Dealing With Temptation

Commentary

It was God’s plan for Jesus to face extreme temptation. If Jesus is the Son of God, then He could withstand the hardest of temptations — and He did. This makes our God a God who truly understands our condition from firsthand experience. He knows what you face and He knows how to overcome it.

It’s important to understand in this account that the Holy Spirit’s role was not as an accomplice to the temptation, but as the guide for God’s will. Temptation never comes from God, but is an effect of our sin nature and the demonic evil which lives among us.

In this study, we’ll look at the types of temptations Jesus faced and how He overcame all that Satan had tempted Him with. Though we’re not perfect like Jesus, we can mimic our Savior, and when we do, we’ll surely find success over the things that so easily ensnare us.

Commentary

The Flesh vs. The Spirit

Few of us know what it’s like to go hungry for days, let alone for forty. Having not eaten for so long put Jesus into an extreme hunger situation, making Him ripe for succumbing to temptation. In an instant, Jesus could’ve done exactly what Satan was tempting Him to do and turned the stones into bread, so He could satisfy His body’s burning desire for food. But Jesus would demonstrate Spirit over flesh, God’s will over His own. This serves not only to display His deity but is an example of the self-control the Holy Spirit enables believers to have as well.

The Scripture Jesus referenced is from Deuteronomy 8:3, which tells us that God is our Sustainer. While the body needs physical food, true life is found in Christ alone. A man’s spirit must be satisfied in Christ, or he truly has nothing of worth and will be endlessly seeking pleasure. Though a man may eat, without Christ, he will never be full.

The battle of our flesh versus the Holy Spirit is a real, ongoing battle that all believers will face daily until the Lord takes us home. So whenever you find yourself wanting to pursue your carnal desires over your spiritual needs, do as Jesus did and turn to God’s Word. For in it, you will find the wisdom and power to overcome.

Commentary

Perverting God’s Providence

In this next temptation, Satan would take Jesus to the top of the temple in Jerusalem to convince Him to jump. Satan already knew Jesus was the Son of God, yet He was daring Him to prove Himself. To do such a thing would’ve been outside of God’s will. And if Satan could get Jesus to go against the Father’s will, even just once, then He would be disqualified as the Lamb.

As a follower of Christ, you should know that God wants good things for you. He showers His children with blessings every day and tasks His angels with protecting you throughout each day.

However, Satan would love nothing more than to convince you that you should live in your own will, do things your own way, instead of God’s way. Even though God promises His providence in your life, you are to never test Him by being purposefully reckless or arrogant. There is nothing you must do, especially extreme self-harm, to prove God to anyone; proof of Him is in all of creation.

Again, Jesus turns to Scripture, Deuteronomy 6:16, to rebuke Satan. By placing God’s Word into your heart and sticking to His will for your life, you will avoid stumbling over the many blocks that the enemy places in your path.

Commentary

Seeking After The “Easy Way”

In Satan’s third temptation of Jesus, he takes Him to a high place and shows Him the kingdoms of this world. Jesus was on Earth to purchase this very world with His blood, and here Satan was offering it to Him for a seemingly lesser price. But we know that Satan’s price would’ve cost so much more when all was said and done. Without Jesus’ sacrifice, we’d all be going to Hell without a chance. Thankfully, we don’t have to live in that nightmare because Jesus is perfect.

But for you and me, how easy is it to step around God’s will for our lives and pursue our own desires in our own timing? That’s not worshiping the Lord, as Jesus referred to it from Deuteronomy 6:13.

Everything that we gain is best gained through the Lord, by exclusively following Him. Living for the Lord is to worship Him. It’s a dangerous endeavor to try and gain what you desire without seeking the Lord and waiting on His approval and timing. Following Jesus is hard and requires faithful endurance. But in your worship, He will bless you in ways you could not have imagined.

However, Satan will make his way look easy, but truthfully, his way will always be more troublesome in the long run. Chasing after worldly lusts will always lead to a place of zero satisfaction with a trail of destruction left behind.

You and I are going to be tempted to take the "easy way" often, but you must always remember that when life is difficult and following Jesus is hard, it’s only a temporary discomfort that is preparing you, as a believer, for an eternity of bliss. What this world has to offer is fading away, and fast, but what Jesus offers is eternal, and the reward for your faithfulness will truly be incredible.

Commentary

God is always so gracious to us. His Spirit will empower you to overcome, if you so desire to walk in His power. He will minister to you in your victory, and because you’re not perfect, He will minister to you in the times when you do fail to overcome temptation and fall into difficulties. He is always here with you.

On the other hand, Satan will convince you that he is making it better for you, but when you take the bait and stumble, he will not help you, but instead go right to God and accuse you. He will leave you high and dry, left picking up the pieces after he enticed you to do something stupid.

As Christ-followers, we have all that we truly need or want. When you’re living with His Word saturating your heart, you’ll have a contentment which will aid you in overcoming the temptations of this world. But it takes being a dedicated disciple, who is not only absorbing God’s Word, but living it out. The power to overcome has been and always will be found in Jesus.