We are beginning a short series called Filters where we are going to talk about how to look at temptations properly so that we can overcome them. The apostle Paul claimed that there is no temptation that is unique to you. Listen what he taught in 1 Corinthians 10:13.
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV)
The point Paul wants us to understand that you do not have unique temptations to which there are no answers or solutions. The schemes of the devil are not unique to you. Rather, Satan uses the same techniques on everyone. Not only are you not going through something that is unique to you, but there is a way of escape. There is a way to overcome the temptations we face. We are not doomed to sin. We are not doomed to fail. We are not impossibly locked into falling into these temptations. We have the power to see the sin and the way of escape. So how can we overcome the temptations we face? Jesus showed us the way to overcome. Jesus’ earthly ministry began with temptations. I want us to spend some time considering Matthew 4 in our time together for the next few weeks, Lord willing. So open your copies of God’s word to Matthew 4 and let us spend some time looking at the temptations of Jesus.
The Battle is Real (Matthew 4:1)
I want us to begin by understanding that the battle is real. The idea of spiritual battles and temptations are all real. Please notice in Matthew 4:1 that Jesus is going to be tempted by the devil. We can have the tendency to not appreciate the foe because we have mocked and minimized the devil. We have turned the devil into a cartoonish red figure who has a pointed tail and a pitchfork, none of which are descriptions given in the scriptures. We have actors who portray the devil as a funny, sassy character with a beard and horns that you can just talk to like you would talk to your neighbors. The point is that culture has somewhat mocked the devil figure so that we may not consider that the devil is a real spiritual evil being. He has three names in this text. In verse 1 this evil spiritual being is called the devil. In verse 3 he is called the tempter. In verse 10 he is called the Satan. The words “devil” and “Satan” simply mean the accuser, the enemy, or the slanderer. He is not a good guy who is just misunderstood. He is the enemy. He is your enemy. He is God’s enemy. He is your worst opponent. He is not a bad idea or a bad concept. He is an actual spiritual being who intends to harm and destroy you. What does he do? One of the things he does is reveal in his description in verse 3. He is the tempter. This is what he is going to do as we see in verse 1. Jesus is going to be tempted by the devil.
Friends, to understand temptation we must understand that we are in a spiritual battle. There is a devil and he is the tempter. He is a powerful being such that he is called the ruler of this world (cf. John 12:31), the prince of the power of the air (cf. Ephesians 2:2), and the god of this world who deceives the whole world (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 12:9). Further, the devil is not acting alone. There are spiritual beings working with the devil who are actively opposed to you.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:11-12 ESV)
Notice that we do not need the armor of God only to stand against the schemes of the devil. We need to armor of God because working with the devil are rulers, authorities, cosmic powers over this present darkness, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. My point is that temptation is not merely you fighting against whatever turmoil you have within you. Temptations are placed on a cosmic stage in which the devil and his powers are actively at work and attacking God, God’s plans, and God’s people. The devil is not messing around. The devil wants to completely destroy you. He is like a roaring lion, roaming the earth looking to devour anyone he can (cf. 1 Peter 5:8).
The Method of Attack (Matthew 4:1-11)
I also want us to look at the method the devil uses for his attack. The first thing the devil says to Jesus in the wilderness is this, “If you are the Son of God” (Matthew 4:3). Then notice how the devil begins in verse 6, “If you are the Son of God.” Now this is not the devil wondering if Jesus is who he said he was. This is not the devil asking for some proof as if he would then become a follower of Jesus. Nothing that the devil is doing is an honest seeking of information. So why does the devil twice say, “If you are the Son of God?” Why not say, “Since you are the Son of God, then do these things”? I think we might even read these temptations in that way. We might think that the devil is asking Jesus to prove himself. But the temptation angle is not proof. The temptation angle is doubt. What we are going to see the devil do with Jesus is point to his circumstances and attempt to cause Jesus to doubt his relationship with the Father. If you are the Son of God, why are you hungry in the wilderness? If you are the Son of God, then are you not being glorified in the world for you who are? If you are the Son of God, then why don’t you have authority over all the kingdoms of the world? The devil does not ask if Jesus is the Son of God because he doubts it. Rather, the devil asks if Jesus is the Son of God because he wants Jesus to doubt it.
Let go back to the beginning and think about the first temptation recorded in the scriptures. In Genesis 3 we see the serpent come to Eve with his temptation. Listen to how the serpent frames the temptation. “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?’” The question is trying to arise doubt in the heart of Eve. Doubt what you have heard is the command. But after Eve corrects the serpent you will notice that he goes to causing doubt in Eve again. He tells her in Genesis 3:4 that what God said was wrong. You will not die. Notice again that this is attempting to cause doubt in what she believes, in what she has been told, and ultimately in God himself. “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4-5). Now you need to doubt God’s word and God’s intentions.
The primary means of attack from the tempter is doubt. The devil wants you to doubt God. He wants you to doubt the command. He wants you to doubt if you heard him correctly. He wants you to doubt that there are consequences for sins. He wants you to doubt that God cares for you. He wants you to doubt God’s promises. He wants you to doubt God’s protection. He wants you to doubt God’s existence. He wants you to doubt God’s word. He wants you to doubt your relationship with God. He wants you to doubt everything about who you, who God is, and what God is doing for you and in the world. This is why the scriptures want to affirm to us the confidence we are to have because of Christ.
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. (1 John 5:14 ESV)
Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. (Hebrews 10:35 ESV)
This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. (Ephesians 3:11-12 ESV)
There are so many scriptures that talk about the confidence we have in the Father through Christ our Lord. Why is it so important for us to know this? Because the devil is trying to cast doubt on all of these things. The devil is trying to cast doubt on everything you believe so that your faith will be eroded and you will ultimately fall from the Lord.
Ready for the Temptation (Matthew 4:1)
Now I want to point out one more thing in the text that is to help us as we approach the temptations that the devil throws at us. Look again at Matthew 4:1. We are told that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. God is leading his Son into the wilderness and the wilderness is the place of testing. This temptation sequence has a purpose. The time in the wilderness has a reason. Listen to how Moses explained why God placed Israel in the wilderness.
And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. (Deuteronomy 8:2 ESV)
God led his people into the wilderness. Why? Why was this necessary? Why was this the purpose of God? The reason for the wilderness was to humble them, to test what was in their hearts, seeing if they would keep God’s commands or not. Deuteronomy is a critical shadow for the temptations of Jesus. Not only does Jesus mirror this event as now he is led into the wilderness for 40 days but he will respond to each temptation with quotations from the book of Deuteronomy. Just Israel was led into the wilderness for testing, now Jesus is led into the wilderness for testing. God does not abandon us in the wilderness. God does not leave us alone while we experience temptations. Temptations are a time of testing. Every trial has myriads of temptations. God brings us into the wilderness to humble us and test what is in our hearts. But the devil uses our trials as times to tempt us so as to destroy us. God is with us and we see this with the Spirit leading Jesus into the wilderness. I want to draw our attention back to what the apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:13. Please listen to what he said again.
God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
I want us to hear these words and be grateful for them. God is faithful. God does what he says. Now listen to what he has said to us. He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability. As forcefully as the devil is in his desire to destroy us, God is greater in his faithfulness toward us. Listen to what Jude said at the end of his letter.
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 24-25 ESV)
He is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless. As much as Satan wants to destroy you, your Father is working to keep you. God is faithful to you. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you are able. The armor of God is given to you so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. The devil is trying to get you to doubt God. Never doubt the faithfulness of God toward you.