” statements, Satan questions whether Jesus is truly God. He knows that Jesus is God, or he would not try to tempt him. He knows that this man Jesus, is the answer to the worlds sin problem. He knows he will soon go to the cross, be put to death, and three days later rise again. He knows that many people, for many years to come will repent of their sins and follow Jesus. He knows that one day Jesus himself will throw Satan into the abyss. So all Satan can do is try to make the one who will never sin, sin. If he does that, it will ruin what God has planned since the beginning of time. It will ruin what God said would happen in the book of Genesis when he proclaimed that Satan’s head would be crushed. So the only power Satan has, is deceit, trickery, and the ability to try to turn our eyes of Jesus, and onto himself.
In both of the two statements, Satan says, If you are the Son of God, do these things. The very sin that was the reason that God kicked Satan out of heaven, he was trying to make Jesus do. When he says IF YOU ARE THE SONG OF GOD, Satan is appealing to his pride. Think about it this, boys, if I said to you, you are not a real man unless you can run from here to the end of the road without stopping. May be you can do this, or maybe you cannot. But if I said that to you, your pride would swell up in you, you would try it just to prove me wrong.
This is the same statement that Satan was making to Jesus, IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD… turn these stones to bread, throw yourself down… JESUS could do both of those things, but it was not the Fathers will. If he did that he would be obeying Satan and not the Father. That is what temptation is…obeying the will fo Satan and not the will of God.
2. Satan’s Temptation of Jesus
2. Satan’s Temptation of Jesus
Satan appeals to his physical hunger (Matt 4:3)
Satan appeals to his spiritual nature (Matt 4:5-6)
Satan appeals to his pride (Matt 4:8-9)
3. How Jesus Responds
3. How Jesus Responds
In every temptation that Satan puts before Jesus, Jesus replies with Scripture. He doesn’t use his own will, or his own resistance, he stands by the Word of God, and uses it for his defense.
Jesus’ response to making the stones bread:
Deut 8:3: And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
Jesus’ response to throwing himself down and knowing that the angels will catch him:
Deut 6:16: “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah.”
Jesus’ response to the worship of the devil:
Deut 6:13 It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.
**In these 11 verses we are shown the example of how we should deal with temptation today, in our lives.
The thing we need to remember about temptation, is that as a Christian we have the power and the resources to fight against the tempter.
Look at how Jesus fought off the temptation of the devil...
“IT IS WRITTEN....”
“IT IS WRITTEN....”
He didn’t use his own strong ability, his willpower, his own mind…although he could have, because he is God....HE USED THE SCRIPTURES. THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.
Sometimes we forget the power we hold in our hands when we hold the Word of God.
Paul wrote this importance of this book...
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
In the Bible there is instruction for making sure that we don’t lose control of our tongue, we don’t give into sexual immorality, we don’t worship a false god, we don’t become lovers of money. But the Bibel doesn’t just give you instruction on what not to do, he shows you what to do as well. Things like repenting of your sins, learning to walk with God daily, putting off the old man, and putting on the new man, walking with humility and love for one another. It’s all right here and more.
So it is important not to see this book as a book of history, but a book of life. Giving you direction on how to live life everyday and power to defeat Satan when he tries to tempt you. You need to fill your life with this book. Not only the times we come to church, and have Bible studies, but in quiet moments by yourself, alone, allowing the Word of God to flow into your mid and your heart. That’s what we call meditating on God’s Word, not just reading it, but allowing teh Word of God to get into you, so you can cling to His Scripture in time of need.
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. It has 176 verses in all. In those 176 verses, 7 times the psalmist states the importance of meditating on God’s Word.
Open to Psalm 119 Let’s look at the 7 times.
15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. 16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
23 Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. 24 Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.
27 Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.
78 Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
97 Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.
148 My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.
Meditate = Focused Thinking
Meditate = Focused Thinking
In other words, we don’t just sit down and do 15 minutes of reading the Bible and walk away. We pray about a verse, and ask God for understanding, and his insight on how we should apply it to our lives.
You have the weapon, the Sword of the Spirit, but you need to know how to use it to fight off the fiery darts of the enemy.