Temptation
The temptation of Jesus began right after He was baptized. It could happen to you. Temptation from Satan will begin right after a spiritual event in your life.
This is a Bible Study. Have your own Bible handy to look up the references mentioned.
If you do not have a Bible, I invite you to go to BibleGateway.com or another online Bible.
1. “Refusing to die for the sins of the world would have given the devil rather that God the victory. So Jesus’ resolve to fulfill God’s plans for him must be tested and proved right at the outset of his ministry. (Blomberg, Craig L., The New American Commentary, Volume 22, Matthew [Nashville: Broadman Press], 82)
“God Himself is never the agent of Temptation (James 1:13), but here—as in the Book of Job—God uses even satanic tempting to serve His sovereign purposes.” (MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Bible Commentary. [Nashville, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2005], 1126]
“Right after conversion or some other significant spiritual event, precisely when a certain level of victory or maturity seems to have been attained, temptations resume more strongly than ever (cf. Elijah in 1 Kings 19:10-18 and Paul in Romans 7:14-25).” (Blomberg, 83)
2. “Moses was without food or water on Mt. Sinai for ‘forty days and forty nights’ (Deuteronomy 9:9), and Elijah also fasted that long (1 Kings 19:8).” (MacArthur, 1126)
Tempter
3. Jesus was hungry (v. 2). Satan told Jesus “To turn stones to bread. First John 2:15-16 says that such temptation for the Christian is the ‘…lust of the flesh.’” (McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV. [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983], 22)
4. “The Lord quoted Deuteronomy 8:2 to defeat Satan. Feeding on and obeying God’s Word is more important than consuming physical food. In fact, ‘it is our food (John 4:32-34).’” (Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. [Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004], 18)
5. “‘The highest point’ is the wing or portico, not ‘pinnacle’ [NASB] [KJV]. Portico refers to the flat-topped corner of Solomon’s porch on the southeast corner of the temple complex overlooking the Kidron Valley.” (Blomberg, 84)
6. “Satan took the Lord Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple, probably five hundred feet above the Kidron Valley. Satan then quoted from Psalm 91:11-12, where God promised to care for His own. ‘If you really believe the Scriptures, then jump! Let’s see if the Father cares for You!” (Wiersbe, 18)
MacArthur tells us that Satan “utterly twists its meaning, using a passage about trusting God in a flawed attempt to justify testing Him.” (1127)
7. “Christ replies with another verse from Israel’s wilderness experience (Deuteronomy 6:16), recalling the experience at Massah, where the grumbling Israelites put the Lord to the test, angrily demanding that Moses produce water where there was none (Exodus 17:2-7).” (MacArthur, 1127)
Third Temptation
8. “Satan showed Him the kingdoms of the world and their glory.” (McGee, 22)
9. “Jesus knew that He would suffer and die before He entered into His glory (Luke 24:26; 1 Peter 1:11; 5:1). If He bowed down and worshipped Satan just once (this is the force of the Greek verb), He could enjoy all the glory without enduring the suffering.” (Wiersbe, 19).
“Worshipping the creature instead of the Creator is the lie that rules our world today (Romans 1:24-25).” (Wiersbe, 19)
“There are no shortcuts to the will of God. If we want to share in the glory, we must also share in the suffering (1 Peter 5:10). (Wiersbe, 19)
10. “Our Lord replied with Deuteronomy 6:13.” (Wiersbe, 19)
“Satan had said nothing about service, but Jesus knew that whatever we worship, we will serve. Worship and service must go together.” (Wiersbe, 19)
11. “Satan slunk away, a defeated foe, but he did not cease to temp Jesus…Through Peter, Satan again tempted Jesus to abandon the cross (Matthew 16:21-23) and through the crowd that had been fed, Satan tempted Jesus to an ‘easy kingdom’ (John 6:15).” (Wiersbe, 19)
References
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
In this article Scripture quotations taken from KJV.
Blomberg, Craig L., The New American Commentary, Volume 22, Matthew Nashville: Broadman Press
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983
MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Bible Commentary. Nashville, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2005
Robertson, A. T., A Harmony of the Gospels. New York, HarperCollins Publishers
Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004
