Scripture Portion: Matthew 4:1-11.
The scripture passage is the temptation of Jesus, which is
the beginning of Christ’s ministry. The test / temptation from Satan occurred
at the end of 40 days fasting from Jesus.
Theme: The key theme of the passage is Israelites failed in
all their temptations as they were in the wilderness for 40 years. As Jesus
symbolically fulfilled them by fasting 40 days in the wilderness, as He was
tested he found faithful where Israelites failed. We see in v.1 that the
purpose of Jesus sent into wilderness was to be tested by Satan. He was led by
the SPIRIT into the wilderness.
The
Question: the common question in
the point of above theme, Will Jesus be faithful in the temptations where
Israelites failed? The above passage is a symbolic reality in our ministry to
renew the vision given by the Lord. Israelites had great legacy of Abraham’s
faith – Isaac’s truthfulness – Jacob’s perseverance. They lost their
vision/commitment on the way by failing in the temptations in the wilderness.
We too have the same kind of testes to check whether we are faithful or failure
in the vision or carry on the past legacy. The same question is possible even
to us whether we are gonna be faithful like Christ? or failure/unfaithful like
the people of Israel? The following are the tests Jesus faced and remained
faithful.
TEST: 1 “TEST NOT TO TRUST IN GOD’S
PROVISIONS” (vv 2-4)
Jesus was hunger after the 40 days of fasting. He was
the son of God who can potentially turn the stone into bread to feed His hunger
and prove the challenge put forth by Satan. Satan tempted wisely by putting a
challenge before Him, “If you are the Son of God.” He may be in a position to
prove that He is the Son of God. The response of Jesus was not positive to
Satan rather He said, “Man shall not live on
bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” it was
different reaction from the response of Israelites.
Deuteronomy 8:3 (vv.1-3) This fifth book of the Bible is the
repetition of Law given to the past generation in the wondering years. This was
given in the plains of Moab which is the gate of the Promised Land, the new
generation were warned of the mistakes done by their fathers and to be faithful
to God. The lessons/law taught by Moses in the wilderness were disobeyed by
their forefathers in trusting the provision of the Lord. Moses instructed them
to remember their failures and use them as negative role models not to be
repeated again.
The verse “Man shall not live on
bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Deut 8:3) was a response from Moses as he rebuked the Israel
for grumbling and murmuring against the provision of God. When Jesus used the
same verse He proved that He did not fail in the temptation where Israelites
failed. He remained faithful by trusting God. We see the result at the end of
temptation v.11 says, “Then the devil
left him, and angels came and attended him.”
- Do we face the
temptation of trusting God’s provision for our physical needs?
- Do we grumble /
murmur against God for not meeting the physical needs?
- Do we take
short-cut to fulfill the physical needs?
TEST: 2 – “TEST OF TEMPTING GOD” (vv 5-7)
Jesus was in a
different scenario, standing in the pinnacle of the temple (Probably the
tallest spot in Jerusalem). The interesting factor here is not only the
challenge of His divinity but also Satan used the Scripture to encounter Him
into temptation. Many people are cheated by Devil’s scheme of using God’s word
to make people fall. He says, “It is
written ….” Uses Psalm 91:11.
The response of Jesus was again going back to the word
of God in Deuteronomy 6:16, “You shall
not tempt the Lord your God.” Scripture (The word of God) is said to be the
only offensive weapon in Eph 6: 11-16. Therefore Jesus confronted Satan with
the Word of God every time He was tempted.
Moses warned the new generation “Not to test God as
their forefathers did.” Deut. 6:16 says, “Thou
shall not tempt the Lord your God.” Since they asked signs from the Lord,
Moses says don’t expect more signs as God has redeemed you from Egypt displaying
His mighty act among the Egyptians to redeem you. On the other hand the Jews
remained asking signs from the Lord. In the time of Jesus Pharisees asked signs
from Jesus (Mark 8:11-12). We see in those verses they try to tempt Jesus by
asking signs but Jesus did not give them any sign.
