Luke 4:1-13 The Temptation of Jesus

"His problem began when his owner decided to clean his cage with a vacuum. She had stuck the nozzle in to suck up the seeds and feathers at the bottom of the cage when the telephone rang. Instinctively she turned to pick it up. She had barely said hello when--ssswwwwwpppppp! Chippie got sucked in.

Shocked she dropped the phone, switched off the vacuum & she unzipped the bag.

"There was Chippie--alive but stunned--covered with heavy gray dust. She grabbed him and rushed to the bathtub, turned on the faucet full blast, and held Chippie under a torrent of ice-cold water, powerwashing him clean.

Then it dawned on her that Chippie was soaking wet and shivering. So she did what any compassionate pet owner would do: she snatched up the hair dryer and blasted him with hot air.

"Did Chippie survive the woman was asked ? this was her response - Yes, but he doesn't sing much anymore. He just sits and stares a lot.

1. By Satan who comes not w/ a vacuum cleaner but w/ enticements seeking to tempt us & lead us into things that

1. That are going to take the song right out of our hearts and leave us stunned and wiped out spiritually

Jesus told His disciples in Matt. 26: 41 To "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.

1. Temptation is something we all deal with- but according to Jesus it is not anything that should catch us off guard - watch & pray.

2. Today we want to consider how Satan attacked Jesus & how Jesus responded to the temptation glean some insights that will help us -

1) In dealing w/ the temptations that the enemy throws at us.

READ V. 1-13

In Comparing Matthews account of the story of the temptation w/ Luke’s - one thing that you notice is that Luke’s account reverses the order of the second and third temptations from that of Matt..

1. We are not sure why Luke did this but - I personally believe that

Matthew’s order makes more sense.

1) because we see a progression in intensity of the temptation

B) Leading to what was thee temptation that Satan would continue to throw at

Jesus throughout the course of His life. - Escape the cross

1. Now there is no contradiction here because did not claim to follow an actual sequence of events

other needs and dangers

1. and tend to be vulnerable to anything that might provide relief from

c) Satan therefore will often attack more fiercely in such times of Physical weakness and unpreparedness.

F) Satan comes - aren’t you hungry - turn the stone here that looks like a loaf of Bread - turn it to bread - satisfy your Hunger After all you are the Son of God.

But understand the purpose of the temptation was not simply for Jesus to satisfy His physical hunger, but to suggest that His being hungry was incompatible with His being the Son of God.

1. Jesus was being tempted to doubt the Father’s Word, the Father’s love, and the Father’s provision. Satan was suggesting

3. Satan often times whispers the same lies in our ears or he uses someone else to verbalize those same kind of thoughts to us

1. If you are a child of God where is the Fathers Provision ? If you are a child of God why are the bills piling up ?

1. Hath God said - Did God really say that you shouldn’t eat - and if your do eat you will die.

2. Begins by getting Eve to question the word of God - and moves to denying the word of God altogether

1. Eve the truth is you are not going to die if you eat this - the truth is you are going to be like God.

3. What Satan was implying to Eve is that God was holding back something from her - something she needed - something she wanted

1. God was not being truthful w/ her - Satan was trying to get Eve to doubt God’s love & provision / Same w/ us / Same w/ Jesus

4. By tempting Jesus to doubt His Fathers love & provision Satan was also tempting Jesus to do something in His own power to meet His need

1) - He tempts us in the same way.

5. He tries to get us to compromise in some area - cut a corner here to save a buck / or cheat on your taxes
6. Or take matters into your own hands by taking a 2^nd or a third Job or put in a ton of over time & sacrifice - time w/ your family & fellowship

1. In order to get ahead or get out of a situation - or keep up a standard of living that maybe isn’t the Lord at all

7. Now I know there are seasons where the Lord - might allow you to put in some extra over time - or might lead you to take a 2^nd Job

1. But those times are the exception & not the rule - because 1^st & for most His priority for your life is your relationship w/ Him

8. 2^Nd is your relationship to your family - He wants us to make those things our priority & what we pursue

1) & trust Him in those areas of provision

Notice Jesus response insightful V. 4 But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'"

1. Jesus is saying something so powerful here that all of us need to be reminded of from time to time

2. Jesus was saying that the physical stuff is not what matters the most / the issue is not the material realm - its the spiritual realm

