Gospels: Matthew 3-4

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Highlights:

• Matthew 4

  Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness

   ¹ Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted^[d] by the devil. ² After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” ⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’^[e]”
   ⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ⁶ “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.’^[f]”
   ⁷ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’^[g]”
   ⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹ “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
   ¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’^[h]”
   ¹¹ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

My Take:
There are several small sections in today's reading that are used for pastors for a good bit of their sermons. I want to focus today on chapter 4, verses 1-11 as we look at the temptations that Jesus experienced. I love that I have a red letter bible because Christ's words just jump out. The first temptation is food. I am trying to lose weight this year through WeightWatchers and it's teaching me how to proportion my food. I definitely have spent many years indulging in whatever foods I wanted with whatever portions I desired. Jesus tells Satan that he refuses to give in to have the temporary satisfaction and will endure through the hunger because his love for God will supplant his need for food. How deep is our commitment to God? I know that It would seem impossible to fast for forty days then be tempted by the greatest force of evil this Earth has ever known and not give into the temptation.

Jesus faces the second temptation when he is placed on the top of Herod's temple and asked him to throw himself off the side of the temple and trust that the Lord would protect him. Jesus simple response was a rebuttal of scripture. I'm reminded of different situations where I have asked God to reveal himself in a situation based on my own selfish pride to prove to others his existence or to save my own hide. God doesn't his son to be used as an intercessor yet, he has better plans for his son.

The last temptation took place on the top of a near mountain. The devil promised him all that he saw he would give to him. I always thought this was ironic since it didn't belong to the devil in the first place, wasn't it ultimately God's land whom he allowed the devil to be on? Jesus was unwilling to lose his soul. His reply isn't common in our culture anymore, we don't flee from sin as much any more and furthermore tend to accept it more than we should. Also again, Christ rebuttals with scripture. We need to be the sharp sword that knows our bible back and forth and can use it too helps us combat times where we are facing temptations.