TEMPTATIONS OF JESUS #1

By David J. Riggs



(Note: I am indebted to Bill Hall for some of the thoughts in my
three sermons on the temptations of Jesus). 


Intro.
   A. Man has greatly improved his living conditions over the last
      several hundred years.
      1. However, so far as overcoming temptations is concerned, he
         hasn't improved at all.
      2. Man will never completely rise above temptations. In others
         words, temptations will always be here as long as this world
         exists.
      3. Even the very strong will be tempted; Jesus was.
   B. With this lesson, we begin a three-part study of the           
      temptations of
      Jesus as recorded in Matt. 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13
      1. Some might think Jesus' temptations were extraordinary and
         have no bearing on the ways we might be tempted.
      2. However, upon close examination, we find that they are very
         similar to the avenues Satan uses to tempt us.
      3. We don't want to be ignorant of Satan's devices. 2 Cor. 2:11

I. WHAT SATAN DID NOT DO.
   A. First of all, notice what Satan did not do. He did not entice  
      Jesus to:
      1. Drink something that might be intoxicating.
      2. Take the name of God in vain.
      3. Steal something that wasn't His.
      4. Commit some immoral act.
   B. There are many kinds of temptations.
      1. Some think that if they have come to the point where they
         don't drink, curse, steal, or commit fornication, they are
         good moral people and, therefore, acceptable to God.
      2. These people are often tempted in ways they have not
         considered and are, thus, ensnared and overcome.
      3. Though they do not know it, they are Satan's captives and,
         thus, are his children.

II. JESUS WAS A SPECIAL CHALLENGE TO SATAN.
   A. The very fact that Jesus would not be tempted by some of those
      grosser immoral things made Jesus a special challenge to Satan.
      1. Thus, Satan would use all the skill he had gained over the
         centuries to endeavor to seduce Jesus to sin.
      2. The stronger we are, the more challenging we are for Satan.
      3. We should never discontinue or lower our resistence. James
         4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9

III. EXAMINING SATAN'S TEMPTATIONS OF JESUS.
   A. When Satan was preparing His temptations for Jesus, no doubt he
      considered these three things:
      1. In the first place, it needed to be something moral.
         a. Jesus would not have been tempted to do something
            immoral.
      2. Not only would it need to be something moral, but it must be
         something beneficial.
         a. Jesus had come into the world to do good, not to be
            ministered to, but to minister.
      3. Of course, it would need to be something not forbidden.
         a. We must always remember that Satan is exceedingly
            evil.
            (1) He is a murderer and the father of all liars. John
                8:44
            (2) He is the "devil" (lit. false accuser, slanderer).
            (3) He is "Satan" (lit. attacker, adversary).
            (4) He is the deceiver of the whole world. Rev. 12.9

IV. THE FIRST TEMPTATION: CHANGE STONES INTO BREAD.
   A. Did Satan's first temptation meet those three requirements?
      1. Was it moral? Yes it was.
         a. There was nothing immoral about turning stones into
            bread.
         b. Just a few days later, Jesus turned water into wine, and
            if it's not wrong to turn water into wine, surely it's   
            not wrong to turn stones into bread.
      2. Was it beneficial? Yes it was.
         a. It was exceedingly urgent that Jesus live, and having
            been without food for forty days, He must have been on
            the verge of starvation.
         b. Jesus had come to teach, set an example, die to take
            away sins, and establish His kingdom.
         c. If Jesus had died at this point, His teaching, kingdom,
            and perfect example, would have failed.
      3. Was it forbidden? No it wasn't.
         a. If one searches the Bible from beginning to end, he will
            not find a single passage which says, "Thou shall not
            turn stones into bread."
   B. In our time, people think that if something is moral,          
      beneficial, and not forbidden, it could not be sin.
      1. However, as shown from the temptations of Jesus, it most
         certainly could still be sin.
      2. Application: Regarding things that could be wrong, People
         say:
         a. "I don't see anything wrong with it." That means it's
            moral.
         b. "Look's to me like it will do a lot of good." That means
            it's beneficial.
         c. "Where does the Bible say not to?" That means it's not
            forbidden.
      3. Thus, people think that if something passes these three     
         tests, it is perfectly acceptable. 
         a. Apply this to instrumental music, church kitchens,
            support of human institutions, and the like.
         b. Just as with Jesus' temptations, though they meet their
            three-fold tests, they are still wrong.

V. JESUS WAS NOT LED ASTRAY.
   A. Jesus was very concerned about doing His Father's will. He said
      - Matt. 4:4.
      1. To understand the full meaning of His quote, we need to go
         back to its setting. Deut. 8:1-3
      2. Moses was reviewing God's experiences with Israel.
         a. When they had gone out of Egypt, they soon ran out of
            food.
         b. Some wanted to take things into their own hands and go
            back to Egypt.
   B. Israel should not have taken things into their own hands.
      1. Jesus would not take things into His own hands, and act on
         His own wisdom and judgment.
      2. Jesus had no word from God to use His powers in the
         manner Satan proposed.
      3. Without word from God, we dare not do anything in our
         worship and service to God. Matt. 15:9; 7:23
         a. The simple basic problem with man is that he wants to
            please himself, not God. Rom. 2:8
   C. Israel should have trusted in God to provide.
      1. Jesus knew that if He would trust in God, He would provide.
         Later, angels came and ministered to Him. Matt. 4:11
      2. God will provide for us when we place our complete faith in
         Him and do His will. Matt. 6:33; Mark 10:29-30; Rom. 8:28
      3. In spite of God's promises, many today are living by bread
         alone. John 6:27
         a. Far too much emphasis is being placed on worldly
            wisdom, making money, obtaining a good job, and the
            like.
         b. A man went inside a telephone booth and dialed the
            number of a friend. When the connection was made, the
            friend kept saying, "I can't hear you; speak louder." All
            his friend could hear was the sound of the roar of the
            traffic in the background. He then said, "Shut the door
            so I can hear you."
            (1) For us to truly hear God's word and be totally
                committed to Him, we must shut the door to the
                outside world.
            (2) Worldly interests and enticements distract us from
                serving the Lord. Luke 8:14
            (3) Let us set our minds on, and seek first, the things
                above so that we can serve God with the whole
                heart and not in pretense. Jer. 3:10

Concl.
   A. Today, people think that if something is moral, beneficial, and
      not forbidden, it can't be wrong.
      1. The first temptation of Jesus shows that it most certainly
         could be wrong.
   B. We will continue our study of the temptations of Jesus in our  
      next lesson.
      1. Let us not be ignorant of Satan's devices, but continue to
         resist him with all our being.
      2. Let us not be taken captive by him to do his will.