Gospel

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WHY WAS JESUS TEMPTED? Luke 4, Matthew 4
Has this question ever crossed your mind: “What was the devil’s motive when he was trying to tempt Jesus?”
Before I try to answer that question, take a look at “Matthew4:2”, it says Jesus was lead into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil; but in “Our Lord’s Prayer”, Jesus said “Lead us not into temptation” which somehow contradicts what happened in the preceding scripture. Here’s what I think about this. Remember Job? What happened in heaven before his affliction, how God was trying to show the devil how blameless and upright Job was, and the devil requested for permission to test Him. So, probably, the devil, seeing that God called Jesus “My Beloved Son” repeated the whole scene like in Job’s case to see if truly Jesus was the Son of God. Thus, he tried tempting Jesus, each time saying “if you are the Son of God...”
Now back to the topic, if you look at all 3 temptations, you’ll see that they all have one thing in common…
TEMPTATION 1: Jesus asked to turn stones to bread. Luke 4:3
Don’t take this in its literal sense, Satan wasn’t asking Jesus to feed His belly, trust me he isn’t that nice. Here, the stones represent “the Law”. The devil was trying to get Jesus to feed on the Law, instead of the Word, thus His reply “Man shall not live on bread alone”. Paul says in Romans 3:20 that the law is the knowledge of sin. Now Eve was tempted in a similar manner when she was asked to eat of the knowledge of good and evil, and when they fell into this temptation, they fell short of God’s Glory, limiting the “authority” they had. The devil was trying to repeat this whole ugly set-up with Jesus, knowing what Great Authority He had (and still has), and the devil knew we would never be justified by the law (of sin and death).
This wasn’t a test to break Jesus’ fast, it was a plot to limit Jesus’ Authority.
TEMPTATION 2: Jesus asked to worship the devil for worldly riches. Luke 4:6
This screams “pride”, imagine a created being telling “The Creator” to worship him, just because Christ humbled Himself and decided to become a created being. Just imagine!
As we know, only a lesser being worships a greater one, this is what the devil was trying to do here; to get Jesus to worship him, which would have meant that the devil had some authority or power over Jesus. But yet again, the devil failed, Jesus replied him with The Word.
2 things this temptation teaches.
a. When you know who you are in Christ Jesus and how much He loves you. Nothing the devil has will/ should be attractive to you.
b. When the devil comes knocking at the door, or in any circumstance, reply with The Word; faithful is He who spoke it and promised. Hebrews 10:23
TEMPTATION 3: Jesus asked to throw Himself off the highest point of the Temple. Luke 4:9
One would think the devil was trying to get Jesus to commit suicide on Holy Ground. But no! That’s far from it. The Temple here is symbolic of God’s Church, not just any Church, but Perfect One, The Faithful Chosen, those who love His Appearing and prepare for it, the tithe of the Body. The devil knew that if Jesus was truly The Beloved Son of God, knowing The Kind of Love God has for us, His children; these ones would cause great havoc to his Kingdom and evil plans. Thus, his plot to try to make Jesus fall from His position as the Head of the Church. {Ephesians 1:20-23 gives a clear and distinct picture of Jesus’ authority}. Read it, and you’ll know why the devil was eager to strip Jesus of this authority… its called fear, of the highest order.
But you know what the best part of this authority is? It’s the fact that Jesus has freely given it to whoever decides to be born of God (1John 4:4, 1John 5:4), because as He is in Heaven, so are we here on earth. 1John 4:17
Once again, the devil failed… But who cares anyway, not me, it’s not like he has any good plans for me, or you. I mean if not for God’s Love… I wonder where we’d be now, IF still alive. The only plan he has for us is to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10); unlike God who has “GOOD” plans for us. Jeremiah 29:11.
So after these temptations, in which He was a Victor, sill is (Hebrews 13:8); Angels served Him, and He returned to Galilee in the Power of The Spirit. Notice something, He came into the wilderness “full of the Spirit”, and He left the wilderness “in the Power of the Spirit”. (Luke 4:1 & 14).
* Luke 14:43 He then goes to the Temple and talks about His ministry, as prophesied in Isaiah 61; which we are also a part of, being coheirs with Him. (Romans 8:17).
* Luke 4:29 The people threaten, and try to throw Him off a cliff, but failed, the devil out of fear tried to use the people to kill Him before His time… I think.
* Luke 4:32 The people talk about Jesus’ “Authority”, and in Luke 4:36, they talk about Jesus’ “Authority and Power” when He spoke
* Luke 4:34,41 The demons, out of great fear, trembling call Jesus “The Holy One of God”, “The Son of God”.
So brethren, you as well, have been given authority and power to do that which Christ did, and even greater {John 14:12}, all you need do is “Believe, grow in Love, Stand on His Word, be The Word, act and speak in Faith”, and you’ll see what wonders God will do in, for and through you.

Grace be with you all. Amen!!!

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