1. Now the normal & natural tendency of all of us is to focus on the physical - to focus on what we can see.

3. To try and satisfy the physical needs above everything else !

1. Isa was hitting on an important truth that man will never be satisfied physically . No lasting satisfaction - always wants more
2. Thanksgiving is just around the corner -( any large gatherings ) consider a new dish - move away from the traditional turkey

1. World’s largest dish is the whole roasted Camel - deserts of Africa

3. Recipe is interesting - Start w/ hard boiled Eggs stuffed into a fish / fish stuffed into a chicken / chicken ..sheep /

1. then the whole thing is roasted & stuffed into a Camel & cooked!

4. But here is a fact / you could eat that Camel & guess what ? the next day you are going to be hungry again .

1. Thanksgiving - eat & eat & eat again - ( Think I will never touch another plate of food again - until morning - comes - Hungry)

5. It is the same way w/ stuff - think this is what I really need - new house - new car - new Job - new toy - this is what is going to make me happy

1. No it isn’t - it is not going to bring any lasting satisfaction at all

6. New house no sooner move in - want to make changes - new car - need a new CD player - it goes on & on

1) There is nothing in this life that can bring any lasting satisfaction

Jesus said 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'"

A) More important than physical food - is the spiritual food of God’s word

2. Jesus also said seek first the Kingdom of God & His righteousness and all these other things will be added unto you .

3. In other words Jesus is saying make it your number one priority to be seeking after the things which are going to matter in eternity

1. make sure you are ready for heaven . store up treasures in Heaven -

4. Now here is something that we need to consider - Jesus - spoke from a perspective that was different from ours

1. Perspective of having been there - been w/ the Father

5. Looked at the things here differently - Last temptation of Christ - Jesus looked over Bethany

1. Apologist Zach. Would He who had seen & lived in heaven be

2. Paul says this world is soon to be judged & we need to be those who are living for the Lord - living w/ eternity in View.

1. Being satisfied by His word - watching & praying

3. Reminded this past week of the need to watch - Arab / Israeli tension mounts

1. Israeli Prime minister Netanyahu - accused - Russian Foreign minister of selling long range missiles to Iran -

4. Possible stage is being set for - Ezk. 38 to be fulfilled.

1. Jack Hibbs - Navy seal - Bio chip in His hand - doing it to cattle for years - closer to a cashless society

5. Euro dollar - woman riding on the back of a dragon - why

1. Guys if there was ever a time where you need to make sure you are

3. Realizing Heaven is where it is at ! This life short walk in the park compared to what eternity is going to be like

1. If not saved - this life is as good as it gets - all down hill from here

1. in this 2^nd temptation Satan tries to get Jesus to doubt his fathers protection

2. Having failed to induce Jesus to use His divine powers to serve His own self-interests

1. Satan proceeded to tempt the Son to put His heavenly Father’s love

1. The location and form of the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem has not been identified with certainty.

3. It was probably a part of the reconstruction ordered by Herod the Great and most likely was on the eastern side of the Temple, overlooking the Kidron Valley.

D) The pinnacle may have been the roof that extended out over Herod’s portico. Josephus reports that the drop to the valley floor was some 450 feet.

1. the devil again introduced his temptation with the words if You are the Son of God.

1. Now what is interesting about this temptation is that Satan quotes scripture as well Quoting Psalm 91:11-12, he said, for it is written, "He will give His angels charge concerning You"; and "On their hands they will bear You up, lest You strike Your foot against a stone."
2. Satan was saying. "You claim to be God’s Son and You claim to trust His Word,"

1. "If so, why don’t you demonstrate your sonship and prove the truth of God’s Word by putting Him to a test-a scriptural test?

3. If you won’t use your own divine power to help yourself, let your Father use His divine power to help you.

4. Reminded here that Satan knows the Word - but he always twist the word/ he will- always omit a phrase or two in the process.

1. Psa 91:11 actually reads 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.

E) Literally - In all God’s ways. Jesus knew this and answered accordingly

6. Jesus was saying the Father will protect me but I am not going to do something foolish in order to satisfy you or anyone else.