We see in the passage Jesus did not fail in the
temptation where Israelites failed. Jesus remained faithful to God. Most of the
times we fail by testing God in an unwanted manner to challenge others. Jesus did
not obey to withstand in the challenge “If you are the Son of God...”
-
Do we test /
tempt God in and through our actions?
-
Do we expect more
signs from God besides His saving act upon us?
TEST: 3 – “TEST OF WORSHIPING OTHER
GODS” (IDOLATRY) (vv 8-10)
Jesus at the end of the temptation passage was in a
top of a hill. The test has two fold implications of covetousness and worshiping other gods. Satan tempts people to worship him by showing the
wealth of the world as a reward for worshiping him. It is again a false
promise, he has no right of giving what is belongs to God (Ps. 24:1-2). Jesus was
asked to worship Satan and get the possession of the world.
This was the greatest temptation Israelites faced
(idolatry) and failed time and again. People are created by God to worship Him
and give the first place to Him. Israelites were so vulnerable in choosing
other gods wherever they went; they followed the heathen lifestyle and their
gods which was detested by the Lord. The highest of all we see in the worship
of “Golden Calf” in the wilderness (Ex. 32). The people were misled by Aaron
immediately after the Ten Commandments were given (Ex.20), at least 40 days
later the commands were given at Mt. Sinai by the Lord DIRECTLY. The people
often look at the wealth of the world prior to worshiping the Lord.
Jesus responded (Mt. 4:10), “Thou shall worship the Lord thy God, and serve Him alone.” This is
the quote from Deuteronomy 6:13. Moses rebuked the Israelites for worshiping
other gods in the wilderness and said to the newer generation not to follow the
bad example again. Even after those warnings they again failed by worshiping
foreign gods and left the ways of the Lord. Jesus did not fail in the test of worshiping Satan and found faithful in where Israelites failed.
- Do we face the
temptation of worshiping other gods (money, relationship, possession…)?
- Do we give the
first place to something else than God?
- Do we lead to
idolatry even though “said to be following Christians”?
Be
faithful like Jesus, don’t be a failure like the Israelites!!!
Jesus the new Moses brought the new law through His
blood so that we are in a new covenant. We see in the gospels about the Jewish
people how they failed even after the strong warnings and captivities. They failed
in the commandments given at Mt. Sinai. Therefore Jesus being the new Moses
gave new commandments at the mount (Mt. 5-7), where Jesus said that he came to
fulfill the law not to break them off (Mt. 5:17-18).
Jesus sent 12 disciples as a symbolic expression of
the 12 tribes conquered the Promised Land. As the nation of Israel started with
the 12 tribes, Jesus left the church with 12 disciples/ Apostles. They took the
goodness of Jesus to the lost world.
He was crucified – took the curse of the law (Gal
3:13) into His shoulder for the entire world and sent the disciples with the
new commission (Mt. 28:18-20), the new Israel into the world. He sent them with
His authority and presence.
Jesus is with us to overcome all the temptations Israel
failed to keep. We can also be overcomers through Christ Jesus since he found
faithful in everything people failed. Jesus was faithful in the mission of
Israel, so He is faithful though we are unfaithful to Him. Since Jesus has
faithfully overcome everything we can have confidence in Him and do the
following….
1. Be Relaxed: Jesus had done everything, He loves us and we are
saved by grace through faith.
2. Be Obedient: As Jesus the new Moses gave new Law. He is the Lord
of Lords and He calls us to follow and obey Him.
3. Keep Reading: The Bible must be read and followed by the
believers/followers of Christ. We should not be OT/NT Christians. Old Testament
Christians fail to see the climax through Christ Jesus. The New Testament Christians
fail to see God’s action in the History.
4. Keep
Conveying: The message of God
must be conveyed/shared to others. Abraham to Apostles God blessed people by
using them. Our God is a missionary God, He says, “Go into the world…. Preach the Word”
May
God bless us to be faithful followers, not failure believers. AMEN.
