February 10:
Jesus’ Sermon on Temptation and Testing from Matthew 4:1-11
Usually the gospel reading records an event form Jesus’ public
ministry, or perhaps a conversation with His disciples. In both cases there are many witnesses to
what happened. But today’s gospel
records a conversation between Jesus and the tempter. If only those two were present, where did
Matthew get this material when he wrote his gospel? How did he know?
Personally, I think the answer is obvious. Jesus told Matthew and the other disciples
about it.
Why is that significant?
Because if Jesus told them, he had a purpose. So think of
the account of the temptation like Jesus’ parables or even a sermon Jesus preached. The story of Jesus’ temptation is not just
about Jesus, but has a message for His disciples of every age.
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness
to be tempted… Matthew
4:1
The Spirit led Jesus into temptation.
We pray “Lead us not into temptation”; save us in the time of
trial. When trouble comes, we pray
“Lord, get me out of this. Rescue me.”
Sometimes he provides a way out, but other times he doesn’t. And we cry out “Why me Lord?”
Maybe one possible answer is today’s gospel. Even Jesus had to go through temptation – be
tested.
Because Jesus himself suffered when he was tested, he
is able to help us when we are tested.
Heb. 2:18
It was necessary for Christ to experience life as we do, and testing
and tempting are a part of life.
But there is another reason:
He has been tested in every way just as we are; and
Although he was the Son, he
learned obedience from what he suffered, and,
once being made perfect… 4:15, 5:8
Christ had to learn. Even though
He is the Son of God, Jesus had to go through suffering and testing to learn –
to be made complete.
Could that also be true of you and I?
Does the Lord allow us to go through negative experiences that test us
so that we may learn and grow? The very
situations that test our faith have the potential to strengthen our faith, if
we learn to keep trusting in God even in the face of adversity and seeming
silence.
To appreciate today’s gospel, you have to remember that the first
listeners to it were Jews. Every year of
their lives they heard the familiar story of how the first people of God were
tested during their Exodus wandering in the wilderness. So Jesus’ sermon recalls three of those tests
- both their failure and the lesson to be learned.
The first temptation has its point of departure in Jesus’ hunger after
fasting. The parallel is the people’s
hunger after they had left
The Lord did provide food for them - the manna and quail - but they had
to follow the instructions that came with them.
At the end of the journey, Moses reminded them the
Lord has led you these forty years in the wilderness to humble and test
you... So he afflicted you with hunger
and then fed you with manna… to teach you that people can not live on bread
alone, but they live on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deuteronomy
8:2-3
Christ refuses the temptation to use his power to turn bread into
stones. Instead, he confidently waits on
the Lord.
We walk with Jesus this Lenten season amid a society of self-satisfied,
self-indulgence. “Deny yourself, take up
your cross...” has never been uttered in a TV commercial. Rather it’s “Enjoy yourself” followed by “You
owe it to yourself.”
That makes Lenten discipline difficult - counter-cultural. Because Jesus would have us follow His
example, and learn to say “No”. The work
of God in our lives is not to help us get more of what we want, but rather to
enable us to be less self-centered and to get what God wants for us.
Today’s gospel is about what Jesus rejects and what he says “no”
to. Our lives are shaped not only by
what we affirm, but also by what we reject.
We can begin with small steps - like denying ourselves some small things
in order to be receptive to the greater goods in our lives.
So what will you be saying “no” to –
give up for Jesus sake?
*
Flip
Geraldine replied: “That’s what I did say and the devil told me it
looked very nice from the back.”
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After the Lord provided you might think the people trusted God. But they got to the next camp site at Massah and there was no water - not a pool or stream or
spring. So again they grumbled and
quarreled. There the Israelites
disputed with him, and put the Lord to the test with their question, “Is the
Lord in our midst?” Deuteronomy 9:22
Where are you God when I need you?
The temptation is to demand a demonstration of God’s power - to expect
that God should come to our aid now in the way we want. Jesus response to that temptation: You
shall not put the Lord to the test as you did at Massah. Deut. 6:16
We are frequently tempted to question God’s helpfulness when things go
awry. And then we should look to the
cross.
In the
Maybe we shouldn’t think we deserve better than Christ. For the Bible says God disciplines those he
loves. We have to go through times of
testing and suffering.
Follow Jesus to
In the midst of testing and suffering, the crucified Lord is with
you. He knows exactly what you are going
through, and will not let you be tested beyond your strength. And do not forget
his promise,
My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made
perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9
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The third temptation is to compromise our devotion to the Lord, who
demands that he come first and have our primary allegiance.
Yes I’ll serve the Lord, but I also have to... and some how those other
things creep into first place.
The other day a parent said that her toughest job was “to have the
courage to look my child in the eye and say ‘no’.” It’s a challenge in a culture where we often
hear that the job of a parent is to give her child everything her little heart
desires.
And advertising tells me how
important I am. Self-care,
self-satisfaction, self aggrandizement is what they are selling. There’s
nothing more important than me.
Perhaps that’s why Jesus responds to the third temptation by mentioning
worship. He repeats the prayer Jews know
my heart You shall worship only the Lord
your God. Deut. 6:13
That’s a tough word in a world that says worship yourself - Take care
of number one.
What are you putting before the Lord and His way? Do you need to re-order your priorities?
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Lent allows us a form of spiritual practice. – training that
strengthens us for those times of testing The musicians in the back understand
this. No musician will remain a good
musician long without regular practice. It is a discipline. Horowitz, the great pianist, said, “If I skip
practice one day, I know it. If I skip
practice two days, the critics know it.
If I skip practice three days, everyone knows it.”
Lent is practice time for the Christian. It is spring training for the Christian who
wants to stay in shape, or wants get in shape.
Such spiritual health is not a luxury.
It is a necessity.
No one is so well off
spiritually that he or she can afford to skip Lent. And no one is so bad off spiritually that Lent
cannot be helpful.
Lent is practical, helpful, and
necessary.
As your Lenten discipline, take some practical steps:
Join us on Wednesday evening for a simple fellowship meal at 6:30 and
then pray and sing with us in church.
I’ll be talking about Why Christianity Makes Sense.
Next Sunday morning come at 9:30 for Sunday school. We have three adult classes to choose from –
all new.
Give up something so you can make time to read your Bible and pray
every day.
Make some sacrifice for Lent – give something up simply as a sign of
your devotion to Christ.
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For Christ,
through whom all things were made, Himself has fasted and has prayed. Then
grant O God that we may too, return in fast and prayer to you.