1. Now this was a temptation to do something to promote himself -

2. Sensationalism has always appealed to the flesh, and many people are willing to believe almost anyone or anything as long as the claims are accompanied by fantastic happenings.

3. Jesus warned that "false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect"
4. But dramatic signs, even when they are from God, are not meant to produce faith; they only strengthen the faith of those who already believe.

5. Bible says that signs & wonders will follow those who believe - opposite believers following after signs & wonders

2. First, any sensationalism inevitably is frustrated by the law of diminishing returns. People are never satisfied.

1. They always want one more sign, one more miracle, one more show.

3. To have maintained His influence over the people by the use of miracles, Jesus would have had to produce greater and greater sensations.

1. Because the natural, carnal heart can never be satisfied, this year’s miracle would have become next year’s bore.

4. His followers would only have been lovers of sensation, not lovers of God.

Second, and more significant, no matter how noble and important we may think our reasons are to test God / , to test God is to doubt God.

1. And to doubt God is not to trust Him, and not to trust Him is sin.

2. Jesus would have no part in that !

3. So in the first temptation - Jesus was tempted to doubt God’s love & provision.

1) In the 2^nd doubt God’s protection

1. Notice Jesus didn’t refute this- Why ? they were Satan's to give . they belonged to Him / Man forfeited - god of this world

2. If you are here today & you don’t know Jesus -you are a part of Satan’s kingdom ( perhaps indirectly - but none the less true.)

3. Satan is the god of this world & his goal is to Kill Rob & Destroy - read paper - Satan intends to bring destruction

1. You want the World - I will give it to you and you won’t even have to die - No cross - just Bow.

2. Jesus had a divine right to all kingdoms, and it was to that Divine right that Satan appealed in this last temptation.

1. he was suggesting to Jesus."Why should you have to wait for what is already rightfully yours?" "You deserve to have it now.

C) Why do you submit as a Servant when you could reign as a King? I am only offering you what the Father has already promised."

1. You don’t need to go to the cross & suffer & be humiliated - you can have it now !

4. Satan tempts you to do the same - take the easy way out bad marriage - leave get out - give up -

1. Bad job tough on you - quit / things are not going the way you hoped - He says split !

E) Trial or temptation that you are struggling w/ just give in

1) Do the easy thing -

Satan is a counterfeiter. ( Counterfeit = fake or artificial) He offers what seems to be the same as what God offers, and his price is much cheaper.

1. Satan asks "God wants you to prosper, doesn’t He?". "Well, I’ll give you prosperity a lot sooner and for a lot less.

2. Just turn your head a little at questionable practices. Give in when it’s advantageous; don’t be a prude; follow the crowd.

1. That’s the way to success."

3. The basic argument that Satan gives is always a form of the idea that the end justifies the means.

1) So don’t go to the cross there is an easier way to get the world.

1. On the cross - come down save yourself & us .

2. But what they didn’t understand that was by giving His life -He saved us

1. Emptiness / Loneliness / guilt from sin / sins forgiven / hope of Heaven.

3. Again, Jesus quoted God’s Word, this time Deuteronomy 6:13. 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"

1. Now Satan had said nothing about service, but Jesus knew that

4. Service to the Lord is true freedom, but service to Satan is terrible bondage.

Satan wants us to sacrifice the eternal for the temporary and take the "easy way out ."

1. There are no "shortcuts" in the Christian life, and there is no easy way to spiritual victory and maturity.

2. Satan’s pattern is to start with glory and end with suffering.

1. But the Father says in our Christian life we will encounter suffering but it will end in glory .

Turn 2 Cor.4 Example in Paul's life & 2Cor.4: 8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

1. Being pressed is a normal part of ministry - all go thru it -

1. pressed but not crushed - crushed is when I give up

3. B) Perplexed - but not in despair - perplexed is normal -

1. Perplexed is when you don’t understand - but despair happens when you don’t trust

4. Why did Paul keep is Head perspective ? - tells us 2 things He was always focused on .

1. V.10 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

5. He kept His focus on the cross - what Jesus had already done for Him

Jesus came out of the wilderness a victor, but Satan did not give up. He watched for other opportunities to tempt the Savior away from the Father’s will.

Andrew Bonar; was right. "Let us be as watchful after the victory as before the battle,"