Scripture: Matthew
4:1-11
Jesus’ ministry began with his baptism. Immediately after he
was baptized, he was led into the wilderness to fast for forty days and forty
nights and to be tempted by the devil. This reading has the same theme as
yesterday’s reading from Genesis 3 in which Eve and Adam were tempted by the
serpent. Unlike them, however, Jesus does not give in to temptation. The
account of Jesus’ temptation is always read on the First Sunday of Lent, and it
serves to make us aware that Jesus withstood temptation for us and he did not
sin. He overcame temptation and rescued us from sin.
Teaching
It is perhaps one of the greatest understatements in the
Bible to say Jesus was hungry after fasting for forty days and nights, but his
fast was not over and he was relying on the Father to tend to his physical
needs. He did not take matters into his own hand, but turned to God’s Word and
promise. The devil tempted Jesus to step away from his humanity and to display
his divinity to provide for his own need, but Jesus responded in faith and
trust.
To cast oneself from the pinnacle of the temple seems
foolhardy at best, but Satan twisted God’s Word as if to make such an action
make sense. The devil twists God’s Word to deceive people into thinking they
are behaving faithfully when, in fact, they are acting counter to God’s Will.
Jesus displays that it is essential for us to know God’s Word and trust in the
Holy Spirit to teach it to us rightly.
Asking Jesus to bow and worship the devil seems like a long
shot, but the devil tried it. In essence the devil was trying to tempt Jesus
with everything he had come for, offering him the power to save the world
(which the devil doesn’t actually have) without the need to suffer and die, and
therefore without the need to obey the Father’s will.
Life
Temptation is difficult for us. The devil knows our
weaknesses, and he will exploit them. Knowing that, how should we prepare to
resist temptation? The fact of the matter is that willpower and self-control
will only take you so far. Both of these are limited resources that are
corrupted by our sinful nature. Instead we turn to Jesus who withstood
temptation for us without succumbing to it. This means we should pray, as we do
in the Lord’s Prayer, “lead us not into temptation.” We resist the devil through
hearing the Word and praying in Jesus’ name – according to his will – and he
protects us. And when we give in to temptation, we return to the petition,
“Forgive us our trespasses,” because he does.
Prayer
O God, our adversary the devil is clever and works hard to
lead us into sin. Jesus withstood his temptation, though, and resisted him with
the power of your Word. Thank you for placing us in Christ and under his protection.
Thank you for your Word and Spirit which work in us to form our hearts and
minds so that we desire and do your will. Forgive us for the all too regular
times that we have given into the temptation to sin. In particular I pray that
you would protect me from the temptation to … and … and …. Protect all your
people, Lord, by placing your Word in our hearts and minds and on our lips, in
Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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