Satan Tempts Jesus
Satan Tempts Jesus. Matthew 4, and Luke 4, both record a conversation between Jesus and Satan. As we continue our devotions on the Words of Christ, it is interesting to note that Jesus knew in advance that He would be tempted by Satan, and went to the wilderness and fasted for 40 days and 40 nights in preparation for this event.
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
Matthew 4:1-4, NKJV
1 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.
3 And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
4 But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”
Luke 4:1-4, NKJV
Satan Tempts Jesus
Satan Tempts Jesus: Matthew 4, and Luke 4, both record a conversation between Jesus and Satan. As we continue our devotions on the Words of Christ, it is interesting to note that Jesus knew in advance that He would be tempted by Satan, and went to the wilderness and fasted for 40 days and 40 nights in preparation for this event.
Today we look at the first temptation thrown at Jesus by Satan. Needless
to say, after 40 days of fasting, Jesus was quite hungry, so Satan,
coming to Jesus, said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." (Matthew 4:3)
As we consider this devotion, "Satan Tempts Jesus," it is important that we note that Satan
uses the same devices against the people of God today. Knowing our
greatest weakness, and at our most vulnerable time, he launches his
attacks. Not even noting His hunger, Jesus responded with Scripture. Do
we know the Bible well enough to do the same when we are attacked by
Satan? Do we even recognize Satan's attacks? It is so important that we,
as God's children, immerse ourselves in God's Word, reading and studying
it daily.
Though He was hungry, Jesus ignored the words of Satan, and responded with a quotation from Deuteronomy:
3 So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.
Deuteronomy 8:3, NKJV
What an interesting response. What was Jesus actually saying? He was saying that life is more than just food or drink, clothing or things, or even our careers and lifestyles. These things are nothing apart from God! God purposely allowed the Israelites to go hungry in the wilderness so that they would cry out to Him for food, and He could then show them that He was the One who sustained them by providing for their needs--that time by providing manna.
Does God do the same thing to us? Yes, He does. Often it is necessary
for God to get our attention by sending difficulties that cause us to
cry out to Him for help, lest we actually believe we have the power
within ourselves to successfully live this life. We are told every day
that man has the answers--you can do it if you believe in yourself! Is
that true? No! The strength and power we need to successfully live this
life comes from the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot manufacture that
ability within ourselves, but rather must trust Him for daily strength
and guidance.
That is not what the world tells us, but that is exactly what we are
taught in God's Holy Word. Christ did not need bread from Satan, nor did
He need to obey Satan and command the stone to be turned to bread.
Could He have done so? Yes, of course! He did not need to to so,
however, to affirm Satan's words, "If you are the Son of God." He was
and is the Son of God, and nothing Satan did or said could affirm or
deny it, for the truth stands apart from anyone's belief or lack of
belief.
We must note, especially in our day, that the truth of God's Word is not
dependent upon anyone's belief nor is it denied by anyone's lack of
belief. Truth stands firms as truth, and God is truth. As a matter of
fact, there is no truth apart from Him!
Satan Tempts Jesus, reminds us that this is the God we serve. May we, by the grace and mercy of God, resist
the temptations of Satan and stand firm upon the truths of God's Holy
Word!
Devotional Reflections from the Bible
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